|
|
 Having Smokin Bandits
Posts: 4572
  
Location: Woodstown, NJ | Fairly new horse. We've had her a year-and-a-half now. Very sensitive. She's submissive but will test you. Very smart. Started refusing to load. We worked on it and got it licked. Then she started pulling back in our slant load. Couldn't get the divider closed before she started backing out. No time to tie. So I waited outside and my daughter handed me the leadrope through the window. As soon as my daughter stepped back, the mare ripped it out of my hands. I got gloves and a thick leadrope and we did it again. This time she couldn't get away before my daughter got the divider closed so it worked. She seemed to calm right down. Coming back home, we did the same thing and it worked again. Today we tried to go out in the stock trailer. She has never pulled back in the stock. But she started doing the same thing. I got the gloves and waited outside for my daughter to hand me the leadrope. She started pulling back so violently, she got away from me, reared up and almost went through the ceiling, fell on her butt, and got loose. Now we have a real problem. My daughter and I were scared to try it again. (She got a workout though!) I don't know how my daughter didn't get hurt with all of that commotion going on inside the trailer. We are really upset. We have a show on Sunday but we're scared to load her. My daughter has been working really hard to get this mare trained and we were looking forward to this race. What do we do?
I should add that we don't have any trees on the property that we could turn into a "patient tree," to tie her. She has tied okay in other places except for one time in the barn when something set her off and she pulled back so bad, she fell down. We've tied her there a hundred times since.
Edited by SmokinBandits 2016-10-14 8:24 PM
|
|
| |
|
Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
 
| Hook the trailer up and go for a drive with someone in the back. Listening for noises, movement, pinch points, etc. make sure there is nothing back there that could be driving her batty. I believe it was on her someone once had some loose wiring that was shocking the horses.
I suspect if she was good for so long that something has happened...
Then I would start feeding her in the stock trailer. Then closing the door on her. Then going for drives, not tied.
I don't suspect this one will be solved overnight since she's lost her trust. |
|
| |
|
 Dog Resuce Agent
Posts: 3459
Location: southeast Texas | check out YouTube , do a search for loading horses in trailer. Lots of videos
Edited by roxieannie 2016-09-15 6:35 AM
|
|
| |
|
The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| She is trying to tell you something is wrong and it is hurting her.
Some trailers vibrate or shake excessively when towed. I had one who would refuse to haul in my aunts trailer because of this, my trailer I could send him in from 100 feet away and he would load himself.
The vibration or shaking could be a structural problem, or as simple as a trailer tire separating
There could be an electrical short
Or noise as someone else said.
She may also be claustrophobic is she the only horse loaded, the first one, if so try loading her second see if that helps |
|
| |
|
 Expert
Posts: 2097
Location: Deep South | Something is definitely wrong, since she was fine loading then suddenly started to refuse. Like mentioned already, I would check the trailer first. Ride back there personally, and see if you notice something out of the ordinary. If that checks out then there's probably something going on with your mare. I've seen both ulcers and ovary issues cause this behavior. |
|
| |
|
 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | Check floors make sure they are solid, check for bees nests I have to check my trailer for bees all the time. And could you be driving to rough, turning to fast? Sounds she had lost the trust of being in a trailer. |
|
| |
|
 Expert
Posts: 3815
Location: The best kept secret in TX | Had one set back and literally rip my hand in half. You can wear gloves when she sits back but be aware it can still hurt you.
I was 12 when I had that mare and my dad ended up looping a cotton rope around her girth area and on top of her withers. Much like a lariat surcingle. He then ran the cotton rope under her chin and through her halter ring on the bottom side and tied it in about 5 knots. The next time she sat back it cut off her air supply. She finally realized she wasn't getting away and relaxed. The rope loosened as soon as she stopped pulling back. Was it humane? Probably not. But it worked for that particular horse and kept me from being hurt ever again.
She was used to panic snaps at the track and was just being a toot.
