Unloading

[Identityincrisis]

Help, I’m having a wobble!

I got a 5yr old Arab 3 ½ weeks ago, he is an absolute delight, very amenable, trusting, kind etc etc.

Before I bought him I asked the dealer to practice loading on and off the trailer, I received a video of him calmly walking on and off (the front) several times.

Now I have history with loading and travelling L my last horse was such a nightmare I resorted to calling out Richard Maxwell as several local ‘horse whisperers’ couldn’t get him loaded. And on the first journey he went underneath the breast bar resulting in lameness which eventually led him to being PTS. Ever since then I’ve not been confident about travelling.

Bearing in mind my new horse came all the way from Essex to the dealer’s yard in the N.E. he’s travelled a fair distance. He loaded ok but apprehensively on to my trailer (an Ifor single horse) didn’t travel brilliantly, but not horrendously, and was stressed when he arrived. I must stress, I am a very careful and considerate driver when towing and take corners/roundabouts/accelerate slowly.

I’ve since been practicing loading and un-loading, his loading has improved loads (thanks to what I learned from RM) and he stands calmly while both ramps are down, but un-loading is an issue, he really rushes out. He’s caught his hip a couple of times which hasn’t helped, I’ve now padded out the doorway so if he does catch himself again he doesn’t get hurt.

How can I slow his un-load down? I’ve tried coaxing him out slowly, this did not work at all. So far the best results have been from me standing at the bottom of the ramp with a really long line and just allowing him all the time and space he needs. But last night during a good session he took a massive spook from a HUGE tractor and trailer set up coming up behind us L The driver stopped but I had to ‘hurry’ him off the trailer and he shot off like a bat out of hell L unfortunately the tractors and trailers were going to be around for sometime so I called it a night.

Does anyone have any suggestions? He won’t reverse un-load (he tried to turn around!) I don’t have access to a double trailer.

Sorry for war and peace, I just wanted to give a full picture

 

[Pinkvboots]

My Arab would always rush out of the front of a trailer hence why I always reversed him off, he doesnt do it on a horse box, i think its the fact that they see the door open in front of them and make a dash for it, I would teach him to back up on the ground first then reversing him off the trailer shouldn't be a problem.

Being nosy what Arab did you buy what's his breeding?

 

[Identityincrisis]

My Arab would always rush out of the front of a trailer hence why I always reversed him off, he doesnt do it on a horse box, i think its the fact that they see the door open in front of them and make a dash for it, I would teach him to back up on the ground first then reversing him off the trailer shouldn't be a problem.

Being nosy what Arab did you buy what's his breeding?

Thank you, he backs up no problem on the ground but not on the trailer, maybe this will come with improved bond. We have corridors in our barn that we have to walk through, he won't back up in there, maybe that's a good place to practice as I do get nervous about them injuring themselves falling off ramps etc.

He's from the Jarva stud out of a Pintabian mare by Vervencio

 

[Roxylola]

Keep the front ramp down as you load and just keep going through the trailer - maybe stick a trail of readigrass or chop down the trailer ramp to encourage him to get his head down a bit and take his time. Otherwise though, keep at it, stay out of the way and leave him room to make his own decisions

 

[conniegirl]

have you checked the floor and the rubber matting in your trailer? i've heard of several cases of the rubber matting in Ifors moving and unsettling the horse whilst travelling

 

[Antw23uk]

If you have practised and nailed the loading why do you keep doing it over and over again? Surely he only requires a small amount of work ad hoc with the trailer a day or so before you journey out and if thats a regular thing i perhaps wouldnt even bother!
I have to load and unload two (well one now) horses in a trailer on my own and they are taught to stand patiently whilst i faff with bars and ties and lead ropes etc so i think concentrate on front bar down, stand, step forward, stand, step forward, stand and then a slow but confident walk off the rest of the way. You can always treat with every stand or every other stand, its just for a moment and not minutes!! I think perhaps you are worrying yourself and worrying him now with all this 'practice'?

 

[JFTDWS]

One of mine used to try and throw himself out on arrival (sheer excitement, he's a chump). He was unloaded in a bridle, and I just made him wait - it wasn't something you could do the softly softly approach with as he only did it when out somewhere fun, and it's too dangerous to piss around in a busy lorry park. I went through a spell of reversing him off - again, it's not a discussion, I say to go back, he goes back - turning around is not an option. It doesn't have to be an argument, I don't mean you batter him, but if I say back, he goes back, even if it takes half an hour... If you don't want to have this discussion on the trailer, I'd be having it everywhere else - in corridors, through doorways, over tarpaulins / bridges etc. I don't really "get" the "he won't do this / that" mentality - this is basic manners, he has to do it, that's what you're there for!

