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 Veteran
Posts: 133
 
Location: Indianapolis, IN |
I can't even express how much I LOVE my trailer.... but unfortunatly my horse has the opposite feelings for it. He hates it. He refuses to load and he just flat out freaks. This is my solid QH that nothing phases. He was used to an open stock combo trailer, no rear tack, step up (15 inch tires) and now he has the extreme of it. Has not been a fan of trailers persay, but loved my old one... sinc he has "grown up" and matured and loaded like a winner in the other one, I figured he got over his trailer fright!
I have a 6,000 axle, 16 inch tires step up slant load with rear tack. He honestly hates to load, walks up like he is going in and refuses without help. Not freaking, just won't load by myself.
I know practice, practice and such, but it is difficult with having to hook up and pull it out and practice then put it away, use my truck as my primary vehicle and the boarding barn, have to put it away in it's parking spot because of space. Anyone else have this problem... is there hope? |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 301
Location: Catoctin Mtn, Maryland | Can't blame your horse. It's scary in there........ Have you tried loading another horse on first? We had the same issue come up and loaded another horse first that didn't have a problem with the new trailer and our mare went right on. I always say that the horse that won't do what you want until another horse does it first, is really the smartest...........(if that boogie man is coming, it's going to get the guy that goes first......) |
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Veteran
Posts: 133
Location: Indianapolis, IN | I agree.. I only have 1 horse and all the other horses at my barn... Well... they won't fit in my trailer. They are too huge. :) I agree... but he is smarter than that, it is almost like he knows he has to, he won't vear off or walk away.. just right up and then breaks. He doesn't make that step, never pulls back or anything like that... he just acts like a stubborn MULE! ;) I guess I have my work cut out for me this weekend. Oh and who says New trailer smell is good... (sshhh it still does smell good, just not to my horse) QUESTION: Do you think becuase he was used to white walls and black mats and this has alum walls and black mats.. that his perception is off??? |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 824
Location: Kansas | Gosh-your horse might be my horse's twin. Same problem, same situation (tk is primary vehicle, etc.) I think my problem is a too small trailer and yes, I believe the white interior helps. No solutions for you, just a kindred soul having the same problems. |
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Expert
Posts: 2953
Location: North Carolina | The trailer is new to him too. Horses seem to like the same thing over and over. Routine is good. So make it routine again for him. Open all the drop downs, have a bucket of treats to reward positive behavior. "Then, take the time it takes." Don't rush it. Sounds like your horse is level headed and not a safety hazard to you or himself. So patience is the key. Keep asking him to load. If he makes the slightest move toward loading, Stop, reward. Then try again. After that move is routine, on your request, add the next step toward loading. After a hundred sucessful loads, he'll consider it routine again. And so will you. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 301
Location: Catoctin Mtn, Maryland | Do you have "human" help? If not, you will need some. If he's standing there looking, then I believe he will go on with some persuasion. The old trick of tapping his back end with a crop (not hard, just consistant) and "NOT" stopping until he takes that step up is worth a try. I've loaded horses into trailers that had never been on any type of trailer with that method. It works. But the trick is not to let up on the tapping no matter how long it takes. He'll get tired of the tapping eventually and of course realize that going forward get's it to stop. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 720
| Do you have any shavings on the floor? Heard a noted horse whisperer once comment that the new black mats looked like a big black hole to a horse. And of course, he's not going to step into a hole.... |
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 Veteran
Posts: 207
Location: Illinois | qhgirl:
First, your horse is gorgeous! Second, I feel your pain, and have been there more times than I care to recall. After being left behind, having to have friends help me "lift" my horse in the trailer, I finally decided enough was enough! I tried John Lyons leading and loading lesson. There is a DVD out now, but I read the book. It worked! It took a few hours (my app was stubborn!), but it was the single most important lesson he ever learned (and me too). The lesson is based on a go forward cue, so you don't need to even start near the trailer. You'll be amazed at what a difference it will make. If my stubborn horse could figure it out, anyone can!