Edited by IRunOnFaith 2016-09-15 9:41 AM
|
|
| |
|
 Lady Di
Posts: 21556
Location: Oklahoma | I would have her tested for EPM, just to rule it out. Not wanting to load in the trailer after previously doing it with no problem can be one of the first signs, as it sometimes affects their eyesight. |
|
| |
|
 The Worst Seller Ever
Posts: 4138
Location: Oklahoma | If it were me and I had checked the trailer to see if it was hot, I would have a rope already tied in there and snap it on her when I loaded her. She got away from you too many times and if she is smart, it is now a habit, especially since it has happened in 2 different trailer, 2 different set ups.
|
|
| |
|
 Expert
Posts: 1481
Location: TEXAS | dianeguinn - 2016-09-15 10:02 AM
I would have her tested for EPM, just to rule it out. Not wanting to load in the trailer after previously doing it with no problem can be one of the first signs, as it sometimes affects their eyesight.
That's good advise - something I would never thought of  |
|
| |
|
 Too Skinny
Posts: 8009
Location: LA Lower Alabama | Keeping in mind that she may have physical issues or the trailer may as well, watch a few trailer loading videos. They TELL the horse to get in alone and if they come out before asked they TELL them to get back in etc. Once the horse learns it can get out and its easier on the outside then you have to teach them that outside is hard hard work. Im big on sending them to someone qualified to fix this issue. Be Safe!
|
|
| |
|
Having Smokin Bandits
Posts: 4572
Location: Woodstown, NJ | IRunOnFaith - 2016-09-15 10:40 AM Had one set back and literally rip my hand in half. You can wear gloves when she sits back but be aware it can still hurt you.
I was 12 when I had that mare and my dad ended up looping a cotton rope around her girth area and on top of her withers. Much like a lariat surcingle. He then ran the cotton rope under her chin and through her halter ring on the bottom side and tied it in about 5 knots. The next time she sat back it cut off her air supply. She finally realized she wasn't getting away and relaxed. The rope loosened as soon as she stopped pulling back. Was it humane? Probably not. But it worked for that particular horse and kept me from being hurt ever again.
She was used to panic snaps at the track and was just being a toot.
What are panic snaps? This mare is off the track. |
|
| |
|
Having Smokin Bandits
Posts: 4572
Location: Woodstown, NJ | Thanks everyone! I will check the trailers. And take a ride. It's definitely not my driving. I drive like an old lady!
What I think caused it is my daughter's anxiety. She knows not to show it but horses are mind-readers and this mare is extremely sensitive. She must have picked up on it. I think my daughter has this anxiety because we had a trailer mishap, long story, two years ago. And I think that's been in her head. She may deny that.
So now I have to figure out how to fix it. I'm not embarrassed to say that I'm afraid to get in there with her again. It was pretty violent. She hit the ceiling, she fell on her butt, she fell out the back and got loose.... When I went back to the trailer, I was expecting to see a hole in the ceiling! We have been feeding her in there since I posted this. But the idea of attempting to leave her in it again is scary. I think I'm going to experiment with putting another horse in there first--her buddy--and see how she reacts to that. I'm going to reread everything you guys suggested. Thanks! |
|
| |
|
 I'm Cooler Offline
Posts: 6387
Location: Pacific Northwest | I had a really sensitive mare that I had owned since she was yearling. She never had a problem in the trailer, ever. When she was 10 years old she went on ONE trailer ride with my other mare, and suddenly she didn't want to load anymore. My other mare is an ass in the trailer, and I think she must have scared her. She started doing the same as your mare; would pull back and fly as fast as she could out of the trailer before you could do anything.
I've been in an almost-accident in the trailer already, so I'm already iffy on horses that aren't good with being loaded. It's a MUST for me, they HAVE to be well behaved. I absolutely will not go into a trailer with a horse that I think is going to do something stupid. My solution with my now-scared mare, was she learned to load herself. She already had a lot of ground work basics, so she knew the "sending"and "driving" signals for lunging and what not. I just repeatedly "sent" her into the trailer, no matter how much argument it took. If she flew out backwards, she went in again. I never led her in.
It was a process. When I finally got her to where she would load without hesitation, she would try to back out as soon as you moved to shut the divider, so then she had to learn to stand in the trailer.
Finally she got to where I could throw the lead rope over her neck, walk her up to the trailer and she would load and stand while I shut the divider. Every time I unloaded her I would unlatch the divider, pat her a little and make her stand for at least 10 seconds (she was always tense and ready to come out), and then let her back out. |
|
| |
|
I'm Cooler Offline
Posts: 6387
Location: Pacific Northwest | SmokinBandits - 2016-09-15 8:22 PM
IRunOnFaith - 2016-09-15 10:40 AM Had one set back and literally rip my hand in half. You can wear gloves when she sits back but be aware it can still hurt you.
