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Expert
Posts: 1694
   
Location: Willows, CA | Lots of good points have been made here. I would only add, that if you went through the push, pull, rope behind the butt ect, you may have to start the loading lesson over to get the horse comfortable once again with the trailer. He may be dreading the process that you had to go through from that one bad loading experience. Even if that was related to one of the issues brought up in the posts above, and that issue has been solved, start with a proper loading lesson to see that this does not become a bigger issue as time goes on. A lot of them can use a tune up once in a while.
Edited by winwillows 2015-02-09 12:41 PM
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Red Hot Cardinal Fan
Posts: 4122
| streakysox - 2015-02-07 9:37 AM I know this is over used but I am thinking EPM. Often they don't know where their feet are and it scares them. It also hurts my horse to back out so he hates to get in. I have been fighting EPM with him for a long time.
Prior to treating my mare for EPM last year, I stated having trouble loading her. She just flat refused when we were leaving a show last spring, and this is a horse that had been hauled a lot with no problems. I personally think that due to the EPM, her balance was affected and it caused her to have trouble trailering. No idea if this is right/wrong, but just what I think happened. Prior to treating her for EPM, she would have black smudges on both sides of her back end from where she would be against the dividers. After treating her, I didn't notice those at all.
I'm not saying that it's EPM, but I bet you anything there is a reason why she is refusing to load all the sudden. I would take her to your vet and get her looked over just to be on the safe side. | |
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  Twin Sister to Queen Boobie
Posts: 13315
Location: East Tennessee but who knows?! | winwillows - 2015-02-09 12:40 PM Lots of good points have been made here. I would only add, that if you went through the push, pull, rope behind the butt ect, you may have to start the loading lesson over to get the horse comfortable once again with the trailer. He may be dreading the process that you had to go through from that one bad loading experience. Even if that was related to one of the issues brought up in the posts above, and that issue has been solved, start with a proper loading lesson to see that this does not become a bigger issue as time goes on. A lot of them can use a tune up once in a while.
This. Just because a horse loads doesn't mean they really know how to load properly. And true, sometimes they just need a refresher. | |
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Member
Posts: 12
| I have a 12 year old gelding that has started refusing to load when I go in the trailer before him. If I get out of the trailer and walk beside him, stopping at the door, he will go in without me. Keep in mind this horse has loaded in this trailer for the last 4 years with no problems. I haven't been rough on him about it bc a few months ago, I walked him in the trailer and he bumped his head on the roof coming in. He didn't make a fuss but backed out. He was maybe a step in (hit his head taking the step inside). He isn't one to freak out or be extreme. So, I stepped out of the trailer and rubbed him, then walked back in the trailer and he followed with no problems. He rode 8 hours after loading. Since that trip, he has refused to go in if I go in first. I'm sure he remembers hitting his head or just a long ride...or both...I assume he has a trust issue with me and the trailer now. I don't want to make him trust me less, but so far haven't made much progress with him. To be fair, I have only made a few attempts to correct it due to just not hauling in the cold. I didn't want to make this a long post, but the point being, maybe this horse has had a similar situation and you just didn't notice. If I hadn't been looking at him when he hit his head, I may not have known. | |
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 I Chore in Chucks
Posts: 2882
Location: MD | cheryl makofka - 2015-02-07 11:50 AM
Electrical short, and the horse is getting zapped
this is what I thought when I read it. Do you have mud wasps in your area? | |
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 Take a Picture
Posts: 12838
| countrygirl2006 - 2015-02-09 12:49 PM
streakysox - 2015-02-07 9:37 AM I know this is over used but I am thinking EPM. Often they don't know where their feet are and it scares them. It also hurts my horse to back out so he hates to get in. I have been fighting EPM with him for a long time.
Prior to treating my mare for EPM last year, I stated having trouble loading her. She just flat refused when we were leaving a show last spring, and this is a horse that had been hauled a lot with no problems. I personally think that due to the EPM, her balance was affected and it caused her to have trouble trailering. No idea if this is right/wrong, but just what I think happened. Prior to treating her for EPM, she would have black smudges on both sides of her back end from where she would be against the dividers. After treating her, I didn't notice those at all.
I'm not saying that it's EPM, but I bet you anything there is a reason why she is refusing to load all the sudden. I would take her to your vet and get her looked over just to be on the safe side. Â
Balance is affected by EPM but horses so not know where their feet are. You know, my horse had black smudges on his butt and I never really linked it to the EPM but I will keep an eye out to see if he still gets the smudges. My EPM horse is the paint in my avatar and has white on his hips so it makes smudges easy to see. | |
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