Good Luck
Diane |
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Member
Posts: 45
| I had a fiberglass composite, straight load with a ramp that my main riding horse loved. Still have it, need to sell it. I would just point him in the direction and he walked in. I bought a steel slant load with no ramp because I needed the dressing room space and because some of my hard to load horses were tearing the heck out of my ramp. It was a different story with my main horse. He rarely eats on a trip now and he almost always has to be coached in. I don't think he likes facing the traffic even though the drop windows are closed and the open window is very small. The other trailer was much quieter. I have a halter made by Monty Roberts that has really worked with lots of patience and training. It's called the Dually training halter. It is expensive, but my horse knows I mean business when I use it and he walks right in without hardly a fuss. I put a thin rope under the Dually because I would never leave the halter on the horse unattended. Once the horse is loaded I take the Dually off and tie the horse with a quick release trailer tie and the rope halter. I know it is not good to have to depend on gimmicks to get your horses to mind, but I have most of the trailer loading tapes and have tried, with lots of time and patience, about every method out there and have had the most success with Roberts method. I can load my horses by myself. His web site is www.montyroberts.com. This halter works on my other hard to load horse as well, but it takes time and training. He has a tape on how to use the Dually that I found useful. I am in no way connected with Monty Roberts; I just found that his product worked for me and my horses. Good luck. |
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Member
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Location: washington | Hey girl we all feel for you. Can you collapse the rear tack while you are getting him used to loading? We just purchased a trailer with a back tack and they hated the hole they had to enter into. We collapsed the tack while loading and then put it back up while backing them up. Our back tack is a breeze to collapse. They now load with the tack in place. They were used to a 4 horse slant load logan. It was huge and we got into the bad habit of letting them turn around and walk out forward. It just takes time. Your buddy will load soon. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 366
Location: Albany, Oregon | I didn't read all the suggestions and I may be duplicating a suggestion but try throwing some of his manure and shavings in and see what happens ....who knows! |
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Veteran
Posts: 133
Location: Indianapolis, IN | HOLY COW... you guys are great. I am amazed that so many people have the same problem. Yes it was his first time hauling in the trailer, I had practiced a few times before week ago with the trailer but not a long session. I put sawdust in, he is used to that, he is used to slant load, just not with a rear tack and that large of a step. Thing is... with human help, he jumps right in with one smack on the butt. Nothing major, just reassurance. When I am alone, he knows I can't do it, so half of me knows he is fooling me. BUT he is so nervous when he does get in there. Had to pull over last night on the way home, he made such a rucus that I thought he fell down. Before he never really cared, he just sort of loaded and that was it. NOW he freaks.
I think I am going to try the long rope up through the tie hole back to me, and other end connected to him. Have used that when he was little. So that way he can learn to self load, and I can be behind him "tapping" him or as i call it... "Discussing that this is the best option". ;) Gosh I just hope I don't have to tie him to the trailer and drive to the next show! :) ha ha ( is it illegal to threaten the horse with that?) ***(Obviously I am not going to tie him to the trailer and make him follow to the show... I was joking)**** |
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Veteran
Posts: 133
Location: Indianapolis, IN | Originally written by appy4me on 2006-05-08 10:55 AM
qhgirl: First, your horse is gorgeous! THANKS DIANE!!! He is my special boy! :) But as a mom I think he is pretty handsome anyways... he sure has the personality to go along with his looks... charming! :) Just not into "change"!! |
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Expert
Posts: 2689
| Coincidentally (sort of) I have been asked to move a Mare that "won't get in MY trailer, perhaps she'll get in YOUR big one if you open up all the ramps and windows ?".
Dunno, maybe she will, maybe she won't. On wednesday we'll find out for sure.
It almost feels like a center aisle barn in there sometimes, maybe I'll try a side ramp and she'll have the illusion that she can walk straight through. Ahhh, but the chain across that opening will stop her (-:
Then if she can just ease her butt over a bit and back, back, back,,, good girl, back a bit more, back, back, back,,,,
Dunnit ! What a GOOD horse.
