Posted 2013-03-08 1:09 PM (#150451) Subject: For those who haul horses "loose" - how to safely enter/exit?
Regular
Posts: 70
I tried searching first, but in the last 360 days, nothing came up so here goes. How do you guys SAFELY load and unload the horses in the trailer when hauling loose? What I mean is, if I have a stock trailer with center cut gate and want the horses loose in box stalls, how do you unclip/untie the horse in the rear stall and quickly CLOSE the rear gate without the horse trying to follow you out? And even more important, when you want to unload and you open that back gate to get in, there is a loose horse "right there" that would probably just try to "come out" - how do you do this safely?
Posted 2013-03-08 5:28 PM (#150457 - in reply to #150451) Subject: RE: For those who haul horses "loose" - how to safely enter/exit?
Expert
Posts: 2453 Location: Northern Utah
I have a slant load, So a little different than box stalls.. But I lead the horse in and slip the lead rope thru the ring and I keep ahold of the loose end as I walk away and shut the divider. If the horse makes a move to follow. I can pull the lead rope, which pulls the horse's head back toward the window of the trailer. After the gate is shut, I just drop the lead against the front wall or throw it over the horses back. Mostly so it doesn't get pee'd on. I gave up tying the lead ropes many many years ago.
My horses are really pretty good about waiting for me to unload them. They stand while I open the divider and wait for me to approach the side of their head. I guess they feel enough friction on the rope through the tie ring to think they are still tied and to wait for me to collect the lead rope and lead them out of the trailer. It's kinda like teaching a horse to Ground Tie. Nothing really holding them to that spot, But they know they shouldn't move.
Years ago, while helping a stranger at the fairgrounds load her daughter's 4H horse in her trailer, I tore the ends off two of my fingers in a lead rope trying to get the lead tied. My opinion now days, is that if a horse doesn't want to be in the trailer and is bad mannered about it. I'll get out of the way and spend time teaching manners to the horse out side the trailer in safety.
Posted 2013-03-08 6:16 PM (#150459 - in reply to #150451) Subject: RE: For those who haul horses "loose" - how to safely enter/exit?
Regular
Posts: 70
Thanks for the feedback. Totally agree about training the horse to be calm and relaxed and "WAIT" in the trailer. If they don't have anxiety, they aren't going to be rushing out/escaping-type mentality. I was just picturing a big box stall and opening the back doors and the horse is just totally "loose" probably facing you as you are opening the doors. I wonder if some folks put a full-width padded chest-height chain across the back so you can open the back doors and the chain is still there, across the big opening.
Posted 2013-03-08 7:07 PM (#150460 - in reply to #150451) Subject: RE: For those who haul horses "loose" - how to safely enter/exit?
Member
Posts: 39 Location: Versailles, KY
A chain can help -- I've used one. However, it's just training. My horses know whoa pretty well, and they didn't try to rush out when I lowered the ramp. They did keep a lead on, though, so I could grab it if needed. You could trailer them with a lead, which is probably a good idea regardless.It's just like my problem right now with a step up. One horse doesn't want to back out and the other rushes out. I need to take the time to train them to slowly back out. Totally my fault they don't do it because I haven't taken the time to train them:(
Posted 2013-03-08 7:53 PM (#150461 - in reply to #150451) Subject: RE: For those who haul horses "loose" - how to safely enter/exit?
Regular
Posts: 79 Location: Alberta Canada
I have a 16 ft gn stock trailer, and haul up to 5 hd loose horses at a time. My horses are trained to get in the trailer. All I do is open the back door and they get in one at a time. Usually one or two will turn around and face backwards. I never close the center divider gate, whether I am hauling one or five hd. Only time center gate is closed is when I have only one horse and am trailering for over an hour or so, the center gate gives them something to lean back against while in transit. When I unload I open back door wide as possible, and horses are trained not to exit until I have lead shank in hand,and only then they will come out one a time. Its the repetitive loading/unloading that trains them to wait until asked to do something. I usually haul 3 to6 times per week when checking cattle, so they get very used to loading and unloading... sometimes 2 or 3 times per day. Above all one has to be very calm about the whole load and unload scenario as horses can sense a tense person, Hope this helps with your issues, and happy trails.
Posted 2013-03-08 8:53 PM (#150462 - in reply to #150451) Subject: RE: For those who haul horses "loose" - how to safely enter/exit?
Regular
Posts: 70
Thanks all!!!I don't have any "issues" right now. I'm actually shopping for my dream trailer and I've always thought my horse might be happier to be able to be loose and in a stock type trailer and face backwards or at whatever angle she is most balanced.So as I was imagining this type of set up, I thought about what happens when loading and unloading a loose horse like that :)I currently tie in a slant load- so I simply just haven't done this before, nor have I seen it done - so I was just asking how you all do it :)Thank you for the detailed responses.
Posted 2013-03-11 2:50 PM (#150517 - in reply to #150451) Subject: RE: For those who haul horses "loose" - how to safely enter/exit?
Member
Posts: 39 Location: Versailles, KY
Have you never taken the divider out and let the horse ride free? I did that whenever I had one horse in my two-horse slant load. I plan to do it with the three-horse, too.
Posted 2013-03-11 9:51 PM (#150530 - in reply to #150517) Subject: RE: For those who haul horses "loose" - how to safely enter/exit?
Regular
Posts: 70
Originally written by Javanewt on 2013-03-11 12:50 PM
Have you never taken the divider out and let the horse ride free? I did that whenever I had one horse in my two-horse slant load. I plan to do it with the three-horse, too.
Nope - never done that before. My current trailers' "back" is a low ramp that makes up the rear door. I think a loose horse would be very tempted to just jump out.I could put the storm doors back on it and try - but I think a ramp that you have to get down first - a heavy one at that - is dangerous as the ONLY back door of a trailer with a loose horse inside who may be really ready to come out :)I'd try hauling her loose in a step up that has a swing-open door....but not a "ramp only" door.
For those who haul horses "loose" - how to safely enter/exit?
