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Discussion on Feeding in the trailer
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Member:
imogen
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Posted on Monday, May 19, 2008 - 2:04 am:
Hello everyone I would appreciate some advice
Yesterday I did something stupid. My 3 yo horse who has been trailered since a foal has been a good traveller. I was going to a show with her (first this year) but I was on my own loading her as my husband had to work.
Instead of getting other help as soon as I had a problem, I persisted. I could not get her to load beside another horse - she was walking off the ramp etc and this went on for about 45 minutes. Eventually I put her mother in the other side of the trailer and a bucket of feed proved too much incentive for her and she loaded.
A very experienced friend helped me load her back up at the show but she was quite bold and we had to use a crop and mean it on her (in front of the public unfortunately).
I intend to feed her in the trailer for 2 weeks. My husband had made an attachment for an over-the-door feeder to fix it on to the bar in the trailer without rocking. I fed her in the trailer using this before unloading last night.
I've read posts here on the importance of not leaving horses to just "walk in and feed themselves" (result: chewed trailer). I intend to load her, put up the bars and ramp and then unload her after she finishes.
Any hints and tips on getting my perfect traveller back to good behaviour? I think the problem was caused because I trailered her with a horse that nibbles its companions last week.
Thanks.... Imogen
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Monday, May 19, 2008 - 7:06 am:
Hello Imogen,
I teach all of our horses, all of my neighbors horses, and have troublesome horses brought to me for miles around and always use the technique in the article Training, Behavior, & Conditioning Horses » Behavior and Training » Trailer Loading a Horse. It teaches a horse, no matter its prior experiences, to load without hesitation for the rest of its life.
DrO
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