OK, I wonder how she'll be when we MOVE ?
and getting off again ?
If it all goes to plan (-:
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Regular
Posts: 97
Location: Kansas | Was there anything in the lesson in regards to backing out of a trailer? We just bought a mare.. she won't back out. She is used to being led out face first. We have always owned slant loads and have never had a problem backing a horse out. She put one foot out.. and that was it.. right back in the trailer. Stood there like a mule and bulled up.. since it was her first day here.. I hated to push it.. spent an hour trying to get her to back out.. and then took out the back tack and led her out. I could get her to move her front end.. but her back end wouldn't budge. I realize letting her get away with it, didn't help, but again with a new horse I hated to make matters worse. I don't want to take out the rear tack when saddles etc are loaded.. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks. |
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Veteran
Posts: 207
Location: Illinois | Is she an Appy? LOL, we sold one last summer that did the same thing. We loaded her into our new slant load (last of course), and she flat out refused to back out! We ended up using the escape door (yes those things have a purpose!) and unloading the 2 other horses out first (taking all the dividers out too) and finally got her to jump out the front of the escape door! What a mess! I would bet some trainer out there would have some great advice for this common problem.
Sorry, no offense intended about Appies!!! Just too funny!
Diane |
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 Veteran
Posts: 225
Location: Kansas City | 1) Backing out. I bought a horse last December that would load fine but not unload. Didn't like backing out the length of the trailer. Started jumping like expecting a step 6 feet from the door. Tried gentle persuasion plus a little. He responded to neither. Drove the trailer out in the pasture, opened the doors and left him. Guess what, he backed out when he got tired of standing. The next two trips I didn't even try to unload him. Just left him. He figured out how to back out and that being out is better than in. Never a problem since.
2) Loading. Million ways. Last horse I had wouldn't load. Trainer walked up, took a bat and used both hands and whopped him on the rear as hard as he could. Horse jumped in the trailer. Trainer lectured me on beating pulling etc which just aggravate a horse. Said I should give the horse one decision and one decision only to make. It is better to be in there than out here. One really hard hit on the rump is far from abuse and the horse has never balked again.
If poster's horse goes in sometimes when more people are there and not others - the issue in the horse's brain has nothing to do with loading. It is all about who is controlling whom. Just like a 2yr old child who throws temper tantrums until they finish the stage learning they can't get away with them. It is easy to spot the 8yr olds who didn't learn. |
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Regular
Posts: 98
Location: Baldwin City, KS 66006 | I've tried leaving mine in the trailer to let him back out on his own also......2 days later, I finally gave in. Frustrating!!!!! I've got 2 that won't back out.....bought them separately from 2 different people and they both told me that they hoped I didn't own a 2 horse because each would not back out.....Already set habit that I inherited. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 303
Location: Grapeland, Texas | Boy....wish ya'll would stop bashing mules!! Their problem is they are to smart. I have 4 and they all load and unload better than some horses I have had, so give them a break. They are Gods creatures too! |
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Veteran
Posts: 143
Location: southeast U.S.A. | Hi all, Had the same problem here with our horses at the start but slowly worked thru it. The last one that we had to train didn't want to back out either and would turn around in the trailer before you could stop her. I Took a different approach with this horse though and waited ti'll we where at a place that we go ever so often that had a high curb to take up some of the drop-off. Once I got her to back off the trailer this way then it was pretty easy to teach her to back off even when there wasn't a high curb to step onto. Been great ever since. Might be worth a try! Ardly |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 610
Location: Northern CA | I had the same problem, my horse would not back out of slant load stall with the rear-tack.I tried everything and finally had to lead her out the escape door. I also had to collapse the rear tack once to get her out. So, my new trailer does not have a rear tack! Horses are claustrophobic by nature. Yes, I did train this mare to back out of the other trailer with the rear tack. You have to go back to the basics- that is "ground control training" Remember- all horses need a tune-up on occasion. I decided that even though I worked her through it, I didn't want my next trailer to have the rear tack because I did not want to go through a training session every time I trailered a friend's horse some-where. Also, I use my trailer to haul hay or furniture and stuff on occasion. I do prefer the double rear-doors still though. Also, when dealing with a hard to load horse- is the horse truly scared or are they just being obstinate? This is really important as to how to handle the situation. I never push or reprimand a truly frightened horse. I use all the time in the world and act like it's no big deal .This usually works. I have seen alot of people " hesitate"too, right before they reach the trailer while loading, Horses totally pick up on this! Don't think any bad thoughts at trailering time or "oh, I bet this horse is going to be trouble loading". Alot of times we put off body-language and don't realize it. People standing around "trying to help" will also make a horse more apprehensive. |
