Site Menu:
This is an archived Horseadvice.com Discussion. The parent article and menus are available on the navigation menu below: |
HorseAdvice.com » Training, Behavior, & Conditioning Horses » Behavior and Training » Trailer Loading a Horse » |
Discussion on Horse Loading | |
Author | Message |
Posted on Monday, May 20, 2002 - 4:31 pm: I have a 4 year old QH gelding. When I bought him, he walked into the trailer. Brought him home and unloaded him and could never get him in my 2 horse straigh load again. I spend alot of money on lessons to get him in again. Which he did. I stood outside the trailer and he loaded himself. Well he has regressed and refuses to get back in. I have tried everything, including John Lyons, the one my trainer taught him, etc. The normal methods people have suggested have not worked. I need different ideas. Please HELP!!!Thanks Lori |
|
Posted on Tuesday, May 21, 2002 - 6:23 am: Lori, we need to know what your have tried and how you did it.DrO |
|
Posted on Tuesday, May 21, 2002 - 6:07 pm: Lori, we have a horse that was the same way, playing games I guess cause he wasnt afraid of the trailor. Well a friend told us that as soon as he pulls back on ya just turn around and back him up as fast as he will go, then walked him back up and if he raises his head to back up do it again. It only took 3 times of this and the horse probably figured it was easier to just walk in. Then we would only take him in half way then sometimes just his front feet and make him stand there. Worked for us. We spent 2 years walking him to the trailor only for him to sidestep it or bulk till we tried this method. Hope this helps.Mary |
|
Posted on Wednesday, May 22, 2002 - 8:01 pm: Hi Dr O and Mary. Dr O. Here is what I have tried: I have tried John Lyons, I have tried Pat Parelli, I have tried squeeze shooting him in, I have made him back up as fast as I can when he backs up, tried tapping his hip to go forward (he backs up or rears). I am at my wits end.Please HELP!!!!! Mary, thanks for the advice but I have tried that too. Lori |
|
Posted on Thursday, May 23, 2002 - 7:00 am: Frankly Lori, all of these techniques will teach just about any horse to load. I suspect the problem is in your technique, and not the training ideas. Sometimes the idea is not enough and it takes practice to develop proper technique.When this occurs it is time to seek some professional help. See if you can find a local professional trainer, preferably the one at the barn where you bought him, willing to come out to your barn. DrO |
|
Posted on Thursday, May 23, 2002 - 7:28 am: Lori, I have to agree with Dr. O. I have a gelding who would not load. The group at my barn (many, many years of experience among them) tried everything from rough to easy to cajoling. Nothing worked. We finally had someone come in from out of town to work with him. This trainer did much the same as we did but had him loading easily and quietly within a couple of hours. It was hard to admit that my trainer and I and all the others helping us couldn't do this and this other person did it pretty easily but the bottom line is, the horse now loads for anyone. Best of luck, Jessie |
|
Posted on Thursday, May 23, 2002 - 6:40 pm: Thanks for your suggestions. It is probably my technique. I had paid a trainer before to help me with this problem and I will just have to do it again and then take him for rides once a week, just to keep him used to the idea of it. I live in Boring, OR which is about 30 miles East of Portland, does anyone know of any good trainers that could help me in this area.Thanks Lori |
|
Posted on Thursday, May 23, 2002 - 10:01 pm: My husband's horse is a difficult loader, although he knows just what he's being asked to do. He gets halfway on then squirts back out at speed.We tried various incentives (carrot and stick) and they didn't work. He loads much better when there's another horse already on board, but even then he puts up an argument, and we can't promise him he'll always have company! So I tried establishing dominance before asking him to load by getting him to lower his head, all the way to my knees, then asking him to walk on, and lo and behold, it worked! It certainly impressed my husband, but even better, we got the horse to the dentist on time. Since then, we have repeated this little exercise every time, between putting on his shipping boots and asking him to load. In the beginning, he needed someone to lead him all the way on and someone else to fasten the tail bar, but now he'll load without a leader. Can't say he's dependable, we don't trailer him often enough to know, but so far so good. He's acting like a different horse. Not sure any of our experience will "solve" your problem, but thought I'd offer what worked in our case. Melissa |
|
Posted on Thursday, May 23, 2002 - 11:48 pm: Hi Melissa ~ Sounds like you've hit on a great idea Part of the reason it works may be that, when a horse lowers his head, he also calms down. That being the case, this might work for a lot of "nervous" loaders. Certainly worth a try, especially on these horses that get in a lather just looking at a trailer! Hope it keeps working for youSuzy and Indy |
|
Posted on Friday, May 24, 2002 - 11:40 am: Hi Suzy,This is a well-known tactic for helping to get the horse to accept your direction, and not my original thinking, I'm afraid! I learned it from watching Karen O'Connor give a clinic last summer, and attempt to deal with a very tough horse that was acting out. You want to get him to lower his head and keep it there until he starts to show other signs of submission, like the chewing that foals do. Anyhow, one day a month or two after than clinic, when we had a tight schedule and my husband's horse absolutely refused to load, I remembered it and tried it, and lo and behold it worked immediately (to my immense gratification and my husband's utter amazement). Again, this horse understood perfectly well what we were asking of him, and he has ridden in trailers many times before... so it was a respect issue, not a problem of fear from some bad experience or a lack of understanding. Melissa |
|
Posted on Friday, May 24, 2002 - 12:58 pm: Hi Melissa ~ Not my original thinking either. I got it from John LyonsSuzy |
|
Posted on Friday, Jun 7, 2002 - 5:40 pm: Hi:I just wanted you all to know that I had a trainer come out and work with my horse. We had him loading and unloading perfectly in less than 30 mintues!!!!!! Thanks for all of your advice Lori and Boe Joe!!! |
|