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Discussion on Loading a difficult horse on your own | |
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Member: Imogen |
Posted on Saturday, Apr 3, 2004 - 2:38 am: This tip applies to European-style horse trailers which have a ramp for loading and breast and butt bars. It may be difficult to understand for North Americans... This is also not about training a horse to load properly and for that there are plenty of good articles and discussions on this site.It's about when you're stuck with a horse that you just have to get loaded for some reason which is being objectionable and you have no help or unsuitable/inexperienced help that is likely to make the situation worse not better. If you have to load a difficult horse on your own, and you have done all the usual things (parked beside a wall or hedge, checked the ramp is totally level and solid, opened up doors to make the trailer light inside, hung up a haynet etc., opened the back divider as wide as possible if it is a double box and tied it off so it can't flap etc.) but are still having trouble then try the following for which I thank my friend Sheila Corrigan. It works particularly well with horses which like to rear or run off the side of the ramp to avoid loading or to back away at the sight of a lunge whip but do be careful if the horse is known to be a kicker. Get a lunge line. You may need to make it even longer by attaching a further lead rope to the loop of the lung line. Take the clip of the lunge line into the box. Pass it under the breast bar and back out over the top of the bar onto the ramp so that you have both the clip and the end of the line you will hold lying just off the ramp. The line must be long enough so that when clipped to the halter the end will extend beyond the back of the horse. It's important that the clip end is coming over the top of the breast bar and the loop end is coming under it. Have your lung whip to hand such that when you have the horse close to the ramp, you will be able to pick it up when you are BEHIND the horse. This is important especially for whip-shy horses. Get the horse as close as you can to the ramp without attempting to load, nice and calm. Clip the lunge line to the halter or bridle. Quietly pick up the other end of the line and back off to where you can pick up your lunge whip. Do this before you start the next step. Gently apply tension to the line so that it runs from the halter to the top of the breast bar, back under the bar and to your hand. Now apply the usual tap tap to the butt from behind the horse. It is now being encouraged forward by the line and from behind by the whip. If necessary tap quite hard until it moves forward. Stop tapping when it moves forward. Smack harder if it doesn't or tries to back. I also add to Sheila's technique, which is very effective, by attaching a white show-type lead rope to the side of the trailer which is not beside a wall etc. and tying this off so it provides a barrier about 3 ft high because I find for horses that like to try to run off the side of the ramp, often think the white rope is electric polytape and will avoid it making your job easier. It's hard to describe this in writing, very easy to demonstrate. It's also very good if you are at a competition with a horse which won't load and you wish to avoid the assistance of aged mountain farmers who want to beat the horse into the trailer to help you out... They are fascinated usually having not seen it before and will leave you alone in future. Good luck! Imogen |