We trainined a 10 year-old, 1100 pound wide gelding that had been trailered in stock trailer only. Age is not an issue, just his lack of training and experience. First thing is to ask for each step and then stop on the ground first- not quick backing mutliple steps like some folks do under saddle. You want the whoa immediate so he doesn't turn around or bolt backward.

You'll also need a long lead rope and small crop to straighten the hip if he swings his hind end out of position in an attempt to turn. A stud chain is effective if he tries to bolt from you or using a rope halter that is similar to Clinton Anderson, Pat Parielli etc that has the pressure knots on the nose and poll. The object here is to keep the head and neck from bending into a turn.

After you get one step and whoa on the ground, increase to several steps and then whoa. Once you have control of his feet movement, I'd start by asking for front feet first only in the trailer and then back out (do this several times) and then go in a little ways then back. I always say step wheh hind feet get to the edge so they know that the edge of the trailer is at their back feet. Leave him at a straight position first and then go to the slant position only after he is comfortable backing out quietly.

Make sure your dividers are secure. And your mangers are not the problem in your current trailer, it is his inexperience at backing out of the trailer. We also used treats and a small bucket placed in front of his chest and after each step and whoa he got a reward. He got to looking for each step/whoa command to get the treat.

The key is to get each step or series of steps when asked and then a whoa. So you really need to be able to get one step at a time on the ground first and then try loading him. Remember to priase and stroke his neck or rub nis head (not a hard pat) after each step and whoa. Slow backing is what you are trying to accomplish here, so be patient.

Pretty soon he'll be loading on his own and then backing out quitely without you even going into the trailer. Just the back queue with the lead rope inside the manger window with the verbal queue and he should come out slowly and quietly.

Ponytammy,Thanks for the enouraging words.  How long did it take to teach your horse that?  Should I just do 1 lesson a day?  What am I going to do in the meantime?  Just continue to haul him and turn him around like I have been doing?  I guess until we get to the point of having lessons in the trailer I won't be hurting anything.  Like I said, he will back on the ground and he will back when I am riding but he has some issues.  I am embarrassed to tell this, but I got him in one of those wash racks with the pole dividers and it took me and about 5 men to get him out.  He was freaking out.  He wants to charge forward to get out instead of backing.  Other that this issue, he is a great trail horse but it is getting so that I'm not going to be able to trailer him cause one or both of us is going to get hurt. 

I completely understand the charging forward horse. The same gelding I mentioned had this issue too which made it difficult to stop him when he decided to turn around instead of back out of the trailer or go into the wash rack. He had ground manner and respect issues for our space which is why he would turn around in our space and walk out no matter how hard we tugged on him.

You will need to get control of his body by doing some ground work and teaching him your space and his. Clinton Anderson, Pareilli, Chris Cox etc all have excellent methods for training this. Along with trailer loading issues.

It took our gelding about a week with 30 minutes trailer loading lessons to learn to back out easily. He was going in and coming out on the first lesson of about an hour, but not so pretty coming out. And then another 3 weeks to learn to go SLOWLY. After several weeks of backing out he started speeding up when he got half way out of the three horse and then pop out quickly. We went back to the step/whoa exercise. Remember that every horse learns differently and on a different schedule. This gelding is somewhat hard headed and needs time to think between requests. If you push too hard you'll have a wreck.

Also don't be surprised if he starts balking at going into the trailer. This is where the praise becomes very important each times he goes in, in addition to backing.

It will help you if someone could assist you in keep his body straight through the offside of the trailer. Or ask a qualified trainer to help you for a few trailer lessons. Asking for assistance is a lot cheaper than a hospital bill.

By getting his front feet in first and then backing out will go along way in his confidence in you and himself. Just be very careful he doesn't rear up and come down on you. The possibilities of injury are endless in trailer loading. Go slow and always stop on a positve note on something he knows even if your trailer lesson was less than perfect.

Quote:  After you get one step and whoa on the ground, increase to several steps and then whoa. Once you have control of his feet movement, I'd start by asking for front feet first only in the trailer and then back out (do this several times) and then go in a little ways then back.

This is also invaluable.  I would work more on LOADING than un-loading at this point (as in, don't just let load up then unload).  Concentrate on the step in, whoa, step out, repeat repeat repeat.  2 steps in, whoa, etc.  Again, use those treats.  Make him stop ALWAYS at the mid-way out point (Manna Pro apple wafers are great for this training!)