|
|
 Total Germophobe
Posts: 6443
   
Location: Montana | I have a 2 year old filly that is driving me up a wall with teaching her how to load in the trailer! The one I had last year was easy compared to her. She is so smart and learns so quickly I can't figure out why this is so hard for her.
Just before the 4th I was working with her on loading, and was having good success until something spooked her and I couldn't get her close to the trailer. Then on the 4th, I read one of my colt starting books, and tried what they suggested with relatively good success, getting her front half in the trailer. Last week I worked with her for about an hour trying to just get her front half in before I tied her to the patience pole while I worked with my other horse. When I untied her and brought her back to it, she walked her front half right in the trailer three times, no problem; then she walked all the way in twice, just like she had done it all her life and was ready to load up. She was rewarded with hay and treats and rubbing. So this week I go back to it, won't go in, try the way the trainer in the book said, got two front feet in without much trouble. Tied her to the patience pole, thinking that might work, same results. I got her front half in again semi-willingly, and where she did it semi-willingly, and no quick back outs or anything like that, I quit for the day as I'm trying to make the trailer a happy place.
I've never had this big of a challenge with teaching a horse to load. Any advice on how to make it go smoother, easier, any new ideas??? I know a lot of it has to do with her age and not having been in a trailer very much, but this is getting frustrating. Thanks! | |
| | |
 Expert
Posts: 1631
Location: Somewhere around here | What my husband did with a wild-ish colt was leave him in the round pen and back the trailer up to the gate of the round pen. Kept the horses water and food in the trailer and had the colt in the round pen for three days. After those three days the colt loved being in the trailer, he realized it provided shade and went in there very willingly for the rest of the years we had him, which was 10+. | |
| | |
Total Germophobe
Posts: 6443
Location: Montana | cecollins0811 - 2016-07-23 8:18 PM What my husband did with a wild-ish colt was leave him in the round pen and back the trailer up to the gate of the round pen. Kept the horses water and food in the trailer and had the colt in the round pen for three days. After those three days the colt loved being in the trailer, he realized it provided shade and went in there very willingly for the rest of the years we had him, which was 10+.
That's an interesting idea...sounds very plausible. I may have to take steps to see if we can't make that work some how. :) | |
| | |
 Veteran
Posts: 110
| We've always set up a pallet, with out holes obviously, in front of the trailer, and let them use it like a step. One foot on the pallet, back off. Two on the pallet, back off. Two on the pallet, one on the trailer, back off, and so on. When they get to the trailer they just walk right in. | |
| | |
 Take a Picture
Posts: 12841
| I teach my babies to lead with a butt rope. When we load we use the butt rope too. | |
| | |
  Semper Fi
Location: North Texas | The feeding in the trailer technique is perhaps the most successful. | |
| | |
 Saint Stacey
| If she's fine putting in two feet, she can do the other two. Personally I'd stop babying her. Get a lariat and put the loop over her hips. Ask her to load by pulling on the lead. If she doesn't, pull the lariat. The second she starts forward, release the pressure. If she tries to go back, add more pressure. This is the best way for loading a problem horse when you are alone. I loaded a 1,200 pound 3 year old by myself this way that refused to get in. Took me maybe 5 minutes. | |
| | |
 Born not Made
Posts: 2937
Location: North Dakota | mtcanchazer - 2016-07-23 9:12 PM I have a 2 year old filly that is driving me up a wall with teaching her how to load in the trailer! The one I had last year was easy compared to her. She is so smart and learns so quickly I can't figure out why this is so hard for her.
Just before the 4th I was working with her on loading, and was having good success until something spooked her and I couldn't get her close to the trailer. Then on the 4th, I read one of my colt starting books, and tried what they suggested with relatively good success, getting her front half in the trailer. Last week I worked with her for about an hour trying to just get her front half in before I tied her to the patience pole while I worked with my other horse. When I untied her and brought her back to it, she walked her front half right in the trailer three times, no problem; then she walked all the way in twice, just like she had done it all her life and was ready to load up. She was rewarded with hay and treats and rubbing. So this week I go back to it, won't go in, try the way the trainer in the book said, got two front feet in without much trouble. Tied her to the patience pole, thinking that might work, same results. I got her front half in again semi-willingly, and where she did it semi-willingly, and no quick back outs or anything like that, I quit for the day as I'm trying to make the trailer a happy place.
