Posted 2006-12-18 5:37 AM (#52590) Subject: trouble loading horse
Member
Posts: 14
Location: Overpeck, Ohio 45055
I traded my haflinger horse for a rocky mountain and the people who took "Hammie" had to move from their residence which is about 1 mile from my place. They cannot load this horse into a trailer. I had him for 10 years with no problems and now he won't load. We spent all day Sat. and Sun. trying to get him into 3 different trailers, a 2 hose straight load, a 12 foot stock trailer and finally a 3 horse slant load gooseneck. He REFUSES to go inside. Tried ropes around his back end, tried coaxing him in with food, pushed him, pulled him and finally the guy tried beating him. NOTHING works!!!! We walked him back to my place on the highway and he is now back in my barn. He is scared to death. This guy wants him and I have too many horses to keep him here. Any suggestions?? We are at our ropes end trying to get him to load. We thought about ace to calm him down but hate to drug him. He is short and stocky and the most lovable thing you could want and I hate to see him scared and hurt.
Posted 2006-12-18 11:50 AM (#52604 - in reply to #52590) Subject: RE: trouble loading horse
Veteran
Posts: 235 Location: Keymar,Maryland
WindWalker is correct there is a huge amount of info in the search function. Aside from that I think you do not have a loading problem but a control problem ( if someone resorts to beating a horse into a trailer I can see why the horse would smell that attitude coming). Forget the trailer and go back to ground work in a rope halter. Go forward, back up, yield quarters, etc. You'll find after a few short sessions things are back to normal ( until he leaves your property, don't be suprised if the new owners always have problems). There are plenty of loading dvd's out there all relatively the same. I find if a horse balks just a few minutes of work away from the trailer is enough and things don't escalate.
Posted 2006-12-18 12:05 PM (#52605 - in reply to #52590) Subject: RE: trouble loading horse
Regular
Posts: 50 Location: Colorado
You'll need to start from square one by regaining his trust first. Then work onto the trailer. Can you back a hitched or safely blocked, opened trailer up to his pen and let him find his hay just right there along the back of it to start? You say he used to load. You'll have to back up and pinpoint what happened to him to cause that to change as you said the time you owned him there was never a problem. This points to his new owners doing something to him you probably aren't aware of and they probably don't want you to know.
There are so many clinicians that have good ideas and techniques on trailer loading, those resources are out there. Beating and drugging are not options to be sure. If what what you describe has now taken place, particularly beatings, then that horse has been set back severely. You'll need a bit of time to work him through this with diligent patience now that the damage is done.
Baby steps. Just getting his nose in should be rewarded. Eventually the feet will follow. Do it slowly and help the horse regain his confidence. Gain the horse's trust in you before you ask anything of him first. How much time do you have at this point? Try walking him to the open trailer and asking nothing else. He will probably want to turn away (fear involking his flight instinct) but remain calm. Once he settles and maybe just does something as minor as sniff of the door or ramp, reward him and put him away. Work at it. Take him out every few hours. Put a carrot in the doorway on the mat or a handful of grain. This will take time. You don't want to see him frightened and hurt. Whatever you do, always end the session on a positive note. If you have a setback that's okay. Just go back to where you know you can let the horse succeed and end the lesson there.
Some people believe on building obedience and forward impulsion, moving away from pressure on the longe line. Clint Anderson, Lyons and Roberts do variations on this. Keeping the horse moving forward, keeping feet moving. They essentially use techniques that keep the horse moving away from the pressure of the line and releasing it the instant the horse is headed the right direction -- into the trailer. I haven't found that technique to be useful for trailer loading myself though even though I've tried it as Parelli student. I've started my share of colts and have worked a few bad actors, trailer loading can be one of the most frustrating problems to overcome.
Posted 2006-12-18 6:01 PM (#52621 - in reply to #52590) Subject: RE: trouble loading horse
Veteran
Posts: 225 Location: Urbana,MD
I use the "Go foward Cue" Which you teach from the ground.I have a TB mare that was beat and forced into trailers at the track.When I got her she would not load and put up a vicous fight.Kick and such! YOu teach the cue on the ground with a halter and rope,and depending on the horse a dressage whip.YOu start by taping the horse lightly over the hip(increase the taping until he moves)Most horses will find it annoying and will attempt to do something..Do not stop taping until the horse moves its feet foward(only) once it moves or even attemps to move foward stop taping.You usally don't have to tap too hard just enough to make it annoying.Then you eventualy will want the horse to walk in a circle around you.Continue to do this until you get a nice rsponse every time.It may take a few days.Then take the horse to the back of the trailer have him start circling by the foward cue.Then ask the cue while he is alined with the trailer.The horse will learn that when he is taped over the hip he knows that it means go foward...wheather it be on the ground or in the trailer.He may at first just put both front feet in...then back him off.Then ask again.You don't want it to be his idea to back off you want it to be yours before he does it. It does take a bit of patiance ,but it is a gentle straight foward way for the horse.My tb may still stop at the first look of the trailer but all I need to do now is give her a tap and on she goes.Good luck!
Posted 2006-12-18 10:16 PM (#52629 - in reply to #52590) Subject: RE: trouble loading horse
Member
Posts: 14
Location: Overpeck, Ohio 45055
Thanks to all for their suggestions on loading this horse. Sorry to some of you people who told me to search but-----I am computer illiterate (sp) and do not know how to go about looking back on this site to search. I am going to try to take time and reteach this little fella. I told the owners to leave him with me for a few days and I would see what I could do. He seems to be happy being back home with his field buddies, so he will get comfortable and not scared with all the other people not around to scare him. Thanks again and I will let you all know how he does in the next few days.
