Wont load alone but will do with company

[Bobthecob15]

Hi there,

We've had our pony for 8 months and he's always been a bit hesitant to go in our trailer, he will often stop on the ramp but after a few approaches or feed bucket he'll walk on. He travels fine, doesn't get stressed that we can see. He's had a few slips in the trailer unfortunately as our trailer brakes were not working properly we eventually realised...so he's not always had the best experience travelling which I'm sure didn't help. We had a NH lady out who thought he was anxious rather than being naughty....he was better for a few trips after that visit but went back to the planting.

We got a lift this week with another horse in a trailer and he walked straight on both times, he's actually never loaded so well! He's generally always had another horse with him when he's been travelling so this may be part of the problem. We only have 1 horse so I can't borrow another every time we go out.

We sold the trailer on and have a 6.5T lorry now as I much prefer driving these to towing...anyway we had a go today loading and he did go on but with food as a motivator! I know this isn't ideal...he got bored though after about 5 goes off and on and we both had had enough so we stopped for the day.

I'm at a loss what to do, carry on with the food bucket...get more help? The YO always says he's being naughty and he needs a good smack etc.. or to chase him on with a broom because he's obviously not scared...but I really need him to be able to load consistently with me by myself. I have no doubt he is being stubborn but how to get past it? Any ideas?

 

[humblepie]

As he does load after a while I’d just keep on practising but not letting him have the feed until he is in the lorry. I am sure others will have different suggestions.

 

[Ratface]

One of my horses had had a previous bad experience with loading. I hired a lady with a small horse box who came out to us on six occasions to practice loading, standing on the box, shutting the ramp, going up the drive and back, then down the road and back, and finally, down to the village and back. All very calm, unhurried and rewarded when he'd quietly done as requested.
It was very expensive but worth it. For many years since, he's been everywhere, near and far, alone and in company. No problems.

 

[Bobthecob15]

One of my horses had had a previous bad experience with loading. I hired a lady with a small horse box who came out to us on six occasions to practice loading, standing on the box, shutting the ramp, going up the drive and back, then down the road and back, and finally, down to the village and back. All very calm, unhurried and rewarded when he'd quietly done as requested.
It was very expensive but worth it. For many years since, he's been everywhere, near and far, alone and in company. No problems.

Thank you, this is kind of what the IH lady who came out wanted to do but we ran out of time and could only do the first part...I think it might be worth getting her back for the next steps as we've kind of gone backwards.

Our plan tomorrow was to do the same as today and if he's OK shut the back ramp and go for a 2 min drive and unload. So tricky to know how to approach it x

 

[Arzada]

We sold the trailer on and have a 6.5T lorry now as I much prefer driving these to towing...anyway we had a go today loading and he did go on but with food as a motivator! I know this isn't ideal...

What is the problem with using food?

 

[TheMule]

If he goes on for food, keep using food! Mine always get a food reward for going on the trailer

 

[Bobthecob15]

What is the problem with using food?

Because this only works sometimes!! Not every time, some days even that doesn't work. ..frustrating!

 

[wills_91]

Thank you, this is kind of what the IH lady who came out wanted to do but we ran out of time and could only do the first part...I think it might be worth getting her back for the next steps as we've kind of gone backwards.

Our plan tomorrow was to do the same as today and if he's OK shut the back ramp and go for a 2 min drive and unload. So tricky to know how to approach it x

I wouldn't rush into shutting the ramp tomorrow and going for a drive. He needs to be loading well, consistently and calm and standing relaxed for a good few minutes before you progress onto the next stages IMO

 

[Bobthecob15]

I wouldn't rush into shutting the ramp tomorrow and going for a drive. He needs to be loading well, consistently and calm and standing relaxed for a good few minutes before you progress onto the next stages IMO

Thank-you, he went on today every time a feed bucket was at the top...and stood fairly calmly but ideally I'd prefer him to load without a feed bucket as we've been here before with the trailer and that stopped working. I guess I'll have to see how he goes tomorrow and make a plan from there. You are right though x

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

As you created the problem by using the trailer with the dodgy brakes, I think you have to allow the pony some leeway. Take very small steps,get him on the box reliably with feed, even if the bucket has to be at the bottom. Of the ramp to start with and then take each subsequent step slowly.