I've never had this big of a challenge with teaching a horse to load. Any advice on how to make it go smoother, easier, any new ideas??? I know a lot of it has to do with her age and not having been in a trailer very much, but this is getting frustrating. Thanks!
You have a leading problem. A ground work problem. The fully won't put her feet where you are asking her to. Fix the groundwork problem and the trailer loading will be a piece of cake.
I I don't like feeding a horse in the trailer like has been suggested because it doesn't actually TEACH the horse anything nor address the real problem: Your horse doesn't have 100% of your trust and respect, and has a ground manners problem.
I wrote this up a while ago on another forum. You've got the right idea to NOT load her all the way to start with.
Whether your horse has never been on a trailer before, or your horse will not back off the trailer, or your horse bolts onto the trailer, or if your horse had an accident on the trailer and is now fearful: You can always fix any issues by going back to square one and training the horse to load as if they have never done it before.
Here's my take on trailer loading.
Whether your horse has never been on a trailer before, or your horse will not back off the trailer, or your horse bolts onto the trailer, or if your horse had an accident on the trailer and is now fearful: You can always fix any issues by going back to square one and training the horse to load as if they have never done it before.
Here's my take on trailer loading.
Prepare your horse.
You need to prepare your horse before you actually introduce the trailer. Ground work is key! Your horse should lead respectably beside you (not in front of you, and not behind you). Your horse should always respect your space and never crowd you. Your horse should move his hindquarters away from you (disengage) when you tap his hip and ask him to move over. He should also move his shoulders away from you when you tap his shoulders. And he should back up freely when you ask.
Teaching your horse proper ground manners will take weeks, or even months. This is not something that can be learned in one session. And it is something that you must always expect your horse do. Don’t ever “slack off” and let your horse get away with bad ground manners. Always expect perfection. And if the horse screws up, that’s okay! Correct them, and go on with what you are doing. Horses are like humans in that they will make mistakes. But that’s okay because that’s how the horse learns.
The best way to teach ground manners is to work specifically on it every single day for 10 to 15 minutes.
Also remember, when teaching your horse ground manners, you don’t need a death grip on the halter or lead. In fact, go ahead and give the horse a foot or two slack in the lead rope. This teaches the horse that they still have to behave and listen to you, even if you aren’t directly beside them. Ideally in the end, you should be able to move every part of your horse’s body (head, shoulders, hip, and all four feet) without your feet ever moving one step. THAT’S control. And that’s the level of ground manners you need from your horse before you can ever expect them to respect and trust you to load into a trailer.
I find it very useful to use a stick (about 4 feet in length) to act as an extension of your arm to move various body parts of the horse. However, as an end result, you should be able to move your horse’s body with your body language.
Key point: Your horse must respect you and trust you with excellent ground manners before you even introduce the trailer.
Introduce the trailer.
One mistake that most people make when introducing their horse to the trailer is that they must get the horse onto the trailer during one session. That is incorrect. The very last thing you should do is expect your horse to fully load. And I’ll explain more on that below.
When you introduce the trailer, it is simply going to be a mere obstacle for you to work around. Make sure your trailer is parked in an area with good footing and plenty of room. If you have a smaller bumper pull trailer, it is safest to have it hooked up to a pickup, or else appropriately blocked. You wouldn’t want the trailer to move if you horse puts weight in it. Larger gooseneck trailers are often heavy enough that it isn’t necessary to have a pickup hooked to it, but you should still block the wheels for safety reasons.
For the first couple of sessions, open up the trailer and just work your horse near it. Continue doing the same ground work exercises you did before. For example: You stand at the trailer opening. With a lunge line and “stick” ask your horse to move its body to the right in a half-circle. Then ask your horse to go the left. Change directions again. Etc. Basically, you are keeping your horse’s feet moving by asking the horse to move in various directions. Remember: The horse should be moving; not you! (If you did your ground work correctly.)
