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Location: Texas | I have a filly who apperantly was never taught to back out of a trailer.
She lunges, backs up, disengages the hind end and anything you could think of on the ground, but WILL not back out of a trailer!
It seems like I've tried it all and she gets to the edge, sulls up and that's that. I've worked with her all day, and the more you try to "out wait" her the more upset she becomes.
When she gets upset she will lunge forward and run you over to get to the corner of the trailer to turn around, She is a big girl too. we've tried stock trailers, trailers with dividers, solid open door, single door; she just plain refuses! Someone's going to get hurt, I need suggestions!
Never had a filly this hardheaded ;( |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
 
| F1NoniStephenville - 2013-12-17 10:26 AM
I have a filly who apperantly was never taught to back out of a trailer.
She lunges, backs up, disengages the hind end and anything you could think of on the ground, but WILL not back out of a trailer!
It seems like I've tried it all and she gets to the edge, sulls up and that's that. I've worked with her all day, and the more you try to "out wait" her the more upset she becomes.
When she gets upset she will lunge forward and run you over to get to the corner of the trailer to turn around, She is a big girl too. we've tried stock trailers, trailers with dividers, solid open door, single door; she just plain refuses! Someone's going to get hurt, I need suggestions!
Never had a filly this hardheaded ;(
I have had 2 that no one could get backing out.
I send mine back to my trainer for a day so he can teach all my young ones to back out.
Try draw reins, like when ground driving, and back her out from behind, this way you won't get hurt, I would try an angle haul first so it is more like an alley |
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Cold hands and Warm Heart
Location: oklahoma | back her on the ground with drive lines, maybe one step back at a time and move on to doing that in the trailer. One hoof inside and back her off. Takes a lot of time and patience. I had to do this with my last horse except he was little enough to turn around and expected to each time. |
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 Expert
Posts: 2276
Location: ohio-in my own little world with pretty ponies :) | I have a mare that wouldn't come out. For awhile I would put a bridle on her with long reins and come behind her and make her back. Now she does just fine. |
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 Veteran
Posts: 187
| I had a yearling or 2 year old (dont remember how old he was) that we raised that would NOT back in the trailer. He wouldn't even back to the back of the trailer. We fought and fought. Always just ended up turning him around so he wouldn't get hurt at a show. I had him in the front part of a stock trailer with a divider, so he had to back at least a horse lenght. He was a smaller horse, I knew he wouldn't hurt me and I was getting ****ed. I just got under his neck and pushed of the manger, I actually lifted his front end up and just shoved him out! Never had a problem after that!! This I know is not the most feasable way of doing it, but it worked!
My husband's ranch gelding has never backed off a trailer. He wasn't ours, and so he never worried about it. When we moved they gave him to my husband and we have worked on it, and he just flat refuses! We only haul him in a stock trailer, so if we ever haul him in our horse trailer, we will have to haul him in the front so he has room to turn around. |
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 Texas Taco
Posts: 7499
Location: Bandera, TX | My mare is 7 now and still needs to turn around to get out of the trailer. I have given up on her backing out. We tried many different things over the years, and at times she would back out for a week of so... then she would freak out and we would be back to where we started from. I trailer every day in order to get to the public arena to ride. I have always been worried to make too big of a deal out fo it out fo fear she would decide not to get in the trailer anymore either.
Good Luck! I hope yours will learn. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 816
| do it in baby steps.
