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Location: Missouri | My middle aged mare has decided in the last year that she hates the trailer. She used to be fine to load and now she just flat out refuses. If there's not two people present to load her it takes every bit of 30-60 minutes to get her in. I'm going to start going to races again this fall after having a baby (almost a yr ago...lol), I'll be loading by myself much of the time, so this has to stop. I realize I've let it go on for too long so it's very much my fault that it's gotten this bad, but it wasn't something I had the energy to correct last year while sick and pregnant, and I hardly went anywhere.
I'd also like to add, she only does this when asked to load into MY trailer (older steel BP). She's hated it for years and would hesitate, but only started refusing in the last year or so. Ask her to load into a larger aluminum trailer and (in the past) she hasn't thought twice about it.
So, I say all that to ask...how do I go about fixing this? I realize it will probably take time and lots of effort, but it's got to be done. Thanks in advance. |
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 Horsey Gene Carrier
Posts: 1888
Location: LaBelle, Florida | First thing I would do is have that trailer checked for electrical issues. Horses are extremely sensitive to electricty and if there is short or something she could be feeling it.
Edited by kasaj2000 2015-09-16 7:23 PM
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Expert
Posts: 1395
Location: Missouri | kasaj2000 - 2015-09-16 7:22 PM
First thing I would do is have that trailer checked for electrical issues. Horses are extremely sensitive to electricty and if there is short or something she could be feeling it.
Thank you. I didn't even think of that. My husband rewired it about 2 years ago...
How would we check? |
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 Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
 
Location: Phoenix | MOGirl07 - 2015-09-16 5:54 PM
kasaj2000 - 2015-09-16 7:22 PM
First thing I would do is have that trailer checked for electrical issues. Horses are extremely sensitive to electricty and if there is short or something she could be feeling it.
Thank you. I didn't even think of that. My husband rewired it about 2 years ago...
How would we check?
I would have an electrician look at it and then maybe even take your trailer to a dealer and have them do a full inspection/tuneup just to make sure there's nothing out of the norm that could be bugging her. |
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Expert
Posts: 1395
Location: Missouri | hammer_time - 2015-09-16 8:03 PM
MOGirl07 - 2015-09-16 5:54 PM
kasaj2000 - 2015-09-16 7:22 PM
First thing I would do is have that trailer checked for electrical issues. Horses are extremely sensitive to electricty and if there is short or something she could be feeling it.
Thank you. I didn't even think of that. My husband rewired it about 2 years ago...
How would we check?
I would have an electrician look at it and then maybe even take your trailer to a dealer and have them do a full inspection/tuneup just to make sure there's nothing out of the norm that could be bugging her.
There's an rv place like ten minutes from us...would that be a good option? No horse trailer dealerships near me that have a service dept. If I need to take it there I certainly will, but I could get it looked at within the next few days at the rv place. |
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Expert
Posts: 1395
Location: Missouri | MOGirl07 - 2015-09-16 8:05 PM
hammer_time - 2015-09-16 8:03 PM
MOGirl07 - 2015-09-16 5:54 PM
kasaj2000 - 2015-09-16 7:22 PM
First thing I would do is have that trailer checked for electrical issues. Horses are extremely sensitive to electricty and if there is short or something she could be feeling it.
Thank you. I didn't even think of that. My husband rewired it about 2 years ago...
How would we check?
I would have an electrician look at it and then maybe even take your trailer to a dealer and have them do a full inspection/tuneup just to make sure there's nothing out of the norm that could be bugging her.
There's an rv place like ten minutes from us...would that be a good option? No horse trailer dealerships near me that have a service dept. If I need to take it there I certainly will, but I could get it looked at within the next few days at the rv place.
Oh nevermind. Just thought of a local guy that does trailer work and custom LQs around here who's very good and thorough. I'll give him a call tomorrow and see when he can take a look. |
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Miracle in the Making
Posts: 4013
| check floor really good take a sledge hammer to it |
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Expert
Posts: 1409
Location: Oklahoma | one way to check if there is a short in wiring yourself is to pee beside the trailer with your hand on it! Yes this happened to me I had no clue bout my trailer until I did this and could feel the shocking! God has a funny way of letting me know lol |
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 Expert
Posts: 1367
Location: mi | There is also a chance because its a smaller trailer that she is just claustrophobic in it. My old mare used to run out of my first trailer and didn't load great either but it was really the unloading that was the worst. When I bumped up to a newer trailer that was just bigger inside she loaded right up and backed out like a lady. It was night and day difference. |
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Expert
Posts: 1395
Location: Missouri | My husband seems completely unconcerned about the wiring...grrr. Says he knows what he's doing so I told him to look it over anyway. He's also going to check the floor thoroughly, remove the mats and also check everything under the trailer.
Since she's always hesitated going in this trailer, I imagine she does feel claustrophobic :/ unfortunately a new to us trailer is just not feasible at this time :( |
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Expert
Posts: 1367
Location: mi | Can you take out the divider and let her have the entire thing that might be enough to help if she is just not liking the size.