If you horse ever wants to stop and sniff/smell or otherwise investigate the trailer, allow them. It is okay for them to show curiosity toward the trailer, because that means they have their attention on it.
So for your first couple sessions (remember: we are working with our horse every day for 10 to 15 minutes), you are not even asking your horse to put one foot on the trailer. This is what most people don’t understand, because they think they *have* to get that horse in the trailer, which is incorrect.
Begin teaching the loading process.
Now that your horse has great ground manners, and can still uphold those ground manners when the trailer is present, you are ready to start teaching the horse how to load and unload from the trailer.
Some people will tell you to lure your horse onto the trailer with grain. That’s fine and dandy, but what will you do when your horse is not interested in treats? Giving your horse treats does not actually train the horse to load onto the trailer. It can be used as a reward/praise, but it should never be used to trick a horse into loading.
Some people will also tell you to park your trailer in the horse’s pen and put your horse’s food and water in the trailer. The idea here is that the horse will become so hungry and thirsty that they will get into the trailer to nourish themselves. This is not only animal cruelty, but it also does not train your horse to load because the handler isn’t even there! And there are some horses out there that would rather starve themselves instead of setting foot into the trailer.
So, we want to teach the horse to load when we ask it to. Not only when there is food present. And please note it does not matter what type of trailer you have (stock, 2-horse straight, ramp, etc). Yes, a wide open stock trailer will be easier to train, but you can train a horse to load into anything with patience.
We start the trailer loading process by asking the horse to load ONE front foot ONLY. Standing off to your horse’s left side, tap your horse’s hip to encourage him to go forward. Do not stop asking the horse to go forward until he does. But when he does comply, you must immediately stop asking him. You don’t need to coddle the horse every time he does something right, but you do need to remove the pressure (you tapping his hip to go forward) for the horse to get his release and reward. If your horse steps sideways instead of forward, that’s okay. Use your previous ground manners training to straighten him up again. He must face the trailer opening squarely in order to load, so you must keep his body square to it.
Again, if he sniffs or investigates the trailer, allow him to do so because he is showing interest in it.
Be patient. Keep on asking your horse to go forward until he places one foot into the trailer. Once he does so, allow him to keep it there and think about it. But you need to be aware of his body language. If you sense that he is about to take that foot off the trailer again, you need to beat him to the punch and ASK him to back up before he actually does it. That way, he thinks it was your idea to back up; not his. Then repeat! Ask him to load only one front foot and then unload it.
Remember to always end your daily sessions on a positive note. And remember that horses have bad days too. Maybe yesterday he loaded one foot just fine, and now today you are having issues. Instead of drilling him for 45 minutes to get that one foot on the trailer, go back to just plain working on ground manners because it is something that he can do correctly. End on a positive note, quit, and try to load one foot the next day.
After several sessions (and several days) of loading just the front foot when you horse is consistent, then you can start asking to load both front feet. Go through the same process you did before of asking your horse to move forward by tapping him on the hip, and releasing immediately when he moves forward correctly. Then asking him to back those feet off. This is an “approach – retreat” sort of method. You are telling the horse “Hey, I would like you to come forward.” and once he does you tell him “Oh wait, I changed my mind. I want you to back up.” By asking your horse to go forward and backward in a non-chalant manner, you are teaching him that trailer loading is no big deal and he is able to listen to you on where you want his feet to go.
On a side note, you as the handler have never yet set one foot into the trailer. Why? By staying outside of the trailer, you are slowly teaching your horse to self-load. Especially for slant load trailers, this is much safer staying outside of the trailer, and only entering the trailer to close the divider behind the horse.
After several session (and several days) of loading both the front feet, you can begin to ask the horse to load three feet. Do NOT allow your horse to load fully. He is not ready for that. Ask him to load and unload three feet over and over again in your daily sessions, using the approach-retreat method.
Key point: It should have taken you a couple weeks to get your horse to the point of loading three feet in and out of the trailer. This is not a process to be rushed. You must stay patient.
