Unloading problems.

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Any advice pls, my horse will usually load without much problem but refuses to move when asked to come off front ramp. You could stand for up to five minutes and all of a sudden will bolt off. We are now thinking of takking divide out altogether to see if more room is the answer. Horse has been going thro rehab for back issues and in past wouldn't back off box at all. Today while trying , horse went on smoothly , we were going to ask to walk straight thro and off front ramp and hadn't put rear ramp up at this stage and when asked to walk forward when on box, panicked and flew off backward. Have always had this problem from day I brought horse home. During rehab I have been practising backing up daily and now wondering should I ask for few steps up ramp, stop the back off and progress on from there. Either its remembered pain or else she has been caught when unloading with saddle on in previous home and its fright problem. Have tried using food etc to no avail.. Could never get a straight answer when this was mentioned to previous owner. Any suggestions appreciated.
 
which side of the trailer are you loading into (same or opposite side to ramp?), how big is it compared to horse and how old is the horse? are you able to control her well in other situations where space is limited?

One of mine used to find the turn to the front ramp from the same side of the trailer as the ramp to be quite a tight turn. She was better from the opposite side. But as you have hinted, it may be that simply taking the partition out will help her to realise she has enough space to get through easily. Even if you end up putting it back in when she's got more confidence.
 
Thanks, loading onto right side, yes we have thought about the tightness in turning,as well could possibly be a reason, had thought about trying left side,,to see if any better, tho if travelling one horse, because of road camber etc, we're meant to travel on right side, so in end that's reason we are next going to try no divider in, front breast bar. Horse is 7 and 16.2.
 
Have you already tried the divider out? If its a 505 i find them quite tight tbh for a large horse. Is it a butterfly divider or a solid one?
 
Thanks, no we have never tried with divider out, this will be first time when we try again. Box is biggest in range, but as you say could be tight , its butterfly divider. Hopefully with divider out we may have a bit more success. Many thanks.
 
I have helped someone with this exact issue, and yes, we did exactly as you said. I find that, once they have bumped their hip once, they can be reluctant to unload at the front and be dangerous.

I would do the whole 1 foot on and reverse off, 2 feet on and reverse off etc I=until it is one foot inside and reverse off, and go on. You know you have it dine when you can go part way on, a step back, a bot more on, a few steps back, and they lose the emotion around going on and off. It also means they will step forwards again if they accidentally step back whilst you are loading on your own.

If they are taught to use the back ramp for on and off properly, then it is safe.
 
Im unsure what your partition is like, but I have a Bateson with a centre bar and then a front half and a back half. To unload, I always undo both breast bars and move the front bit over so they've got plenty of room to get out. I definately wouldnt try without doing this. To begin with though, I'd play around at home a lot. Take the partition out totally and just try walking in and out but asking him to stand regularly and giving him a treat for doing, eventually trying to do this midway down the ramp. Hopefully his mind will be more focused on the treats so he'll start to relax and quite enjoy it. I had one that used to shoot out but this soon sorted him. Could also try giving him his feed in the trailer every night (with all doors open) then every night making it closer to the front ramp and slowly placing it further down it.
 
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