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Posts: 1395
Location: Missouri | ajs2002 - 2015-09-17 11:31 AM
Can you take out the divider and let her have the entire thing that might be enough to help if she is just not liking the size.
Yes ma'am. It's 16ft with a little tack area up front, and we've removed the dividers and made it an open stock type. Idk what her deal is :( |
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 BHW New Catch of the Day
Posts: 9884
Location: Missouri | Don't feel like an idiot, we all have moments when we need another opinion other than our own. Even for things we already know about.
I have a 3yr old colt that would run and jump on the trailer no questions asked because he didn't like being left home alone. Now that he's broke and I'm hauling him to ride at the shows and get used to the enviroment, he's getting worse and worse about getting in. He almost got left in Potosi a few weeks ago because I was getting frusterated, lol.
A bribe of treats finally got him in as a last resort. I'm not ashamed to stoop to bribery, lol. We will work on it this winter. He needs to learn to back out as well, he likes to turn around :(
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Posts: 1395
Location: Missouri | Tbred - 2015-09-17 12:04 PM
Don't feel like an idiot, we all have moments when we need another opinion other than our own. Even for things we already know about.
I have a 3yr old colt that would run and jump on the trailer no questions asked because he didn't like being left home alone. Now that he's broke and I'm hauling him to ride at the shows and get used to the enviroment, he's getting worse and worse about getting in. He almost got left in Potosi a few weeks ago because I was getting frusterated, lol.
A bribe of treats finally got him in as a last resort. I'm not ashamed to stoop to bribery, lol. We will work on it this winter. He needs to learn to back out as well, he likes to turn around :(
Thank you Tbred, I appreciate that :)
Potosi...I'm assuming MO?! I'm near there, from DeSoto! I wonder if we know eachother! Lol. I've been in and out of barrel racing for a few years here and there just bc of life circumstances so you may not. |
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BHW New Catch of the Day
Posts: 9884
Location: Missouri | MOGirl07 - 2015-09-17 12:10 PM Tbred - 2015-09-17 12:04 PM Don't feel like an idiot, we all have moments when we need another opinion other than our own. Even for things we already know about.
I have a 3yr old colt that would run and jump on the trailer no questions asked because he didn't like being left home alone. Now that he's broke and I'm hauling him to ride at the shows and get used to the enviroment, he's getting worse and worse about getting in. He almost got left in Potosi a few weeks ago because I was getting frusterated, lol.
A bribe of treats finally got him in as a last resort. I'm not ashamed to stoop to bribery, lol. We will work on it this winter. He needs to learn to back out as well, he likes to turn around :(
Thank you Tbred, I appreciate that : ) Potosi...I'm assuming MO?! I'm near there, from DeSoto! I wonder if we know eachother! Lol. I've been in and out of barrel racing for a few years here and there just bc of life circumstances so you may not.
Yes, MO. We might recognize a face! Until this year I've always been an NBHA member, so possibly there. I did not join NBHA this year.
I do run Central 4D's and Tin Can Tango this year, but that's all.
See ya around I'm sure next season! |
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Expert
Posts: 1395
Location: Missouri | Tbred - 2015-09-17 12:14 PM
MOGirl07 - 2015-09-17 12:10 PM Tbred - 2015-09-17 12:04 PM Don't feel like an idiot, we all have moments when we need another opinion other than our own. Even for things we already know about.
I have a 3yr old colt that would run and jump on the trailer no questions asked because he didn't like being left home alone. Now that he's broke and I'm hauling him to ride at the shows and get used to the enviroment, he's getting worse and worse about getting in. He almost got left in Potosi a few weeks ago because I was getting frusterated, lol.
A bribe of treats finally got him in as a last resort. I'm not ashamed to stoop to bribery, lol. We will work on it this winter. He needs to learn to back out as well, he likes to turn around :(
Thank you Tbred, I appreciate that : ) Potosi...I'm assuming MO?! I'm near there, from DeSoto! I wonder if we know eachother! Lol. I've been in and out of barrel racing for a few years here and there just bc of life circumstances so you may not.
I do run Central 4D's and Tin Can Tango this year, but that's all.
See ya around I'm sure next season!
I'm went to a few nbhas in 2013, but never joined. Intended on doing central 4d/Tin Can Tango this yr and life got in the way lol!
I'm hoping Cain's arena and Kramer's will have some indoor races again this fall/winter! Another month of serious legging up and my horse will be ready (finally!) lol! |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 667
| I might get slammed for this one..... but once you rule out all safty issues, maybe try only feeding in the trailer. If she wants to eat her grain, she has to eat it in the trailer. I have heard of this being done before and it has worked. |
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  Twin Sister to Queen Boobie
Posts: 13315
Location: East Tennessee but who knows?! | Just because a horse goes on a trailer doesn't really mean they're solid and have been taught how to properly load. It's not so much a trailer issue as it is their knowing to move forward when you ask them at the hip, and knowing to give to pressure.
If she were mine, I would start her over just like a colt - one foot on and off a million times until they're comfortable with that one foot, then two feet, etc. And work on sending them forward instead of walking them in.