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Member
Posts: 45
| Both of those are really good points. Confidence on the part of the trainer helps give the horse confidence, if the horse trusts you of course. I have had both types, the stubborn ones and the truly claustrophobic ones. You have to treat them differently. |
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Member
Posts: 13
Location: Germantown, OH | My 10 yr old GH mare likes to do a swan dive out of the trailer. I believe she was an olympic diver. She loads fine, but sweats like a champ while traveling. Once we get to our location she does her little turn around and lunging dive out! Truthfully we are working with her and she will back out, it just takes time. We don't let her dive out but when she can she will! |
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Expert
Posts: 2689
| Mystery solved.
The horse that "wouldn't get on its owner's trailer"
and had "Never been off the farm"
walked right on my trailer this morning, kinda anti-climactic )-:
Yes, she can swing her butt around, yes she can back up into a rear facing stall, yes she liked loading and unloading forwards. Yes, she is a BIG Girl !
We might have ruined her, I won't be there for the next B-Up "experiment".
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Member
Posts: 15
Location: Union Grove, WI | We had a horse like that quite a few years ago. He would get right up and in the open stock, but put him in a safe, enclosed two horse and he was just Psycho. He would fly out of the trailer doing 90. The amazing thing is that I could put a baby on his back and he was as good as gold. anyway, here is what we did. We bought our first two horse trailer that was open in the front of the chest bar ( brenderup) and we worked with him the Parelli way. We did put some of his manure in the trailer for a few days too which took the :"new" smell out and left us with "his" smell. If you have a Parelli person there or if you can work with him yourself that way, try it. Once we got the new smell out we just asked him to get on the ramp or in your case get two feet up. If he doesn't hesitate to do that then try three feet. make sure yu ask him to back out, don't let him bolt out. If he does then keep doing it until he stays in the trailer for at least 7 seconds. That isn't asking too much. Once he does that then take a break and wait until tomorrow. He just might not like the fact that he has no room up in front of his face and he is boxed in. Is this a slant load or a straight. Did you have him tied or loose in the stock. |
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Veteran
Posts: 133
Location: Indianapolis, IN | Thanks for the information everyone. This weekend was a breakthrough for us. I hooked up Saturday am, pulled it and parked it at my boarding barn all weekend. Practiced loading and unloading all weekend, both days. Poor guy. ;) Knowing my horse and his limitations... I hooked him up with a lunge rope, (having gloves on) and ran the other end through the front tie and back to me to control. Like a pully method. We worked loading alone. I want him to self load, so I don't have to go in with him now. I threw his other rope over his neck and walked him up to it. He stopped, I then proceded to use my "whip".. (don't jump on me yet) and tapped him on the rear. He pulled once and then looked at me, I told him to get in there... smacked him again and then he took a step closer. I of course stopped tapping him and asked him again get in there... tapping on the rear and he jumped in, I closed the butt bar and he was loaded. This is where most won't agree with me, but I walked around to the front and proceded to let him eat out of the bucket with grain in it with his neck out the window. He of course blew and snorted but of course enjoyed his grain bite. I then went and unloaded him. I prefer to unload him by going in the area with him so he doesn't get used to flying out. SO I did that and it took him 3 minutes to back out on his own, letting him get used to it, took him over and let him eat grass for a few mintues and let him relax more. We repeated this for 4 times, he never pulled back again, but I had to use the lunge line just to keep his head straight. Again treats and praise and grain bite. (Yes had hay there too like I would when we travel) to have him used to the whole situation. After this, I walked him up to grab the lunge line to snap it on him again, and before I got the snap, he jumped in. SOOOO I left him be, gave him his bite of grain and let him stand there for a good 5 minutes. He was fine, unloaded and then actually went to grab the whip to take it back in the barn and he just jumped back in.. SO we went ahead and did the "routine" and ended on that note. The following day I went out again, opened it all up and got ready, walked him up, he hesitated, I walked him in a circle again and re-positioned him to go in and he did.. with no problem. We did that 2 more times and then took a "trip" around the area.