Fwiw, mine's now very mannerly and waits to come off slowly and politely down the front ramp even when he knows super-exciting things are going to happen... He just needed to learn that manners apply no matter where you are!

 

[Identityincrisis]

I totally agree with basic manners and them doing as I bid but we're only 3 1/2 weeks into our time together and he's already doing really well so it's not that I'm not expecting him to do this eventually, i am, I am just allowing him time to learn that i'm not going to put him in dangerous situations.

Thank you for your suggestions, practice will hopefully make perfect, I imagine it will with him as he is so nice.

 

[Maesto's Girl]

I would suggest watching Annemarie: Listening to Horses on Horse & Country TV (Just pay the subscription) as she does a lot with bond work and then how to cope with so many situations, including loading. Whilst it is unloading that is your issue, I really think it would help with the bond you have, but also the boundaries

 

[Meowy Catkin]

My Arab would always rush out of the front of a trailer hence why I always reversed him off, he doesnt do it on a horse box, i think its the fact that they see the door open in front of them and make a dash for it, I would teach him to back up on the ground first then reversing him off the trailer shouldn't be a problem.

Being nosy what Arab did you buy what's his breeding?

My gelding just jumps out if you take him forwards, so he has to reverse out too.

 

[The Trooper]

Thank you, he backs up no problem on the ground but not on the trailer, maybe this will come with improved bond. We have corridors in our barn that we have to walk through, he won't back up in there, maybe that's a good place to practice as I do get nervous about them injuring themselves falling off ramps etc.

He's from the Jarva stud out of a Pintabian mare by Vervencio

I'm all about the bond when it comes to my mares. I'll be honest i've only recently started taking Bonnie out and about quite recently and she initially done exactly as you described and rushed out and jumped the unloading ramp (18hh shire!).

She trusts me and knows me very well and I know and trust her. I have just started slowing down and being calmer in my own demeanour whilst loading and unloading which seems to be working, I believe whole heartedly that the horse takes alot off their handler/rider, if i'm stressed shes stressed etc.

I've also been telling her easy and speaking softly to her etc as leading her down and it's working. Last time she unloaded beautifully.

 

[AnShanDan]

Clicker train to take one step at a time? Do this away from the trailer first obv.
I unload backwards out of my ifor Williams tho, think horses can easily bash themselves coming out onto the front ramp then they panic. I just teach them to go back slowly.

 

[be positive]

Front ramps are offset so need a bit of care to use and some tend to rush because they might bang themselves, I would try loading using the front ramp and walking out of the back one when doing the training, it worked well for 1 I did some loading with, it is also easier to get the one step at a time into them as the ramp is more inviting to go down, once they are established change round to going the correct way.

 

[Antw23uk]

I totally agree with basic manners and them doing as I bid but we're only 3 1/2 weeks into our time together and he's already doing really well so it's not that I'm not expecting him to do this eventually, i am, I am just allowing him time to learn that i'm not going to put him in dangerous situations.

Thank you for your suggestions, practice will hopefully make perfect, I imagine it will with him as he is so nice.

Hmm OK but good manners start immediately, there are no allowances and settling in periods or giving grace to bad or inappropriate behaviour just because he is new and you want him to like you! I know you want to bond and become best buddies and reassure him he is safe but he will like you a lot more if you are firm, fair and consistent in his handling and that may just involve telling him to stand his butt still on the trailer ramp and not ask questions once in a while, lol I think we also need a pic .. we love a good new horse pic on here

 

[Hormonal Filly]

I now always back out one of mine. He rushes terribly and nothing ever improved it, backing out was easier and he was much more safe. He nearly crushed me once. I'm sure as hes young you can train it into him to wait. My other gelding knows the command 'wait' and will wait until told which does help!

 

[Nudibranch]

I'd also back out. I have to as we have a continental trailer but it certainly stops them rushing.

 

[windand rain]

I would never even dream of taking a horse out of a front ramp having been severely injured more than once doing so. I always reverse them off slowly they learn on the ground and then reverse off a trailer. Even foals have to learn to back off

 

[BOWS28]

Completely agree with the above regarding backing him off the trailer. I only travel in a lorry personally but i am always strict that they walk at my pace down the ramp. I've had and seen some awful accidents happen on trailer/lorry ramps. Mollie would walk down the ramp next to me whether i was holding onto her or not because she knows the drill nowadays. I did this by asking her to stand multiple times coming down the ramp for a couple of seconds and she gets a sweet. She is more than happy to travel and load and i think the hurried attempt to unload herself originally was out of excitement but equally they should be able to contain themselves in situations we ask them to.

