Last summer we had an incident, which involved the jackknifing of our truck and trailer. Two horses that were being transported, were thrown about quite severely, but were uninjured. To this day, they are reluctant to load.

The next day after the incident, we attempted to load the horses. One finally loaded after about 10 or 15 minutes of effort. He reloaded two more times and we put him away. The second gelding would not load after an hour and a half of intense exertion. We knew if we failed then, the next attempt would be almost impossible. We took a long breather, 20 minutes or so, and again started the process. We finally ended up covering his eyes and spending some time calming the situation.

He partially loaded several times, pulling out before he was fully contained. He was sweating and shaking profusely, he was a wreck. After walking him back to the arena and working with him with some basic ground work, everyone's nerves were once again calmed. We discussed calling a vet and the administration of a tranquilizer. No vets were available except for emergency calls.

So we went back to the trailer, again covered his eyes, and spoke as softly as our patience would allow; the third attempt was fruitful. We did not try to trap him with the butt bar and lead, instead we let him stand there on his own. Talking in soothing tones, lots of body rubbing and taking off the blindfold eased his tension. Within a few minutes, his eyes were less round, and he was looking around for some treats.

We backed him out, which started to upset him, but again walked him until he calmed a bit. We reloaded twice more, each time it was easier, and called it a successful day.

Even now he is not the same as before the incident. It must have been a dramatic event in his life, to have experienced that episode. I am hoping that this summer's routine will get him back in his groove.

BOL   Gard

Wow Gard I can not imagine.

I had a saddled horse's stirrup get caught on the gate one time and it totally freaked this guy out. He was dream to load and unload before that and until the day I sold him you never knew how he would load.

Then this last summer I had a young filly fall or crawl and got in with another horse and they got stuck in the trailer and it was quite the ordeal to get them out....and it did not even phase that poor horse.. 

I have been know to back the horse and just feed them in there. In the days before all the lunging this what we did all the time...

Good Luck!

http://www.downunderhorsemanship.com/

When one of his clinics come to your area...Have him get your horse loading again

My mother used to back her truck and 2 horse bumper trailer up to the horses pen and put feed in one side, hay on the other side and leave the water in the pen.  It usually took a day or so but the horse learns to load and unload by it's self and that the trailer can be a good place. 

When I get a difficult loader I feed them in the trailer and no where else until they relax.   After they are relaxed I will start shutting the divider with a hay bag and eventually start taking short trips. 

Knock on the formica...I've never needed him personally...but I have seen him work...HE IS GOOD...

 I have a horse that jumped the chest bar on the way home with him when I purchased him. the previous owner said he trailered fine. yea right. he was almost dead when I found him hanging in the trailer. After that near death experience he was terrified of the trailer and would rear at it and when a friend tried to load him he smashed his head on the top of the trailer. another bad experience. I had no hope for this horse to ever load again, Then I met a John Lyons trainer at a rescue clinic. She gave me hope and I am so lucky to have met her. She told me that he was the worst case she ever had but reassured me he could overcome his fear with proper training . and he did! Patience is the key. don't expect it overnight. she tought me how to load him calmly in the trailer. it cost me some money, but my horse was worth every penny of it. Look for a Professional, it worked for me. Good luck!