SO all in all, he realized the trailer is to stay... and he is getting more comfortable in it. :) YEA!!!!! |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 301
Location: Catoctin Mtn, Maryland | Glad to see you used the "tapping on the rear end technique". Like I said in my previous post,,,,,,,,,it's worked for me everytime.........although I must say some horses do take longer than others. I think the longest time for me was 20 minutes of continued tapping .......my poor arm was killing me.......but that silly horse "finally" had enough of it and hopped on! |
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Member
Posts: 8
Location: ohio | A GREAT METHOD T OGET YOUR HORSE TO WANT TO LOAD IS BY GIVING HIM A WORKOUT OUTSIDE OF THE TRAILER AND WHEN HE GOES TO THE TRAILER HE CAN REST GRADUALLY WORK IT SO HE ONLY GETS TO REST INSIDE OF THE TRAILER FOR MORE OF THE TECHNIQUE CHECK OUT CLINTON ANDERSON YOU WILL BE ABSOLUTELY FLOORED |
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Veteran
Posts: 133
Location: Indianapolis, IN | Originally written by windwalker2 on 2006-05-15 11:48 AM Glad to see you used the "tapping on the rear end technique". Like I said in my previous post,,,,,,,,,it's worked for me everytime.........although I must say some horses do take longer than others. I think the longest time for me was 20 minutes of continued tapping .......my poor arm was killing me.......but that silly horse "finally" had enough of it and hopped on! |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 301
Location: Catoctin Mtn, Maryland | I agree with you. I didn't own that horse. We had driven up to the auction to check out some hay for sale on a Saturday morning and these two men were trying to get this "Thorobred" into a very very very small trailer. (Poor thing.) They had purchased her the night before at auction. The guy that owned the trailer said they had been trying for 3 hours to load her and he'd had enough. He was going to leave this horse there. Now, the poor guy that actually purchased her didn't know what to do and didn't have anyone else to trailer this horse. (like 70 miles one way). Said it was the first horse he ever owned. (scary, huh?) Soooo I, (the nice person that I am) proceeded. Trust me, if it was my horse, it would have been loaded a heck of lot quicker. I really felt sorry for this guy but more so this horse that was so terrified to begin with,(ie; new owner, small trailer, etc.) made me hang in there. Like I said, I must have "tapped" for 20 minutes, but when she kicked out at me I knew her next step would be to go forward! (she was pissed for sure). Boy we horse people sure have a million stories we can tell, huh? |
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Veteran
Posts: 225
Location: Kansas City | Originally written by laura on 2006-05-15 3:52 PM
A GREAT METHOD T OGET YOUR HORSE TO WANT TO LOAD IS BY GIVING HIM A WORKOUT OUTSIDE OF THE TRAILER AND WHEN HE GOES TO THE TRAILER HE CAN REST GRADUALLY WORK IT SO HE ONLY GETS TO REST INSIDE OF THE TRAILER FOR MORE OF THE TECHNIQUE CHECK OUT CLINTON ANDERSON YOU WILL BE ABSOLUTELY FLOORED Except when you consider some horses actually have a brain and become conditioned or as some of these "famous" people say patterned to this. I have actually seen people who subscribe to some of these "training" techniques who developed a pattern of working their horse every time they want to load. There are times I want to run to the pasture, grab a green, fresh horse and load and go. As I stated earlier, I subsribe to the theory that a horse needs to respond to your cue when you ask and not when they want. Otherwise you may find yourself on a trail, road, etc. where it is important that the horse do what you want and not cause you to get hurt. |
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Member
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Location: Germantown, OH | I agree with Barry. A horse is a horse of course of course. We must remember that. You can only whisper to a horse so often, then you must let them know who is the boss and who makes the rules. I in no way manhandle or abuse my horses but they know when I mean business (and I certainly don't have the patience that 20 minutes would take) They will try to get away with something (just like kids do) and all it ususally takes is to raise my voice a little or a wake up jerk on the lead. |