Ask her to load, when she gets to the trailer door ask her to back up and then ask her to load and when she get one foot on immediately ask her to back up, then ask her to load and when she gets both fronts up ask her to back up and step off. Continue this until she relaxes and responds with little force. then ask her to get her back end in and do the same thing. The hardest part for them is trusting you enough to step the hind legs off blindly. I always put my hand on the rear when the next step is going to be off the trailer. It gives them a little pre-warning. |
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 Regular
Posts: 99
| Our filly was doing the same thing. She would get to the edge and then try and run me over and go all the way back in. This is what we did, not sure if it will work for you or not but worth a try. We tied a Walmart bag on the end of a english crop. Everytime she tried to run me over I would shake that at her. Only took a few times and she finally backed out. Now she backs out on her own. |
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Member
Posts: 49
| I have a two horse trailer, so all my horses have to back out. This is what I do with every horse I get. I keep everything relaxed, low pressure, no rush, then I ask for them to only take one step with their front foot in the trailer. Wait a moment, then back them out. Next ask for both front feet to step up in trailer, don't let them completely load all the way. Wait a bit, then ask to back out again. Repeat this process several times. When the horse is good with this, then ask for them to step in with both fronts and one back leg. And yes, it's hard to stop them from completely coming all the way in the trailer, but it's important not to let them, so ask for everything real slow. Now, again wait a moment and back out. When they are calm about backing out and you've repeated this process over and over, then allow them to load all the way in the trailer and then back out slowly. If they get tired of practicing and get stubborn about loading, you can reward them for doing what you ask with a bite of feed or treat of some sort, I use alfalfa cubes. Sometimes, a little bribery keeps them interested. Sounds like your biggest problem will be keeping your horse from pushing into you. Practice groundwork geared towards establishing personal space. These things should help. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 928
Location: Bigfoot Country | Not sure how old she is, but a friend of mine had one that wouldn't back out and she put a snaffle bridle on her and she was fine. Weird, but it worked! |
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 Forever Young
Posts: 6768
Location: relocated to Texas | Sometimes, especially with young horses, that step down out of the trailer scares them to death. Trying to teach them in the trailer is a mistake, someone is going to get hurt. What you need to do is create a situation on the ground that simulates backing out of the trailer. Get some long driving lines and first teach your horse to drive forward. Then, back them up with the long lines. When she is backing on a flat surface, find some small inclines, a ditch, whatever and back her up that with the long lines, then turn her around and make her back down that incline. If you can build a step down out of wood or something and back her down that, that would be good too. Once she is backing good on the ground, go back to the trailer. Load her up with a bit in her mouth (something that will get her to bend at the pole) and the long lines attached. First ask her to back out of the trailer normally. If she refuses, go outside and back her out using the long lines, just make sure you are back and out of the way as she may fall on her rear the first time. You have to be consistent with this and make her back out. Bump the lines back and forth, do not pull on them both at once. Be gentle but firm with your cues. Once she comes out, load her up and do it again, each time asking for her to back out before you go to the long lines. It usually takes two or three times, but the horse will get it if prepared correctly on the ground prior to the trailer work. If have fixed a few this way. |
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Location: Texas | Thanks guys!! I appreciate it! |
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 Famous for Not Complaining
Posts: 8848
Location: Broxton, Ga | I might would get one of the Clinton Anderson halters also....helps apply to pressure points as well helps get them back off you if they try to lunge............agree with the baby steps loading.....as in loading half way then asking to get off.... |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 830
Location: Paradise , tx | JRC - 2013-12-17 10:53 AM do it in baby steps. Ask her to load, when she gets to the trailer door ask her to back up and then ask her to load and when she get one foot on immediately ask her to back up, then ask her to load and when she gets both fronts up ask her to back up and step off. Continue this until she relaxes and responds with little force. then ask her to get her back end in and do the same thing. The hardest part for them is trusting you enough to step the hind legs off blindly. I always put my hand on the rear when the next step is going to be off the trailer. It gives them a little pre-warning.
This is basiclly how I taught one of my mares to load. Just a little at a time. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 830
Location: Paradise , tx | GoMistyGo - 2013-12-17 10:41 AM My mare is 7 now and still needs to turn around to get out of the trailer. I have given up on her backing out. We tried many different things over the years, and at times she would back out for a week of so... then she would freak out and we would be back to where we started from. I trailer every day in order to get to the public arena to ride. I have always been worried to make too big of a deal out fo it out fo fear she would decide not to get in the trailer anymore either.
Good Luck! I hope yours will learn.
The mare I have now is that way. I also gave up and just let her turn around |
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 Expert
Posts: 1432
Location: Never in one place long | Had a horse that used to do this... The lady who owned him had a huge trailer and always just turned him around.....I literally had to put my butt into him and PUSH him out!!! Nothing else would work but that did.... probably not the safest thing but once I PUSHED him out once, he had it... never again had a problem with it. |
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Veteran
Posts: 189
| First I'd make sure she backs well away from the trailer. Then if she loads up fine I'd get her to the trailer make her back away from it. Lead her up to the back doors and back her up without loading her. Once she masters that without getting upset I'd let her put her front feet in the trailer then back her out do that until she is comfortable with it. Then progress to all 4 feet in and back out. A lot of times people are so worried about getting them in the trailer they forget to teach them to come out! I hate a horse that comes shooting out like a rocket. |
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 Veteran
Posts: 208
| Had 3 different 2 yr olds in the last year that hadn't ever backed out. I put a chain across their nose and the pressure of it was enough to get them to back off. I took it slow and easy and didn't rush them. The last step I had to literally push them on their chest while applying enough pressure to the chain lead rope to get them to back off. Sometimes it gets ugly, but once they do it one time they figure it out. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1454
Location: kellyville ok | I had one that loved butt scratches, I would scratch his butt and stop and back up and he would look behind and back up to my hands to get more butt scratching. He learned to get out that way. My new colt that we bought in Sept had no idea how to back out. He is broke to pieces, but putting a bridle on him and trying to back him out didn't work. I think it's making the little 'angle' out of the slant load that confuses him. We've basically had to get up under his neck like someone else posted and shove him out. He's getting the idea now and it's much easier. |
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Expert
Posts: 1454
Location: kellyville ok | Adding that when we shove him out it's never with anger or even rushed. We just talk to him, telling him to back up and calmly get up under him, put my back up against him and push. |
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Location: Texas | Id like to keep this expiernce as nice as possible lol. She's a typical unforgiving mare. Lots of great ideas here!! |
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Forever Young
Posts: 6768
Location: relocated to Texas | johjr - 2013-12-18 1:11 PM Adding that when we shove him out it's never with anger or even rushed. We just talk to him, telling him to back up and calmly get up under him, put my back up against him and push.