I was 12 when I had that mare and my dad ended up looping a cotton rope around her girth area and on top of her withers. Much like a lariat surcingle. He then ran the cotton rope under her chin and through her halter ring on the bottom side and tied it in about 5 knots. The next time she sat back it cut off her air supply. She finally realized she wasn't getting away and relaxed. The rope loosened as soon as she stopped pulling back. Was it humane? Probably not. But it worked for that particular horse and kept me from being hurt ever again.
She was used to panic snaps at the track and was just being a toot.
What are panic snaps? This mare is off the track.
I'm assuming she means the snaps that unlock if a horse pulls hard enough. Some horses once they figure it out will just pull back when they decide they don't want to play anymore because they know they can get loose lol |
|
| |
|
Elite Veteran
Posts: 618
| IRunOnFaith - 2016-09-15 9:40 AM
Had one set back and literally rip my hand in half. You can wear gloves when she sits back but be aware it can still hurt you.
I was 12 when I had that mare and my dad ended up looping a cotton rope around her girth area and on top of her withers. Much like a lariat surcingle. He then ran the cotton rope under her chin and through her halter ring on the bottom side and tied it in about 5 knots. The next time she sat back it cut off her air supply. She finally realized she wasn't getting away and relaxed. The rope loosened as soon as she stopped pulling back. Was it humane? Probably not. But it worked for that particular horse and kept me from being hurt ever again.
She was used to panic snaps at the track and was just being a toot.
I did this with my gelding and it worked the first 2x, 3rd time he wouldn't give to pressure and instead panicked and it cut into him causing lacerations and burns before I could cut it loose. He will tie but you just have to know he will sit back. I've learned to managea nd really learn his triggers. |
|
| |
|
Elite Veteran
Posts: 618
| livexlovexrodeo - 2016-09-16 1:19 PM
SmokinBandits - 2016-09-15 8:22 PM
IRunOnFaith - 2016-09-15 10:40 AM Had one set back and literally rip my hand in half. You can wear gloves when she sits back but be aware it can still hurt you.
I was 12 when I had that mare and my dad ended up looping a cotton rope around her girth area and on top of her withers. Much like a lariat surcingle. He then ran the cotton rope under her chin and through her halter ring on the bottom side and tied it in about 5 knots. The next time she sat back it cut off her air supply. She finally realized she wasn't getting away and relaxed. The rope loosened as soon as she stopped pulling back. Was it humane? Probably not. But it worked for that particular horse and kept me from being hurt ever again.
She was used to panic snaps at the track and was just being a toot.
What are panic snaps? This mare is off the track.
I'm assuming she means the snaps that unlock if a horse pulls hard enough. Some horses once they figure it out will just pull back when they decide they don't want to play anymore because they know they can get loose lol
I wonder if they used a flipping rig on her??? They did on my gelding off the track and he has tying issues. He did have trailer issues as well but we've worked through that, still don't tie him short and leave him unattended. |
|
| |
|
Having Smokin Bandits
Posts: 4572
Location: Woodstown, NJ | livexlovexrodeo - 2016-09-16 2:10 PM I had a really sensitive mare that I had owned since she was yearling. She never had a problem in the trailer, ever. When she was 10 years old she went on ONE trailer ride with my other mare, and suddenly she didn't want to load anymore. My other mare is an ass in the trailer, and I think she must have scared her. She started doing the same as your mare; would pull back and fly as fast as she could out of the trailer before you could do anything. I've been in an almost-accident in the trailer already, so I'm already iffy on horses that aren't good with being loaded. It's a MUST for me, they HAVE to be well behaved. I absolutely will not go into a trailer with a horse that I think is going to do something stupid. My solution with my now-scared mare, was she learned to load herself. She already had a lot of ground work basics, so she knew the "sending"and "driving" signals for lunging and what not. I just repeatedly "sent" her into the trailer, no matter how much argument it took. If she flew out backwards, she went in again. I never led her in. It was a process. When I finally got her to where she would load without hesitation, she would try to back out as soon as you moved to shut the divider, so then she had to learn to stand in the trailer. Finally she got to where I could throw the lead rope over her neck, walk her up to the trailer and she would load and stand while I shut the divider. Every time I unloaded her I would unlatch the divider, pat her a little and make her stand for at least 10 seconds (she was always tense and ready to come out), and then let her back out.