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Veteran
Posts: 133
Location: Indianapolis, IN | I am so glad there are people on here that think just like me. ;) I just didn't know how to "put it" without sounding bad. You guys summed it up for me.. thanks! |
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Veteran
Posts: 133
Location: Indianapolis, IN | Another loading story I heard about. The monday before I practiced, we have a guy come to the barn to "train" on a particular method. I do not however have him help me. BUT there are a few that follow his every rule and whim. Well there was a horse that would not load, he started to work the horse to load in a friends trailer, they have a ramp 2 horse slant bumper pull. He hooked up and proceded to do a trailer session. Up to the trailer and the horse freaks, one foot on the horse freaks, he circles, and works it next to the trailer, up and down the barn (outside by the windows) and proceeds to get all the horses running in their stalls because they can only see 1/10 of what is going on out the window. There is a horse flying up and down working its you know what off. They proceed to try for 3 hours... the horse is dripping wet, welt marks from the "rope" and stick and the horse has only got 2 feet on the ramp. The owner is over on a rock crying while the trainer is working this horse. The owner finally asks, is she just scared or it is a respect issue. He proceeds to let the owner know, both plus she is a B($&&H. SOO now the owner is balling, the mare finally gives in after circle upon tiny circle running as fast as she can "working"... and she jumps in... finally. He lets her sit for a minute and unhooks her and she flys out. He is done. That was it. That is all he wanted. Yes you have a point to "training" but the basics have to be there to use this method. Just wonder if another method might have helped this mare out more. HUM. I did not see this happen, this was from the owner or I might have been asked to leave the barn. There is a point where he lost the horse mentally and didn't accomplish anything. |
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Member
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Location: Germantown, OH | Did this "trainer" actually own a horse or is just an expert? Common sense seems to go out the window on this one (the same window the horse was running by) It's one thing to work the horse but to have the owner crying and the horse dripping wet and stressed. This is the one person I wouldn't want at my barn doing anything! I've seen some guys who get all macho when these things happen and will work it into the ground. Sounds like a bad situation. It's a wonder someone didn't get hurt on this. |
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Veteran
Posts: 133
Location: Indianapolis, IN | He is "certified".. believe that. Well the barn owners should have caught wind of this now. Not my battle... he doesn't "hurt" me, nor do I buy into his stuff. But I agree... :) the battle was lost a long time ago with that mare. He just made it 100 times worse. |
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.jpg) Expert
Posts: 2828
Location: Southern New Mexico | I've seen a "certified" trainer that I wouldn't let touch my horses. She was bragging about being Perilli certified and how her 17 horses all rode/handled perfectly and when she showed them to me I was stunned. You could count the ribs on everyone of them and several had saddle sores. She had a 22 yr old blind mare in a 3x5 tie stall and said she was in the pasture with her full sister (that she had been with and depended on since birth) but she was eating the bark off the trees so she seperated them. The mare was terrified to be alone. |
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Member
Posts: 13
Location: Germantown, OH | Gee, I wonder what Mr. Parelli would think of that. If they are going to lend their good name to people they should be checking these people out. That is inhumane to leave that horse alone in that small stall. |
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new trailer - Horse hates it