The final step: Loading your horse into the trailer.
When your horse is successfully loading three feet in and out of the trailer easily on command, you are finally ready to ask the horse to load fully. Use the exact same process you were doing before. You are just simply going to ask for all four feet to be in the trailer at the same time. And then you are going to ask the horse to back off the trailer.
This is why we’ve spent weeks (or even months) of preparation for this moment. We’ve perfected our horse’s ground manners. We’ve introduced the trailer as a non-scary object. We’ve got excellent control of all four feet and the horse’s whole body. This is what is needed to have a horse who loads into any trailer without question.
Just as we’ve done everything else in baby steps, you will NOT load your horse completely for the first time, slam the divider shut, and take off down the road. You will instead load and unload your horse several times over the period of several sessions. When your horse is comfortable with that, then you can close the divider (if your trailer has one) for a few minutes. Do that for a few sessions. When your horse is comfortable with that, you can completely close the trailer for a few sessions. When you horse is okay with that, then you can take them for an easy drive around the block for a few minutes. Often, this step is much more calm if you haul your horse with a buddy who travels well.
Conclusion
As you can see, to properly teach your horse to load (or to fix any bad habits) this is a long process over the course of weeks or months. It requires patience and it requires your horse to respect and trust you.
And remember: There is no shame in seeking the help of a trainer if you have a hard-to-load horse, no matter how old you are or how long you’ve owned horses. Everyone can always learn something from someone else.
I personally highly recommend Clinton Anderson’s trailer loading DVD. It goes through most everything I just talked about, and along with more details and video to see what is going on. I’ve had great success with this method with my horses.
| |
| | |
Total Germophobe
Posts: 6443
Location: Montana | R_beau, I have been using the approach-retreat method (that is the way the trainer in the book said) and have had some success. And I make sure to reward her, but not use anything to coax her. I have been working on ground work, and she is coming along well and understands well outside the trailer! Yesterday she was feeling a little frisky, so maybe it was just one of her "bad days" as you mentioned. Every horse is a new personality and challenge.
Thanks for all the ideas!
Edited by mtcanchazer 2016-07-24 12:08 PM
| |
| | |
 IMA No Hair Style Gal
Posts: 2594
| Teaching a horse to load is probably one of my favorite things to teach!
Not sure why, I guess because if you can't load a horse safely it hinders what you can and cannot do with them.
My husband and I haul for a local rescue so we have hauled all kinds of horses for them. Multiple horses that cannot be touched that are buck wild and will physically harm you if you are anywhere close to them (we use a chute like system for these guys). We have hauled and loaded blind horses, horses that have never been touched, horses with foundered feet and feet so long they curl over and can barely walk....etc.
I have found that with the ones you can at least get a halter on I really like the "approach and retreat" method. One of the rescue horses was adopted out, but had never loaded so they had me work with him before he went to his new home. I had them set up a trailer in their arena and would lunge him and make his feet move. He was only allowed to rest when he thought about going into the trailer. Sometimes it doesn't get accomplished in one session. With this guy I think it took about three before he would fully go in the trailer without resistence. I normally have them go in by themselves first so that if they panic all I have to do is drop the rope and get out of the way, but have never had this issue. Once they go in and out a few times on their own then I step up in there and manuever them around and practice backing out and turning around and coming out.
From there I had the owner of the rescue load this horse every day and feed him his breakfast in the trailer, that way they assoicate the trailer as being a safe, and inviting place. A place where they can rest, and eat and enjoy themselves.
If one is showing a little bit of resistance I will load a horse up in the first slant and let them chill there. Sometimes this is all a horse needs when they are thinking of going in is seeing another horse in their happy....just depends on the horse.
Sounds like you ran into a bit of resistance and just need to keep working through it. As you said horses have bad days. Thats okay!
I have also been in situations where I didn't have the footing to lunge a horse like I would like. In those instances I have made them trot in circles and aim to avoid quick manuevers. Good luck!