This is just not a good idea. I have seen them lunge forward, and depending on the horse, they may not care if you are in the way and have no where to go.
The trailer can be a dangerous place if you have one that has a problem loading or unloading. I cannot stress enough that you need to do your prep work on the ground before taking them to the trailer. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 597
| Didn't read all the replies, if this has been said ignore it lol.
Set something up outside, that is a step down, find a hill dig a little shelf in it and back her off of it a thousand times. Use a rope halter and bump her nose until you can wiggle the lead and she backs up. Use a voice command (I say "step") when her next step is going to take her off the edge, do it until she will back up anywhere with just a bump on the lead. Then do it in the trailer a thousand more times.
I have a friend that loads her horse with a bridle on and backs her out with drive lines.... It works, but jeez what a pain!
I just open my divider and get out of the way lol
Be careful, a trailer is no place for an argument!! |
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 Chasin my Dream
Posts: 13651
Location: Alberta | JRC - 2013-12-17 9:53 AM do it in baby steps. Ask her to load, when she gets to the trailer door ask her to back up and then ask her to load and when she get one foot on immediately ask her to back up, then ask her to load and when she gets both fronts up ask her to back up and step off. Continue this until she relaxes and responds with little force. then ask her to get her back end in and do the same thing. The hardest part for them is trusting you enough to step the hind legs off blindly. I always put my hand on the rear when the next step is going to be off the trailer. It gives them a little pre-warning.
^^^^^^
All my colts get the step by step how they feel comfortable, and I've had days where all we did was get the front legs on and it's fine with that....a horse that goes Mach 10 backwards out I hate, all my horses are taught to stop with front legs still in then proceed back.....but that takes teaching proper whoa commands and definitely trust outside the trailer! It's never an over night thing to happen..... |
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I Need a Xanax!
Posts: 2774
| I agree with Wild West. Its not the backing up that's a problem...its that step down that she's balking about. Set up something on your farm to simulate stepping down out of the trailer.....back her off down the pond bank...back off a step down at your barn....figure out something to step her down off of while backing and I'd say your trailer issue will become a non-issue. |
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Location: Texas | Used2B - 2013-12-17 5:41 PM
I agree with Wild West. Its not the backing up that's a problem...its that step down that she's balking about. Set up something on your farm to simulate stepping down out of the trailer.....back her off down the pond bank...back off a step down at your barn....figure out something to step her down off of while backing and I'd say your trailer issue will become a non-issue.
This stood out to me the most. She's not trusting me when I say it's ok. I shoul of thought of building a little dirt mound "ramp" duhhhhh |
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I Need a Xanax!
Posts: 2774
| F1NoniStephenville - 2013-12-17 5:58 PM
Used2B - 2013-12-17 5:41 PM
I agree with Wild West. Its not the backing up that's a problem...its that step down that she's balking about. Set up something on your farm to simulate stepping down out of the trailer.....back her off down the pond bank...back off a step down at your barn....figure out something to step her down off of while backing and I'd say your trailer issue will become a non-issue.