THAT sounds like my scenario. Very sensitive. Same age too. She loaded perfectly fine when we got her. I even contacted her previous owner to find out if he had any problems with this. He did not. He has no motivation to lie to me as I didn't purchase her from him. I did find out he didn't have to try to close a divider and back out. He has one of those two-horse trailers where he would lead her in, tie her, and then exit out that little escape door in front. He also told me he was also trailering a pony. So she had company. As far as her experiences further back on the track, I don't know her experiences there, whether someone flipped her like a poster suggested, whether they used panic snaps, etc. But she went to this owner I was talking to with no problems. I think it started here at my house.
We do do round pen work with her and can send her around at different speeds, change directions, etc. and she is very submissive and responsive and will follow us out of the round pen, all the way down to the barn with no lead rope, stop when we stop, go when we go, etc. But I can't imagine being able to get her to load in the trailer by herself! I agree with you--I don't like going in there either! I especially don't like my daughter going in there! I will have to try to find some videos on this and see exactly how it's done.
We've been feeding her on there. My daughter has to stand there with her. If she doesn't try to leave her, the mare stands there relatively quietly, backs out pretty quietly. We also put my horse (her buddy) in the front half of the stock, closed the divider, and led the mare up into the back half. But didn't make an attempt to tie her and leave her.
Thanks for all your help! |
|
| |
|
 Take a Picture
Posts: 12842
| People's driving often causes problems. |
|
| |
|
Having Smokin Bandits
Posts: 4572
Location: Woodstown, NJ | I don't think it's anyone's driving in the past that caused this because we've had her for over a year before it started. And it's definitely not our driving. But SOMETHING scared her and started this and once she got away with it by getting out and later even getting loose, it was in her head. We've been loading her continuously since I posted this. Hop on, hop off, hop on, hop off. Actually, she will drag you on now. She jumps right on. But she won't go on herself and she won't stay on if we try to leave. If we make any kind of motion to tie her or or to just step back with the plan to close the divider, she gets anxious and starts backing up. We've let her, staying calm, and reloaded her. Let her and reloaded her. A couple of times I put her buddy in front (this is the stock trailer with the divider in the middle), closed the divider because that's just the way I always travel with that trailer, and she kept stepping off the back because she was so close to the edge. I think I have to leave the divider open so she can move up more. I'm still trying to find some time to watch the videos. Today was the first show we missed because of this! We now have the mare ready for a real run and we can't get to the race! |
|
| |
|
Go Get Em!
Posts: 13503
Location: OH. IO | Have Krystal send you some calming cookies to see if that helps?And DEFINATLY check your electric connections.
Edited by jake16 2016-09-18 6:25 PM
|
|
| |
|
 Born not Made
Posts: 2937
Location: North Dakota | SmokinBandits - 2016-09-14 10:46 PM Fairly new horse. We've had her a year-and-a-half now. Very sensitive. She's submissive but will test you. Very smart. Started refusing to load. We worked on it and got it licked. Then she started pulling back in our slant load. Couldn't get the divider closed before she started backing out. No time to tie. So I waited outside and my daughter handed me the leadrope through the window. As soon as my daughter stepped back, the mare ripped it out of my hands. I got gloves and a thick leadrope and we did it again. This time she couldn't get away before my daughter got the divider closed so it worked.
In my opinion, the portion that I highlighted tells me you STILL have a trailer loading problem. I believe that I should have control of my horse's feet 100% of the time. That means, when they do get all 4 feet onto the trailer, they are still going to "wait for my command" for what to do next. If they are trying to fly out of the trailer the instant I get them on (or trying to fly out the instant the divider is opened when we arrive at our destination) then there is still a hole that needs to be addressed.
I do agree with the others to completely inspect your trailer (and take a ride in it) just to be totally sure there isn't something physical going on with your trailer that may spook her or cause her to be wary of it.
I'm a big fan of Clinton Anderson's trailer loading DVD. I really like the one-foot-on-one-foot-off method of approach and retreat. It keeps the horse focused on you and what you are asking them to do. In reality, trailer loading problems are simply ground work problems. You just so happen to have a trailer in the mix.