Edited by magic gunsmoke 2016-07-24 12:14 PM
| |
| | |
Born not Made
Posts: 2937
Location: North Dakota | mtcanchazer - 2016-07-24 11:52 AM R_beau, I have been using the approach-retreat method (that is the way the trainer in the book said) and have had some success. And I make sure to reward her, but not use anything to coax her. I have been working on ground work, and she is coming along well and understands well outside the trailer! Yesterday she was feeling a little frisky, so maybe it was just one of her "bad days" as you mentioned. Every horse is a new personality and challenge.
Thanks for all the ideas!
Yup she's only 2. That's exactly it; she's going to have good days and bad days. Just like when you are training a horse on the pattern, there are good days and bad days. If you're having a bad day, just make the best of it and end on a positive note.
She won't load overnight. Just like she won't learn barrels overnight. But stay consistent and stay patient. With time, you'll have a solid loader on your hands.
The other thing I didn't really say in my post but is important: Always think positive. When you lead your horse to the trailer door, EXPECT them to do exactly as you plan for the day. DONT even let your mind consider "oh, they are probably going to balk". The same way if you think you are going to hit the first barrel before you make your barrel run, guess what? You probably will. So remember to think positive when you do a ground work exercise or trailer loading, and you'll have much more positive results. | |
| | |
Total Germophobe
Posts: 6443
Location: Montana | Awesome sauce, thank you so much!  The thing I don't understand is sometimes she'll load up just fine...leave it to a horse, LOL. Its always fun. | |
| | |
Sock Snob
Posts: 3021
| i did this very thing last week with a 3 year old she is late being started but i needed someone good finally got a slot. had a friend who was a quiet hand . i put her halter and took 15 minutes to get her out the lot. then i just walked up jumped on trailer. my thrailer has xtrx wide stall. we put her on second stall. she put one foot up on the trailer she startig backing off i just jumped douw and made her back off. the jumped right back up and jamie just tapped with her stick she backed up again i just emcouraged her one more time and she jumped right on and i just patted her all over and clipped her in and closed the gate. went about 5 miles stopped and checked, and drove on she was good as gold. i opened the gat and stepped back to latch the gate the rat turned around i just turned her around. the asked her to back up strpped off she got sacared jumped back on did this 3 times did not get excited, she steped right off and acked like she been hauled he whole life. we put in the stall acted like it was hers all along. she is a good minded filly. you gotta know when to look en in the eye and when to console them when they are scared.
Edited by daisycake123 2016-07-24 8:17 PM
| |
| | |
The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| Rbeu's method is a good one, but very time consuming., and sometimes doesn't work.
There are horses who don't fit into the same cookie cutter training method, you need to figure out how your horse learns best.
There are some horses who have great groundwork, but are terrified of the horse trailer.
There are some horses who cannot be thumped on at all or the problem is exacerbated.
There are some horses that are spoiled brats that need displine.
I have had ones of all personalities, the flighty ones I find are some the hardest as well as the alpha females.
Last year in all my years of having horses, I spent days with one attempting to load in the trailer, no success. I did back up the trailer to the round pen, and I did place the feed in the trailer. How Rbeau finds this animal abuse I am uncertain, as I was not beating on her with a stick.
Each day I moved the feed back a little, so by day 3 she could no longer reach it and had to put her front feet in. I continued this for a week, she was comfortable with the trailer at this time.
Then I could go back and work on loading and unloading her on my command, it worked, she now loads pretty good, she is only 2 this year.
| |
| | |
Born not Made
Posts: 2937
Location: North Dakota | cheryl makofka - 2016-07-25 1:26 PM
Rbeu's method is a good one, but very time consuming., and sometimes doesn't work.
There are horses who don't fit into the same cookie cutter training method, you need to figure out how your horse learns best.
Last year in all my years of having horses, I spent days with one attempting to load in the trailer, no success. I did back up the trailer to the round pen, and I did place the feed in the trailer. How Rbeau finds this animal abuse I am uncertain, as I was not beating on her with a stick.
Just as you said, all horses are different.
It is animal abuse, in my mind, to put an animal's food and water into something they are terrified of (the trailer). There are some horses that will STARVE themselves instead of going near the trailer that has their food and water in it.