Posted 2006-12-19 12:05 PM (#52649 - in reply to #52629) Subject: RE: trouble loading horse
Expert
Posts: 2828 Location: Southern New Mexico
If they are only moving a mile they could just ride him over. He knows something is up. When I moved, my gelding (who always travels nicely) panicked when we stopped for the night. He was the first on/last off and went nuts when the others were let to a pen he couldn't see. He didn't want to be the first loaded in the morning. I had to tie one of the others next to the trailer where he could see them before he would load.
Posted 2006-12-20 11:57 PM (#52710 - in reply to #52590) Subject: RE: trouble loading horse
Veteran
Posts: 189 Location: nashville, In.
I don't know that I would want the "guy" to have him or not. If he beat him to get him to load, what next? And he loaded for you just fine when you had him. Sounds like he might have put the bluff on the new people (I think all new horses do, to a degree, to see if they can get away with anything) and it worked. Then they had to resort to force to get what they wanted. Or at least they thought they had to do that to get him to do what they wanted. By then he was scared of them and no way, no how was he going anywhere with "the guy". I might have read this all wrong, but if I didn't its something to think about.
Posted 2006-12-21 8:25 AM (#52716 - in reply to #52590) Subject: RE: trouble loading horse
Member
Posts: 14
Location: Overpeck, Ohio 45055
"The guy" has never called me back since I have had the horse back at my barn. I have no problems with "Hammie" and he seems fine. You may be right about "the guy" using force. I think I will tell this man that I will take the horse back. Heard through the grapevine that the guy had moved to another barn two days after I got "Hammie" back. When I went to see him he wasn't there!!! Seemed he didn't like it there and moved closer to his house at another barn!! I will find someone else to take him that wiil treat him right or just turn him loose in the pasture as a buddie for the rest. My 5 year old grandson and 1 year old gandson play with him and he seems to love them right back. So,,,,guess I will end up
with him after all.Think I owe this man money back on him?? What are the legal rights on this? As I said he has not contacted me since Sunday.
Posted 2006-12-21 8:49 AM (#52718 - in reply to #52590) Subject: RE: trouble loading horse
Veteran
Posts: 127 Location: PA
My advice: Yes, pay the man back for the horse.
It is the right thing to do and you don't want to get into a pissing contest with a man that will try to beat a horse into a trailer.
Also you don't want to wake up one morning and find the pony missing from the pasture. I had a Haflinger once too.....he was a great horse for anyone to ride on trail rides but was the most stubborn horse I have ever owned -- bar none.
Posted 2006-12-21 11:33 PM (#52754 - in reply to #52590) Subject: RE: trouble loading horse
Location: KY
Beth makes a very good point. I wouldn't want "the guy" to get one of my horses either, even tho we are slightly over loaded at the moment. Rather wait until a good match for the horse appears (yes, I still believe in Santa Claus too) until then, they can just hang out here.
Posted 2006-12-22 9:48 AM (#52761 - in reply to #52590) Subject: RE: trouble loading horse
Member
Posts: 14
Location: Overpeck, Ohio 45055
I received a call from the sister of the guy that bought "Hammie" and she said she has a man that loads rodeo horses and she will send him out to get the horse. Says he gaurantees he can load the horse in less than 30 minutes. She tells me that her brother said he will just let me keep the horse but she is coming to pick him up. Now the question is, do I let HER take him or try to contact the brother to find out if he just wants the money back?? I didn't sell Hammie to HER and I don't want him accusing me of reselling his horse or stealing it or whatever. Who would have figured I could get into this kind of mess??????
Posted 2006-12-23 9:43 AM (#52788 - in reply to #52590) Subject: RE: trouble loading horse
Location: KY
Would not let her have the horse. After the whole ordeal, it would be my suggestion to mail the "guy" a certified return receipt letter enclosing a check for refund and cancelling the deal. Just my op which with $5 will get you a cup of coffee......
Posted 2006-12-24 10:57 PM (#52833 - in reply to #52590) Subject: RE: trouble loading horse
Expert
Posts: 1989 Location: South Central OK
Unless you have talkd to the owner DO NOT RELEASE THE HORSE!
He may have sold your horse to a horse dealer. $20 says the "quick loader" uses a hot shot. Rodeo horses are treated like cattle, not horses as we see them!
Contact the owner and have him tell her to bring a letter releasing the horse to her from the owner.
Posted 2006-12-26 11:26 PM (#52888 - in reply to #52590) Subject: RE: trouble loading horse
Member
Posts: 14
Location: Overpeck, Ohio 45055
GOD NEWS!!!!!! After taking a little time and patience and loving care the horse finally got moved. Took a lot of ya'lls suggestions and worked with Hammie. He is now in his new home and the owner is very relieved. Hammie has a new stall, new pasture and new buddies. I am keeping an eye on him and helping this new horse owner learn how to treat animals and not lose patience. He has asked me to go riding with him at his barn and help him stay on track. He has never owned a horse before but he ans his daughter are willing to have help. Hammie seems to like the fellow and I think he has forgiven him for the mistreatment he got from the haulers. Thanks to everyone for all their advice and help.
trouble loading horse
.jpg)