So I would go back to one-foot-on-one-foot-off, then two, then three, and finally four. And do it a million and one times. And then a million more. ;-) Repetiion is your best friend. With a problem horse, I like to work on it 10-15 minutes a day every day. If they have a bad day, no big deal. Find somewhere that you can end on a good note; even if you didn't progress as much as you hoped. Or if they meet your goal for the day on the first try, great! Be done. Quit. Remember that you don't have to load your horse all the way onto the trailer for it to be a "success". As long as the horse is doing what you ask when you ask, that it is success. So I my goal for the day was to load and unload their front 2 feet into the trailer, and do it 5 times with ease, that's what we do. As long as the horse is listening to me and doing as I ask, then I have control of their feet and it's good.
|
|
| |
|
 Expert
Posts: 1718
Location: Southeast Louisiana | I wouldn't get in there in front of the horse. I had my head split open in a trailer like that, so unless I feel like the horse is 100% bomb proof, I send them in and shut the divider behind them. Then I go to the window and tie. |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 3815
Location: The best kept secret in TX | livexlovexrodeo - 2016-09-16 1:19 PM SmokinBandits - 2016-09-15 8:22 PM IRunOnFaith - 2016-09-15 10:40 AM Had one set back and literally rip my hand in half. You can wear gloves when she sits back but be aware it can still hurt you.
I was 12 when I had that mare and my dad ended up looping a cotton rope around her girth area and on top of her withers. Much like a lariat surcingle. He then ran the cotton rope under her chin and through her halter ring on the bottom side and tied it in about 5 knots. The next time she sat back it cut off her air supply. She finally realized she wasn't getting away and relaxed. The rope loosened as soon as she stopped pulling back. Was it humane? Probably not. But it worked for that particular horse and kept me from being hurt ever again.
She was used to panic snaps at the track and was just being a toot. What are panic snaps? This mare is off the track. I'm assuming she means the snaps that unlock if a horse pulls hard enough. Some horses once they figure it out will just pull back when they decide they don't want to play anymore because they know they can get loose lol
You assumed correctly. By Panick snaps I mean the snaps that will break loose if they set back. Lots of people use them as trailer ties and cross ties.
It only took one time of us doing that to break her of pulling back. I saw one other comment where the rope cut into the horse while doing the same thing my dad did. This is why he used a cotton rope/lead. He was afraid she would set back and not give up. It was braided flat and very thick so it wouldn't cut her in half just cut off her oxygen when she pulled back. We also hard tied her to a "hitching post' my dad had put up. It was 4 foot in the ground and cemented so there was no chance she would rip anything off or out and hurt herself more.
I don't remember where we got the rope/lead. It was extremely long, braided flat and had weighted ends and a bull snap so maybe it was a cotton lunge line? Not sure. My Dad always had very interesting tack choices when I was younger.  |
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 102
| I have a 16 yr.old gelding that you can put anywhere and tie in the trailer and travel as many miles as you need to go without any problems at all just don't try to tie to the trailer or anywhere for that fact if you don't want him to set back and try to kill himself,so I just try and deal with it,usually I just use a small string tied to the lead rope that will break easily and check on him frequently. |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 3815
Location: The best kept secret in TX | Running B - 2016-09-20 9:23 PM I have a 16 yr.old gelding that you can put anywhere and tie in the trailer and travel as many miles as you need to go without any problems at all just don't try to tie to the trailer or anywhere for that fact if you don't want him to set back and try to kill himself,so I just try and deal with it,usually I just use a small string tied to the lead rope that will break easily and check on him frequently.
I had a friend with a horse like this. She had to bring panels to every jackpot, rodeo, D-Series, you name it. He would stand perfectly still in a set of panels. THe second she tied him all heck would break loose.... |
|
| |
|
Having Smokin Bandits
Posts: 4572
Location: Woodstown, NJ | You guys have given me a lot of good ideas and suggestions. Much appreciated!
We are having some progress. We are loading her daily. She wants to trot into the trailer now (this is the stock trailer) because we've been feeding her in there and generally making it a nice place. We're being real patient. If she wants to back up, we let her and then right away reload her. Nice and easy and quiet. At first we were going in and out five times. Today she stayed in there quietly the whole time she was eating. Each time my daughter loaded her, she brought her further and further up and she herself moved back a little until finally she was standing behind her and the mare was okay with that. She was even self-loading. My daughter threw the leadrope over her withers and in she went. Now to get to the point where we close the divider or tie her. Soon we will start working on the slant load.
|
|
| |
|
Having Smokin Bandits
Posts: 4572
Location: Woodstown, NJ | Nita - 2016-09-19 11:38 AM I wouldn't get in there in front of the horse. I had my head split open in a trailer like that, so unless I feel like the horse is 100% bomb proof, I send them in and shut the divider behind them. Then I go to the window and tie.
