Unloading From Trailer - How Do I Stop The Leaping Out?

[suej102]

Took my man out for lesson last night in trailer and yet again he leapt off the ramp at both ends of the journey - fortunately he did not hurt himself (or us!) but I can't have 17'3 of Irish Draught landing on my head/husband/dog/other! Have been advised to feed on the way out and will try this next time, but does anyone have any other tips? He is really calm in the trailer, and calm when I untie him, but he just seems to struggle to make sense of the fact that he can come down the ramp, and doesn't have to jump it. He just stands at the top and leaps! Help!!!

 

[stencilface]

We had a pony that did this, and the reason for it was his claustrophobia. He took him ages to learn to walk into a stable/through a gateway/etc before he finally stopped rushing. He is also fearful of big trucks, but only on narrow roads where he doesn't have enough space.

I don't know if thats the problem but it might be - especially as he is a big horse in a trailer! Does he rush through anything else? gates etc? Or get a stallion chain/bridle on him, as it would give you more control - unless you are already doing that!!!

 

[suej102]

Funnily enough he does act a little 'precious' going through gates/narrower spaces, although he loads like a dream and is as calm as anything in the trailer. I have no idea what a stallion chain is but will look this up!

 

[Smurphy]

back him out, ive been advised by richard maxwell to always go out backwards in thos situation

 

[madmuppet]

My big hunter mare used to do exactly that when we travelled her to her lessons.. she was 17.2 and we travelled her in a ifor williams 510 so she had plenty room, we always moved the partition over for her when we got to the destination so there was no need to feel that there was no room and run out.. it got to the stage we kind of expected her to do this and she acted out our expectations.. we finally managed to get her to stop doing this by unloading her with her bridle on and we always used a lunge rope attached to the bridle instead of a lead rope just incase.. we would distract her just as she went to leave the trailer and feed her something and keep stopping her thro time she gave up, Have to tried (if hes gettign really bad) using the bad ramp to unload sometimes just so that he realises that he dont always get to come out of the front unload? Good luck with your big guy..

 

[stencilface]

The pony we had loaded fine, but always rushed out. We have a horsebox where they stand side on, but travelled him in trailers a couple of times, and every time he leapt out. He was fine going in so obviously didn't mind the travelling itself, just hates narrow gaps. He would dither before coming out of the trailer though, as if he was trying to figure out if he would fit through before he leapt.

I can't offer much advice really, ours travels fine in the box, and is better now (still not perfect) with gateways and doorways - but that obviously comes with time. You can get those monty roberts things that go over their quarters that you see racehorses in sometimes when they are put in the stalls - but don't really know much about them or how they work, so your prob best googling them!

Stallion chains go over their nose - I know my sisters horse had to wear one when he went to college with her as they could never hold him as he's so bargy (he's a 16h ConnXTB!!)

 

[suej102]

You know that had crossed my mind so I am glad to hear someone mention it. I think I will give this a go as well - then I don't have to move my tack pack either which will be an added bonus!

 

[Smurphy]

just practice over and over again at home, going in and out backwards, I have to push my horse out now, no more rushing! so much safer.

 

[Evil_Cookie]

Ditto backing out... to back up, the horse has to engage its brain, so is more likely to think about what its doing rather than rush... it also gives you more control as when they are out of the trailer you are in a good position to block them from running of forwards as the trailers in front of them.

EC

 

[Bosworth]

i always reverse my horse out of tailers - I teach them to load by walking them to the trailer then making them back away - keep on doing it until they want to load themselves. I always travel them loose - then when I get to the destination I clip on their lead rope and let it dangle over the breast bar, I walk round the back and release the back bar and ask the horse to 'Back' I stand to the side and as the horse passes me I catch up the lead rope. I then stand on the ramp, unhitch the other back bar and tell that horse to back up so I can catch both with ease. I started reversing them out becasue I had a large mare who would leap off the front taking the handler out with her and vanishing into the distance with flapping travel boots.

You need to make sure your horse responds to the verbal commands of stand and back. that way you can unload yourself safely.

 

[calon]

my mare did this at first i walked her down front ramp with her head in a ffed bucket with feed in and after a few times she didnt need it

 

[Enfys]

[ QUOTE ]
back him out, ive been advised by richard maxwell to always go out backwards in thos situation

[/ QUOTE ]

Absolutely. I never even opened the front ramp with my arab as he was shocking going through any gap. I just never gave him the opportunity to damage himself or me, he backed out nicely enough in the end.

Often here trailers don't have front unloads, that space is often the tackroom instead, horses are expected to walk in, up a ramp, or step and to back out just as calmly.

Any chance you can make a dummy ramp for your horse to practise on?

 

[hussar]

I had this problem with my youngster when we first started travelling - he leapt the whole ramp. I was shown an Australian trick which worked for me. The person leading the horse down the ramp holds a lunge whip vertically in front and slightly to the side of the horse where they can see it clearly - they think it's an obstacle, and you can inch your way down the ramp by moving the whip as you go. It took two or three goes but after that my lad was a perfect gentleman loading and unloading.

 

[suej102]

Just want to update (and thank you!) for the advice re. backing my horse out instead of going through the leaping thing when trying to unload him.

We have had two trips since and he calmly backs down the (back) ramp without any fuss whatsoever. A great tip so thanks once again.

 

[Smurphy]

Excellent!! I took my difficult loader to our first show together at he weekend, and she loaded really well, all my hard work is finally paying off! we even won our first class!!! So smiles all round!!