Posted 2016-08-19 4:13 PM Subject: Need advice! Horse will not back out of trailer
boon
Posts: 1
HI! I recently bought a new horse that will not back out of my horse trailer a 2 horse slant . She loads great! But will absolutely not back out! She will back right to the edge and just freeze there. I've tried working with her for numerous hours and find myself getting frustrated at times, and have gotten no where, she will back up great on the ground. So I have to turn her around which I do not prefer to do that in my small trailer. I've also tried backing her up in a stock trailer since I figured maybe she didn't like mine and she still wouldn't back. Very nice horse not mean at all just confused? Just curious if any body had the same troubles I am having.
Thanks !
Posted 2016-08-19 4:21 PM Subject: RE: Need advice! Horse will not back out of trailer
Elite Veteran
Posts: 929
Yes, one was a colt that had fallen out of a trailer and scraped his legs very badly, the other two were my teenaged performance horses. One had bad hocks and the other was diagnosed with DSLD shortly following this incident.
Posted 2016-08-19 4:30 PM Subject: RE: Need advice! Horse will not back out of trailer
Elite Veteran
Posts: 1165 Location: California
My Arab mare used to do the same thing. I finally put her bridle and long lines on and it was a pretty big process but I got her to back out. Once she did it twice she was fine and I now have no issues.
Posted 2016-08-19 5:19 PM Subject: RE: Need advice! Horse will not back out of trailer
Expert
Posts: 1280 Location: Texas
Make sure you do groundwork first & get your horse backing up perfectly. Then Practice on uneven ground & make her back down a hill or into a ditch. Establish trust & confidence then try the trailer again.
Posted 2016-08-19 5:34 PM Subject: RE: Need advice! Horse will not back out of trailer
Elite Veteran
Posts: 695 Location: Windoming
I backed my trailer up to a ditch where the ground made it level. Helps when they learn they will not fall into a big black hole when they back out! But I also have an 18 year old horse that was hauled many years in a trailer that he didn't have to back out of. I gave up trying to get him to back out, I just let him turn around. He is small enough that he can do that.
Posted 2016-08-19 6:31 PM Subject: RE: Need advice! Horse will not back out of trailer
Meanest Teacher!!!
Posts: 8552 Location: sunny california
Silly Filly - 2016-08-19 3:34 PM I backed my trailer up to a ditch where the ground made it level. Helps when they learn they will not fall into a big black hole when they back out!
But I also have an 18 year old horse that was hauled many years in a trailer that he didn't have to back out of. I gave up trying to get him to back out, I just let him turn around. He is small enough that he can do that.
This . you can gradually get them to back with bigger and bigger drop in the step.. i also yell a loud sharp 'hep" right as they step off to warn them that is the step. they like the assurance that I will tell them it is coming.
Posted 2016-08-22 1:34 PM Subject: RE: Need advice! Horse will not back out of trailer
Nut Case Expert
Posts: 9305 Location: Tulsa, Ok
Start from square one when loading. Let her put one foot on the trailer then make her step down. When she gets that down pat, let her put both fronts on and then make her step down. Work your way up to three feet on and back off and eventually to all four on and right back off. It is a process, but will give them the confidence that they are not stepping off into a black hole.
Need advice! Horse will not back out of trailer