That sounds like what we should do. Can I do that with a stock trailer? Won't she turn around or away from the window? |
|
| |
|
Having Smokin Bandits
Posts: 4572
Location: Woodstown, NJ | I will get that video.
I'm not sure I'm having a groundwork problem though. We work her in the round pen and can easily control her speed, direction, clean all four feet without holding her, move her over with a finger. I feel she knows we're the herd leader. She's quite submissive to us. I will watch that video though. Thank you! |
|
| |
|
Having Smokin Bandits
Posts: 4572
Location: Woodstown, NJ | Jake, how do I find Krystal? I want those cookies. |
|
| |
|
 My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
Location: Arkansas | Krystal Peterson. She's listed under "services" and then "supplement companies". I'm tech challenged or I'd post all her info!!! |
|
| |
|
 A Barrel Of Monkeys
Posts: 12972
Location: Texas | SmokinBandits - 2016-09-21 10:27 PM Nita - 2016-09-19 11:38 AM I wouldn't get in there in front of the horse. I had my head split open in a trailer like that, so unless I feel like the horse is 100% bomb proof, I send them in and shut the divider behind them. Then I go to the window and tie. That sounds like what we should do. Can I do that with a stock trailer? Won't she turn around or away from the window?
I've hauled horses loose in a stock trailer many times, especially broodmares that get hauled once a year or so. They almost always turn around to ride backwards. It's not a problem to me. |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 3815
Location: The best kept secret in TX | Fun2Run - 2016-09-21 11:38 PM SmokinBandits - 2016-09-21 10:27 PM Nita - 2016-09-19 11:38 AM I wouldn't get in there in front of the horse. I had my head split open in a trailer like that, so unless I feel like the horse is 100% bomb proof, I send them in and shut the divider behind them. Then I go to the window and tie. That sounds like what we should do. Can I do that with a stock trailer? Won't she turn around or away from the window?
Same. My trailer is an aluminum stock. I unclip them while they load and then close the divider. My gelding rides backwards and my mare stands like she is tied facing him. They wait for the lead to be clipped before they step off. I've had my gelding hit his head so many times trying to back him off the trailer. So I just let him walk off. |
|
| |
|
A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | SmokinBandits - 2016-09-21 10:33 PM Jake, how do I find Krystal? I want those cookies. Shes at the top of this page, shes got a banner and just click onto it, its THE Equine Edge... Well heck she was at the top of the page now I cant find it, I guess they move it around..
Edited by Southtxponygirl 2016-09-22 9:43 AM
|
|
| |
|
A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | SmokinBandits - 2016-09-21 10:33 PM Jake, how do I find Krystal? I want those cookies.
I have Krystels phone # if you want it for T H E  |
|
| |
|
 Balance Beam and more...
Posts: 11511
Location: 31 lengths farms | The biggest problem I have with teaching a horse to load by leaving the trailer in there and feeding them in it is that you also teach them they can get out when they choose to. I too have a mare that will load not problem but the minute you close the divider she panics. She never had the issue before when we had the big 2 horse trailer and the divider had bars near the head where they could see thru to the other compartment. As soon as we got the Sooner with the solid dividers she started having anxiety in the trailer, I've ridden back there in every stall hoping it was an electrical issue, nothing, we've had other horses in every stall, still no issue. She will walk in and stand all day until you close the divider. Next thing I've asked is for the back divider to be taken out to give her more room and to have my brother in law to cut some slats into the divider, try to open it up visually for her. |
|
| |
|
Born not Made
Posts: 2937
Location: North Dakota | SmokinBandits - 2016-09-21 10:24 PM
We are having some progress. We are loading her daily. She wants to trot into the trailer now (this is the stock trailer) because we've been feeding her in there and generally making it a nice place. We're being real patient. If she wants to back up, we let her and then right away reload her. Nice and easy and quiet. At first we were going in and out five times. Today she stayed in there quietly the whole time she was eating. Each time my daughter loaded her, she brought her further and further up and she herself moved back a little until finally she was standing behind her and the mare was okay with that. She was even self-loading. My daughter threw the leadrope over her withers and in she went. Now to get to the point where we close the divider or tie her. Soon we will start working on the slant load.