Was not making any reference to beating a horse.
That's fine it worked for your horse. But again, doesn't work for all and would be an utter disaster for some.
| |
| | |
 Georgia Peach
Posts: 8338
Location: Georgia |
I will start of by saying that I don't have much experience with babies. I've only raised the one I have now and she is two. We had to learn trailer loading fairly quickly because she had a large hernia pop up as a weanling so she didn't have a choice. My method was very simple. If she didn't want to go forward, we went backward. I'm kind to my horses but I don't baby them. If I ask for something I want a response. I gave her time to sniff everything and get acquainted with the whole thing. When I asked her to load she said "no" and backwards we went. She got sick of that very fast. I didnt snatch or yank on her face. We just went backward. This happened about three times and she decided she was ready to get on the trailer. She was rewarded with some nice loving and that was it. I don't like to bribe them with food or treats because then they always expect it. I have had little trouble out of her since then. Occasionally she will put two feet up and get down. I just back her a few steps and on she goes. | |
| | |
Total Germophobe
Posts: 6443
Location: Montana | Thanks for all the great ideas everyone!
The 2 year old I have you can't thump on her, she gets sullen and p***y. But you can't baby her either or she'll run right over you. I have her respect and trust, but the trailer somedays is a big, scary box, and other days its chill. Last year it was a gelding and he wouldn't get sullen, but he was more of the shy, dorky type, LOL. Its going to be interesting. I'm being patient and doing as well as I can, but somedays it is interesting! | |
| | |
The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| r_beau - 2016-07-25 5:02 PM
cheryl makofka - 2016-07-25 1:26 PM
Rbeu's method is a good one, but very time consuming., and sometimes doesn't work.
There are horses who don't fit into the same cookie cutter training method, you need to figure out how your horse learns best.
Last year in all my years of having horses, I spent days with one attempting to load in the trailer, no success. I did back up the trailer to the round pen, and I did place the feed in the trailer. How Rbeau finds this animal abuse I am uncertain, as I was not beating on her with a stick.
Just as you said, all horses are different.
It is animal abuse, in my mind, to put an animal's food and water into something they are terrified of (the trailer ). There are some horses that will STARVE themselves instead of going near the trailer that has their food and water in it.
Was not making any reference to beating a horse.
That's fine it worked for your horse. But again, doesn't work for all and would be an utter disaster for some.
To do the feed thing properly, you don't stick it all the way in at the beginning, you start at the doorway, and gradually move it back.
They have to be able to see it to make the connection.
And it may not work on some, this is where horsemanship comes in, you need to be able to read the horse, and know their limitations.
| |
| | |
 Ms. Marine
Posts: 4641
Location: Texas | cecollins0811 - 2016-07-23 7:18 PM
What my husband did with a wild-ish colt was leave him in the round pen and back the trailer up to the gate of the round pen. Kept the horses water and food in the trailer and had the colt in the round pen for three days. After those three days the colt loved being in the trailer, he realized it provided shade and went in there very willingly for the rest of the years we had him, which was 10+.
Ditto. I have done this with every youngn I've had. | |
| | |
 Elite Veteran
Posts: 889
| I've had this problem recently with a mare I traded for...and she's 7. We backed the trailer into the indoor arena, in case she happened to get away from us. The number one thing is YOU HAVE TO KEEP THEIR FEET MOVING. Because once they lose forward motion and/or lock up you can't make any progress. So, I basically worked her on the ground in circles, both directions back and forth getting closer and closer to the trailer door, always keeping forward motion and making her pay attention to me at all times. I used a little buggy whip in my left so when we went for the trailer, I could keep tapping her and keep moving forward and after probably 2 hours she went in. Then, I let her stand and talked to her, closed the petition and left her alone, then let her drink and gave her a snack, backed her out and we went through it about 10 more times until she stopped balking. She was the worst case I'd ever dealt with...I think she had the previous owners so buffaloed they never made her do anything...it was very trying. Good luck! | |
| |
| |
Folks on-line