I would also work with her every time I turned her out or brought her in. Spend just a minute or two asking her to go on, when she did in would turn her out. Set it up so that when she goes on the trailer she gets some kind of reward afterwards so that she has something look forward to. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 678
Location: Canada | What color is the inside of your trailer? If it's a dark color try painting it white. If it's dark painting it a bright white is a cheap fix and may be all that is needed to get her in. The bright white makes everything look less scary. |
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Expert
Posts: 1395
Location: Missouri | RunNitroRun - 2015-09-17 1:39 PM
What color is the inside of your trailer? If it's a dark color try painting it white. If it's dark painting it a bright white is a cheap fix and may be all that is needed to get her in. The bright white makes everything look less scary.
It's white - was just repainted about three years ago. Made a huge difference for the colt I had at the time! Thanks for the suggestion though!  |
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Expert
Posts: 1395
Location: Missouri | Fairweather - I tried to quote you but my phone won't let me all of a sudden even though I just quoted someone else. Weird.
I do think this is a LOT of the problem. She tends to get a bit emotional (worried) when loading/unloading and that's just not like her. I've gotten her to the point where she actually backs out like a lady and waits on me, instead of backing like a madwoman.
I've never started a colt from scratch and I've never started a horse loading in the trailer from scratch...so let me ask you this, if you don't mind. When doing this, and I get her to put one foot (and then later on two feet) in, do I have her stand there til she's relaxed, then back that one foot out? I would think if I didn't wait til she relaxed some then she may get into a habit of putting one or two feet in and then backing right back out?
For the record I feel like such a nincompoop for asking this but I guess it's how you learn! |
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Twin Sister to Queen Boobie
Posts: 13315
Location: East Tennessee but who knows?! | MOGirl07 - 2015-09-17 2:28 PM Fairweather - I tried to quote you but my phone won't let me all of a sudden even though I just quoted someone else. Weird. I do think this is a LOT of the problem. She tends to get a bit emotional (worried) when loading/unloading and that's just not like her. I've gotten her to the point where she actually backs out like a lady and waits on me, instead of backing like a madwoman. I've never started a colt from scratch and I've never started a horse loading in the trailer from scratch...so let me ask you this, if you don't mind. When doing this, and I get her to put one foot (and then later on two feet) in, do I have her stand there til she's relaxed, then back that one foot out? I would think if I didn't wait til she relaxed some then she may get into a habit of putting one or two feet in and then backing right back out? For the record I feel like such a nincompoop for asking this but I guess it's how you learn!
Don't feel like that! :))
Don't try to keep those feet in there. If she needs to back off, come out at any time let her go out until she stops, however far that is, but immediately ask her calmly to put that foot/feet back on and then wait. If she comes off again, ask her to go back on.
If she feels the need to escape, let her but immediately ask her to go back to it. When they feel trapped is when you have the problem, and that's the whole problem with trying to make a horse get on and stay on the trailer..When they stop feeling trapped, they can start to realize that what you're wanting is for them to be on the trailer and that's where you leave them alone. That's when they'll also start slowing down on backing out.
Another thing too, the first time she goes even partially on without a fight and she's calm, quit right then and take her away from the trailer. That way you're quitting on a good note and not over-stressing her about it. |
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Expert
Posts: 1395
Location: Missouri | Fairweather - 2015-09-17 3:41 PM
MOGirl07 - 2015-09-17 2:28 PM Fairweather - I tried to quote you but my phone won't let me all of a sudden even though I just quoted someone else. Weird. I do think this is a LOT of the problem. She tends to get a bit emotional (worried) when loading/unloading and that's just not like her. I've gotten her to the point where she actually backs out like a lady and waits on me, instead of backing like a madwoman. I've never started a colt from scratch and I've never started a horse loading in the trailer from scratch...so let me ask you this, if you don't mind. When doing this, and I get her to put one foot (and then later on two feet) in, do I have her stand there til she's relaxed, then back that one foot out? I would think if I didn't wait til she relaxed some then she may get into a habit of putting one or two feet in and then backing right back out? For the record I feel like such a nincompoop for asking this but I guess it's how you learn!
Don't feel like that! :))
Don't try to keep those feet in there. If she needs to back off, come out at any time let her go out until she stops, however far that is, but immediately ask her calmly to put that foot/feet back on and then wait. If she comes off again, ask her to go back on.
If she feels the need to escape, let her but immediately ask her to go back to it. When they feel trapped is when you have the problem, and that's the whole problem with trying to make a horse get on and stay on the trailer..When they stop feeling trapped, they can start to realize that what you're wanting is for them to be on the trailer and that's where you leave them alone. That's when they'll also start slowing down on backing out.
Another thing too, the first time she goes even partially on without a fight and she's calm, quit right then and take her away from the trailer. That way you're quitting on a good note and not over-stressing her about it.
Thanks! I'm so glad I asked...or else I would've been doing it wrong and causing more stress. Thanks for you advice! We'll be working on this after DH goes over trailer again just to ensure that there's nothing wrong. |
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At the risk of sounding like an idiot...hard to load horse...