 

[AmyMay]

You need to talk to @Red-1 . She cracked a reluctant loader brilliantly.

 

[Landcruiser]

I have an over the door trough in the front of my trailer, the food is only available when horse is fully on. I think the key is making the trailer a nice place to be. We always have a loading practice after a schooling session - my youngster knows that the trailer means relax and a bite of food. She literally naps towards the trailer if she sees the ramp is down. She did get a bit antsy the last time we went out (trying to load in the middle of a busy yard with lots of other horses around and other people waiting to get out - not ideal), but I think she's back on track now. Like you OP, I need a horse I can load solo. Brooms up backsides is NOT the way to go.

 

[Regandal]

There’s a good TRT video on loading a difficult horse. On YouTube.

 

[Bobthecob15]

I have an over the door trough in the front of my trailer, the food is only available when horse is fully on. I think the key is making the trailer a nice place to be. We always have a loading practice after a schooling session - my youngster knows that the trailer means relax and a bite of food. She literally naps towards the trailer if she sees the ramp is down. She did get a bit antsy the last time we went out (trying to load in the middle of a busy yard with lots of other horses around and other people waiting to get out - not ideal), but I think she's back on track now. Like you OP, I need a horse I can load solo. Brooms up backsides is NOT the way to go.

Thank you, will keep persevering with the food and hopefully he'll get more confident with me/the horsebox. The IH lady can't come out again for a while as she's fully booked but she's given me some tips in the meantime, thanks all!

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

I have an over the door trough in the front of my trailer, the food is only available when horse is fully on. I think the key is making the trailer a nice place to be. We always have a loading practice after a schooling session - my youngster knows that the trailer means relax and a bite of food. She literally naps towards the trailer if she sees the ramp is down. She did get a bit antsy the last time we went out (trying to load in the middle of a busy yard with lots of other horses around and other people waiting to get out - not ideal), but I think she's back on track now. Like you OP, I need a horse I can load solo. Brooms up backsides is NOT the way to go.

^^^^ This!!! Ohh my goodness I thought I was the only person on the planet who did this! You must have a cob........ totally food orientated, and the monkey blimmin KNOWS when you haven't got it there too!

I've worked on mine since she was a youngster at making the trailer a nice place to be; we've started by just doing lots of walk-through's in the yard, lots and lots, and the "reward" isn't always food it can sometimes just be a good bum scratch. But always the reward after she's done something positive. Then we built it up and we've done several little run-outs where we've just loaded her up, gone somewhere near'ish to home which is familiar to her and where we CAN ride home within the hour if needs be & she flatly refuses to load! - and then taken her out, given her a grass-verge guzzle and brought her back home again. We then progressed to a little jaunt up to a local common where we could ride home from in say a few hours IF necessary. All of it fun and plenty of "rewards".

Have also given her a nice haynet outside the box and let her have a nibble at that while she's had a groom. Idea being to pander to her naturally greedy little cobby-mind that the trailer is actually a mobile feed-station! Only thing is that have to remind self to put a spare feed in a little bowl in the wagon ready to tip into the trough ready to load up for home. Works a treat.

We did have a situation when we had a livery's horse refused to load and mine was needed to "show" this one what to do, i.e. walking into what was a strange wagon as something to follow for the other horse. That's when you just know that your training has been effective......

Had to sell my 4X4 in January as there was waayyy too much wrong with it and I'd have had to spend too much to get it through MoT..... am looking for a replacement right now. Miss our little trips out! We're just happy hackers but did enjoy trips out to friends who were just that bit too far to ride comfortably to. Because we're in Devon we need something to cope with the hills here; my last wagon was an aged X-Trail and wouldn't even pull the bog-paper off the roll. Had to have a serious conversation with Jesus every time we got to a hill............