Quote: run n rate - 2016-09-22 11:48 AM The biggest problem I have with teaching a horse to load by leaving the trailer in there and feeding them in it is that you also teach them they can get out when they choose to. I too have a mare that will load not problem but the minute you close the divider she panics.
I agree 100% with runnrate.
I have no problem with giving horse's treats and encouragement inside the trailer and making it a happy place, but don't let yourself rely on it.
Also, I highlighted (in red/pink) one issue you need to nip in the bud now. The horse should not be the one making a decision in any of this. You do not "LET" her choose when she wants to back out. You are teaching her she can fly out that back door whenever she chooses (which she does). Backing up needs to be YOUR IDEA. So you need to watch her closerly and beat her to the punch and ask her to back out of the trailer before she actually does it herself. Ever step she makes on or off that trailer should be by your command and not what "she wants to do".
|
|
| |
|
Having Smokin Bandits
Posts: 4572
Location: Woodstown, NJ | Sorry I haven't been back in a while to update. I appreciate all your suggestions and am using them!
We've made great progress! She's been running onto the trailer. We closed the divider and she stayed calm. At first she was on the alert, turned around, then turned around again and went back to eating out of the little bucket we had tied in the corner. She was suspicious though. She waited calmly and walked out calmly when my daughter opened up the divider. We're going to keep reinforcing it.
|
|
| |
|
Having Smokin Bandits
Posts: 4572
Location: Woodstown, NJ | Question. We've now been loading her in the big trailer. The slant load. We had previously been working on the stock. So we progressed to the slant and she's been jumping on willingly. But same thing--gets nervous and wants to back out if my daughter tries to exit. Sometimes we let her self load. But haven't been able to close the divider. Trying to keep it calm and nice. Taking our time. Anyway, my question is about the stud stall with the exit door. I've never had a trailer like this before. We've been making her go all the way up in front to the stud stall. We have the exit door up there opened with the chest bar across the door. My daughter led her up, exited out the door, held a bucket of grain for her to munch, and I was behind and closed the divider. She was VERY nervous. Lost interest in the grain. I was nervous that she would try to exit out the door in front even though the chest bar was up. Could that happen? Should we have closed the exit door in the stud stall immediately? We ended it on a good note as soon as we could. Tomorrow we have to go somewhere. Should we do it like this again? |
|
| |
|
My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
Location: Arkansas | SmokinBandits - 2016-10-14 8:22 PM
Question. We've now been loading her in the big trailer. The slant load. We had previously been working on the stock. So we progressed to the slant and she's been jumping on willingly. But same thing--gets nervous and wants to back out if my daughter tries to exit. Sometimes we let her self load. But haven't been able to close the divider. Trying to keep it calm and nice. Taking our time. Anyway, my question is about the stud stall with the exit door. I've never had a trailer like this before. We've been making her go all the way up in front to the stud stall. We have the exit door up there opened with the chest bar across the door. My daughter led her up, exited out the door, held a bucket of grain for her to munch, and I was behind and closed the divider. She was VERY nervous. Lost interest in the grain. I was nervous that she would try to exit out the door in front even though the chest bar was up. Could that happen? Should we have closed the exit door in the stud stall immediately? We ended it on a good note as soon as we could. Tomorrow we have to go somewhere. Should we do it like this again?
If she's that nervous I'd definitely be afraid she might try to go thru/over/around the chest bar. . . . I believe it was on this site that I read a horse tried to go out the open window of the trailer?? |
|
| |
|
A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | I have seen a few horses that went over the manger in a 2 horse trailer trying to get out threw the little windows, one horse got his front legs and head threw, so yes they will try to climb out of trailers if they think they can.. |
|
| |
|
 Total Germophobe
Posts: 6443
Location: Montana | SmokinBandits - 2016-10-14 7:22 PM Question. We've now been loading her in the big trailer. The slant load. We had previously been working on the stock. So we progressed to the slant and she's been jumping on willingly. But same thing--gets nervous and wants to back out if my daughter tries to exit. Sometimes we let her self load. But haven't been able to close the divider. Trying to keep it calm and nice. Taking our time. Anyway, my question is about the stud stall with the exit door. I've never had a trailer like this before. We've been making her go all the way up in front to the stud stall. We have the exit door up there opened with the chest bar across the door. My daughter led her up, exited out the door, held a bucket of grain for her to munch, and I was behind and closed the divider. She was VERY nervous. Lost interest in the grain. I was nervous that she would try to exit out the door in front even though the chest bar was up. Could that happen? Should we have closed the exit door in the stud stall immediately? We ended it on a good note as soon as we could. Tomorrow we have to go somewhere. Should we do it like this again?