 

[conniegirl]

I would never even dream of taking a horse out of a front ramp having been severely injured more than once doing so. I always reverse them off slowly they learn on the ground and then reverse off a trailer. Even foals have to learn to back off

I've seen horrific injuries from backing them off, including one where the horse had to be PTS at the show ground.

front ramps are no more dangerous then backing them off, If you have control then there should be no issues.

 

[Red-1]

You have seen yourself where the issue lies, you are not in control of direction even in the stable yard, if the horse won't back up there.

So, I would work at back up and have him so he can back up wherever. I often make a trailer shape out of blocks, barrels or anything that can knock down and not hurt them, to teach them to manoeuvre in a tight space.

I like Be Positive's way of loading back to front so learning to come off the trailer is with the easier ramp.

Usually I then take the manoeuvrability to the trailer by asking a foot on the ramp, then off again. Then 2 feet on the ramp then off. Have the horse so you can choose forwards or backwards wherever you are, but do it incrementally so all four feet don't go on the ramp until you can go back and forward with 3 feet... The head in the trailer and back off, 1 foot in the trailer and back off, but change your mind half way and come back on... until the whole horse is in the trailer and able to back half way down the ramp, then back..... finally head outside the front and back off, then a foot on the front ramp and back off. Be confident that you can back one step or more, and reverse direction with the horse relaxed.

Backing on/off either ramp is safe if the horse is slow, thoughtful and relaxed, so I teach that with just one foot until I am confident that they know how to act.

 

[windand rain]

I've seen horrific injuries from backing them off, including one where the horse had to be PTS at the show ground.

front ramps are no more dangerous then backing them off, If you have control then there should be no issues.

It was me that was injured by horses rushing off the front ramp ony horse I have seen badly injured was coming off a front ramp reversing off slowly has never caused an injury to anyone in my experience I have treated numerous injuries as a first aider to people unloading frontwards and the horse crushing them in the smaller door. So will continue to teach mine to back off slowly. Rider and horse were both killed at one show but that was because she decided to ride her reluctant horse onto a trailer it reared up landed on top of her and broke its neck when it hit the hard ground

 

[Pinkvboots]

Thank you, he backs up no problem on the ground but not on the trailer, maybe this will come with improved bond. We have corridors in our barn that we have to walk through, he won't back up in there, maybe that's a good place to practice as I do get nervous about them injuring themselves falling off ramps etc.

He's from the Jarva stud out of a Pintabian mare by Vervencio

I think it's a case of his a bit worried to reverse out of it I would just keep persevering with it, get his confidence and I am sure in time he will be fine.

I saw him for sale nice horse she breeds nice horses Vervencio is really lovely.

 

[sport horse]

I think you may well find (and possibly have as you have already said your horse has caught its hip) that unloading from the front of a single trailer does not give the horse room to turn without knocking its hip. How many horse shoot in to doorways because they have caught themselves in the past? A horse 'rushing' almost always means it has had a bad experience and wants to get it over with quickly. Can you borrow a double trailer, preferably with someone else loading/unloading? If that goes well try borrowing as many horses as you can and load/unload them yourself so that you are not nervous too.

 

[PapaverFollis]

We have to have the jockey wheel down and the trailer brake on to unload The Beast else it moves too much as she does the turning steps to come of the front ramp, which spooks her. Worth a try if you aren't already doing that.

 

[Leandy]

It sounds to me as though you need to be a little more assertive with him. I would not allow him to rush off forwards, he would need to wait and take it slowly, and if I wanted him to unload backwards he would be doing that, even if it took some time for him to get the idea of what is expected. You need to put him in a pressure halter, a bridle, a chifney or whatever is necessary to have control and then take it slowly and calmly and give him time to understand. That said, what I would actually do in your situation would depend on how bad he actually is in shooting off forwards. If I would rather he didn't but it isn't too out of control or panicky I probably wouldn't worry about it so long as he is loading ok. He will get used to it in time and become calmer. If he is worse than that, then I would be walking him through the trailer time and again, round and round, until he took it calmly, and I would include in that halting him, doing up the breast bar, undoing it, making him wait, feeding him in there, etc etc until with repetition it is no issue at all.