This stood out to me the most. She's not trusting me when I say it's ok. I shoul of thought of building a little dirt mound "ramp" duhhhhh
Well, great. Glad I could help! Try that for a while and report back to us!  |
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Sock Snob
Posts: 3021
| I bought a mare one time got her home she would back out she would,get to,the back door with her feet and the she would run forward. So i finally tied a rope to ring the tail piece hangs on, the aroung her chest and pulled to the outside and two of us pulled for an hour until i accidently got her out, after that she backed out. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 582
| Hollywood's Fan - 2013-12-17 11:12 AM
Sometimes, especially with young horses, that step down out of the trailer scares them to death. Trying to teach them in the trailer is a mistake, someone is going to get hurt. What you need to do is create a situation on the ground that simulates backing out of the trailer. Get some long driving lines and first teach your horse to drive forward. Then, back them up with the long lines. When she is backing on a flat surface, find some small inclines, a ditch, whatever and back her up that with the long lines, then turn her around and make her back down that incline. If you can build a step down out of wood or something and back her down that, that would be good too. Once she is backing good on the ground, go back to the trailer. Load her up with a bit in her mouth (something that will get her to bend at the pole) and the long lines attached. First ask her to back out of the trailer normally. If she refuses, go outside and back her out using the long lines, just make sure you are back and out of the way as she may fall on her rear the first time. You have to be consistent with this and make her back out. Bump the lines back and forth, do not pull on them both at once. Be gentle but firm with your cues. Once she comes out, load her up and do it again, each time asking for her to back out before you go to the long lines. It usually takes two or three times, but the horse will get it if prepared correctly on the ground prior to the trailer work. If have fixed a few this way.
agree agree agree. set her up for success. Either park the trailer where the drop off is minimal or set up scenario to stimulate backing over a drop so she will learn that she is not backing into a bottomless pit. |
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| The best way I have found to fix this and keep the horse for having a bad experience is to back the trailer up to an embankment or something similar that eliminates the step down completely(like a ramp). I like to walk them in and back them out until the feel VERY comfortable and confident doing it. This is especially important if she has already developed behavioral issues related to unloading. Then I will move the trailer so there is a few inches to the ground. If you encounter resistance then go back to a smaller step down making sure she is relaxed and not worried. And just keep increasing the step down. This is definitely one of those issues where patience pays off |
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Member
Posts: 6
| My gelding is 10, and has trailer issues as well. His issue starts before he even gets near the door. If you ask him to take a step back at the front of the trailer, he starts shaking and is terrified. Any suggestions to make him more comfortable (he loads in all types of trailers well) without getting myself killed in the process? |
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 Off the Wall Wacky
Posts: 2981
Location: Louisiana | I had a mare we tried EVERYTHING with. A lot that I didn't agree with. You know, the "cowboy way", "She's GOING to back out!!" She even spent time at the trainer's just to learn how to back out. They worked with her 1 foot at a time- in and out, in and out. She did great until we actually hauled her somewhere LOL. She KNEW what you wanted her to do, but she wouldn't do it. We finally just broke down and started letting her turn around. At least if she refused to get out that way we could put a rope behind her butt in a pinch (oh yea, she would walk right up to the edge and just stand like a statue). After a lot of work we did get her turning around and stepping out consistently without balking. She was huge so she had to be hauled in the front stall to have enough room to turn around.
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Veteran
Posts: 210
| My one mare has the hardest time backing out of a trailer, ramp or step. With a step you just have to shove her out until her back feet hit the ground. The more you take your time and be patient the more worried she gets and the harder she thinks about it. So we just do it fast, quick, and simple and it works everytime and we have not one issue when it comes to trailering. When it comes to the ramp she has her back feet on the it, and once she starts to back down she buckles her front end and I have to basically hold her head and her whole front end up until she is down. Shes a big beefy cow horse too! IDK how I can hold her up if we back her out, but we put her up in the front now and just let her spin around and walk out, not the healthiest I know but its better than her buckling and going down hard on her knees and sliding down the ramp. We have worked on backing out for ever and have tried everything and this is the way she best feels comfortable doing it so I guess thats how its gunna have to be done. |
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 Expert
Posts: 4625
Location: Desert Land | nuevocowgirl - 2013-12-17 9:02 AM Not sure how old she is, but a friend of mine had one that wouldn't back out and she put a snaffle bridle on her and she was fine. Weird, but it worked!
I would be said friend  I don't know what the mare's deal was but she wouldn't back out of the trailer and it was too narrow to turn around. She wasn't being dangerous, just flat wouldn't back up. So a gal told me to put a bridle on her and back her out with long lines and we got her out. Then I got to where I just had to have the bridle on her and she would back out and eventually when I sold her I had been able to get her out with just a halter. It was weird, but it worked. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1131
| This may just be me, but if she is an older horse and she was running me over in that trailer, I would knock her head off.
Anyways, baby steps is key. Make sure she is paying attention to you, work on voice commands, maybe try backing her onto a hill so it's not a tall of a drop if that is what's scaring her. |
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My filly won't back out of the trailer