Yes, absolutely, I had one do this when I was teaching him to load (he was a 3 year old).He actually went under it and I was thankful he didn't get hung up on anything. Scared the crap out of me, though, and broke a lung rope (I was using a lunge rope to train him with as it is longer). After that, I never loaded him with the exit door open, and he learned to load just fine without any issues or anxiety. |
|
| |
|
| If you are only taking the one horse .... lead it on the trailer and slip out the emergency door up front and leave her loose in the trailer to go to and from the show ...
For years I made 15 and 25 ft lead lines to work my horses with until I was shown the Clinton Anderson tack by a high school barrel racer that was boarding at my barn. The high quality of this tack and the feel it gave me vs my home made tack was fabulous ..
My training methods for years ended up being very similar to Clinton's but he has a certain order and more detail in his methods which anyone can learn quickly.
I just checked there is a youtube setup of 32 partial quickie videos that may help you or confuse you .. lol ...
Here is the simple equipment every barn should have from his tack list ....
a regular size rope halter and learn how to tie it... the nose knots do
keep the horse from pulling back against their poll ...
a 14 ft lead rope .. long enough for a butt rope or other training
a 23? ft longe line to also be used if loading a risky horse by your self by running it thru the tie ring or tie loop on the trailer to load horse or keep horse in trailer while closing divider or leaving trailer ..
and the metal tie ring .. and know how to increase the tie pressure on it .. use it outside trailer and act crazy so horse will learn they are not getting away .. most will take a few steps back and stop ... you can use the lead or longe line on this depending on how rowdy the horse gets when tied .... you can pull the slack out of your line to bring horse back to the tie ring .. until they figure out how to relax and not pull back ..
Here is a simple ad for the tie ring .. you can see how it works ... horse panics .. stops and slack is taken up to bring them back to the tie ring ... you can increase the amount of pull they have to use to pull back ..
https://youtu.be/evul8o7AHyE
I did not buy the stick thingy ... I always used the end of a lead to twirl or swat with ... to move the horse where and how I wanted ...
The 4 items above could run over $150 ... but you can use it on every horse in the barn and only need one set .... if you know someone that is a Clinton member give them the money to order it at a discount ...
Once you use his stuff you will never buy these junky short leads and halters at tack shops ever again ...
GOOD LUCK ...
PS ... I agree with you NOT TO GET TRAPPED IN THE TRAILER WITH THIS HORSE BY RIDING IN IT ... after horse learns to tie on a pipe pole over their headline ... then use the tie ring in the trailer .....
Here is one of my yearlings that was taught to tie with the tie ring ... very happy and never a problem ............. you will see I have an 18inch chain wrapped around the overhead pipe with the tie ring attached ... tying over their head does not allow them to use their body weight when they panic and go into a frenzy ... and with the longer lead lines you can keep a safe distance away and out of trouble ... this is the 14 ft one
I checked my post and remembered BHW photos will not allow you to copy or increase the size ... here is a closer head shot to see how I have the chain and tie ring mounted on the pipe fence ...
Edited by BARRELHORSE USA 2016-10-15 7:23 AM
 (GYST KICK N ASK 2016 SEPT (6) 25.jpg)
 (GYST KICK N ASK 2016 SEPT (2) - 25.jpg)
Attachments
----------------
 GYST KICK N ASK 2016 SEPT (6) 25.jpg (87KB - 216 downloads)
GYST KICK N ASK 2016 SEPT (2) - 25.jpg (77KB - 223 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Having Smokin Bandits
Posts: 4572
Location: Woodstown, NJ | Okay, very good guys. Do NOT count on that chest bar to keep her in!
Barrel Horse USA, thanks, as usual, for taking the time to share a lot of good info. I will reread what you said and study. I have a hard time watching YouTube videos because of my internet but I will as soon as I can.
Thanks again everyone! We are going to solve this! |
|
| |