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Loading issues Moderators: luluwhit, gotothewhip, cindyt, crossspur, ForumAdmin Jump to page :	Last activity 2015-07-09 1:42 PM 23 replies, 4984 views View previous thread :: View next thread
General Discussion -> Barrel Talk


Bibliafarm Reg. Jul 2008	Posted 2015-07-08 5:29 PM Subject: RE: Loading issues
Warmblood with Wings Posts: 27846 Location: Florida..	Do you have anyone that can handle the situation and teach the horse ..it seems silly but all the other rickrash of beating and ropes and wearing horse out etc.. doesnt usually work.. in the end is you need to get respect from him and he needs to learn to just do it.. its not up to him..it may take some time but usually end result is well worth it.
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winwillows Reg. Jul 2013	Posted 2015-07-08 6:08 PM Subject: RE: Loading issues
Expert Posts: 1695 Location: Willows, CA	I recently bought a three year old that did not want to load. I have a lot of experience in getting a horse through this so I told them not to worry about it, if they could get him to me I would sort him out. Well, I really had more of an issue getting him to just let down and know that the trailer was OK than I have ever had before. Three loading sessions to was two more than it has ever taken before. If there is a "trick" to this it is patience. First he needs to know how to be sent by you. Once you can do that, the opening of the trailer needs to be more comfortable than avoiding it. Most people put too much pressure here to start with. Inconvenience is better than big pressure here. Stop the pressure when he make an effort in the right direction. Eventually the result of this will be him getting in. The most important part for me is not closing him in, but letting him out and starting over to prove that the trailer is not a trap. If you do not have the time or temperament to work on this with a horse that is already spoiled, you would be much better to find outside help from someone who does.
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r_beau Reg. Apr 2010	Posted 2015-07-09 9:04 AM Subject: RE: Loading issues
Born not Made Posts: 2937 Location: North Dakota	Bibliafarm - 2015-07-08 5:29 PM Do you have anyone that can handle the situation and teach the horse ..it seems silly but all the other rickrash of beating and ropes and wearing horse out etc.. doesnt usually work.. in the end is you need to get respect from him and he needs to learn to just do it.. its not up to him..it may take some time but usually end result is well worth it. I agree. I used to do more of the lunging method with my old horse who was a hard loader. Usually worked but not always. I much more like the method of controlling where their feet are, because it doesn't require making your horse tired to make them load. It simply requires making them respect you and listen to you. Plus, who wants to haul their TIRED horse to a barrel race?!?!
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Fairweather Reg. Jan 2004	Posted 2015-07-09 1:42 PM Subject: RE: Loading issues
Twin Sister to Queen Boobie Posts: 13315 Location: East Tennessee but who knows?!	All great points about working on foundation, moving forward when asked, giving to pressure. I will also second that butt ropes, etc don't work - they need to learn to go on by themselves. The other point I want to make is that just because a horse gets on a trailer without a fight it doesn't mean they know how to load properly -- it just means you've been lucky & they've been willing. I've spent as long as 6 hours getting one loaded, and have worked as long as 3 years off & on to get a horse truly comfortable with trailering. It's not something that's fixed with just a few sessions. It's a process. Teaching them to go on the trailer is one thing, teaching them to be comfortable is another. They need to go on and off that trailer a million times until it's no big deal. What gets most people in trouble is asking for the next step before they're truly comfortable with giving you what you're already asking them for. Same thing goes with locking them in. Don't shut them in if they won't stand there. A word on safety....Make sure you don't snap your horse in until he's locked in by the divider. Also make sure he's untied before you open the divider. Otherwise, they panic & pull back.
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