Trailer Loading Training

[Nettie]

Brilliant reply Lyndsey.

I've just brought my first trailer   It is only a very small one, big enough for two very small ponies or one fat small horse, as slightly limited by the tow car capabilities, so will have to manage without the buddy, but I am sure we will get round that one.

When I originally brought my horse home he loaded in a trailer quite happily and was no trouble at all on the journey. A picture of him looking quite calm as soon he landed from his two hour journey - this was nearly two years ago.



I have travelled him twice since, using professional horse carriers but he seems to have completely lost his confidence. I wonder if it the type of vehicles they tend to use locally, basically converted vans, big enough to carry two large horses plus tack, which bounce a little more on the suspension than a trailer or larger lorry.

I know that he had travelled from the West Coast of Ireland to Greater London - which is considerabley more than two hours plus a sea crossing without problems. It is highly likely he travelled in a trailer before leaving Ireland as he seems to know what they are, and what they do.

I have managed to get him comfortabley next to the trailer, whereas he initially didn't want to come closer than about four foot away basically using very similar methods to how you describe. He will now walk up to the ramp and peer inside, or even stand on the very bottom of the ramp with his front feet. He will actually load calmly when encouraged in with a feed, but he hesitates which makes me think he is still a little unhappy about proceedings although he is not making it complety obvious.

I will give your suggestions a try and report back as to how we get on.

[Nettie]

Sorry the picture has come out so small. Maybe I should start a blog, especially as this subject fits in so well with the straightness training

[Lyndsey Lewis]

Brilliant reply Lyndsey.

Thank you! 

I have travelled him twice since, using professional horse carriers but he seems to have completely lost his confidence.

Usually professional horse carriers are pretty good although I'm sure there are a few duds out there.

I do know that bad driving can shatter confidence. I had a gelding once who travelled all over the place but started getting balky about loading. It was a real puzzle so I  had a friend drive the van and I rode in back with him. I was BLOWN AWAY by how hard it was to balance!! And how scary the corners were and even worse was the stopping and starting!!! I thought my friend was driving VERY badly but she said she was going slowly!!!

The other thing was there were chains hanging down in the empty stalls and when we went around the corner, they swung and clanged and made an awful racket. It was just horrible travelling!

So...I tied up the extra chains and went crazy slow on corners and crazy slow starting and stopping and sure enough, he started loading like a dream again!!! I also found out that he had a sore back...(saddle I think...??) and perhaps trying to balance with a sore back was bad...????

Anyhoo sometimes we may never know but just make our best guess. If your boy had a bad travelling experience, then maybe lots of very SHORT slow trips with champagne and party hats might help...???

I look forward to hearing how you get on! 

[winnieandben]

Congrats on your new trailer Nettie 

I started trailer training my girl at 6 months old, letting her eat her dinner in it etc she travels really well but occaisonally isnt keen to load, will run up the ramp for a bucket on these occasions    I think this is usually about leaving her friends and if I tell her to get on with it she stomps up the ramp making a big deal of going in

Even though she travels regularly I still have the odd practice session 

[Nettie]

I now have a horse that loads quietly and calmly, without the need to bully or coerse in anyway   It didn't take as long as I expected it too.

Poor chap was a bit confused to see a line of feed buckets and didn't know which one to eat first as I had just been using treats previously, but he soon got the idea. It did feel like going against the grain, stopping the horse from doing the very thing you want him to, but the reverse physcology does work. It was not long before he was dragging me over to the ramp even sans buckets of carrots, rather than me leading him

Also he steps backward down the ramp without much difficulty , although Lyndsey, you were right, he is a little unco-ordinated with his feet especially his left front/right hind diagonal (he is a left bended horse). I've been trying to help him with this by using poles as part of ground work to get him to think about where is feet are and there does seem to be some improvement.

I managed to keep training sessions short and he kept his good humour throughout so pleased about that . I think the next step is replacing the bars and raising the ramps    I get the impression that someone has taken the time to teach him all this before and now he is regaining his confidence it is all coming back to him, but will be careful not to rush through it though.

[whisper's mum]

Fantastic! 

[Lyndsey Lewis]

Lovely to hear about your success! 

Instead of not being able to get our horse's to load, we can now make jokes about how we can't stop them from trying to get on every open trailer they see!! 

[issywizz]

Really liked Lyndseys write up 
Only thing I would do slightly differently is I wouldnt want to be too bossy with the backing up as it can be quite punishing psychologically and the aim is to make trailer loading a rewarding experience.

When I taught the foals to load I had them loose with the trailer in the field which is ideal imo as they can then work within their own comfort zones.
I did back them before the ramp and also when they first stepped on etc as I wanted to avoid them panicking and rushing through, so for that backing is very useful, but only as much as it takes for them to know that they can if that makes sense?

[Lyndsey Lewis]

Really liked Lyndseys write up 
Only thing I would do slightly differently is I wouldnt want to be too bossy with the backing up as it can be quite punishing psychologically and the aim is to make trailer loading a rewarding experience.

When I taught the foals to load I had them loose with the trailer in the field which is ideal imo as they can then work within their own comfort zones.
I did back them before the ramp and also when they first stepped on etc as I wanted to avoid them panicking and rushing through, so for that backing is very useful, but only as much as it takes for them to know that they can if that makes sense?

Yes good that you pick up on that point.  I hadn't meant it to come across as being bossy...I think I tried to word it that way but it was turning into a small novel!!! What I said was:

"So one foot on the ramp, treats, back off, treats, two feet on the ramp, back off etc and always back ALL the way off and even back a bit away from the trailer to a place of real relaxation before walking forward again. Try and just be a guide and not 'in charge'. The horse dictates the speed.

When that's all gone well and it's time to step right up into the trailer still always back off for EVERY extra step on even if the horse doesn't want to back off!!!! I do let them pause between step on and before backing but I don't let them just keep walking all the way on. I hope I'm explaining this well...??"

So...as I said, the horse dictates the speed but NOT the direction. I call it "Response Restriction"... .. If it takes a while to get a step back, then that's fine. I don't up the pressure or scold or rush them but I don't let them keep walking on if I don't want them to! If they stand there for 10 minutes that's cool. Unlikely though if they know that backing gets treats and they've learned to back before getting on the trailer. If a horse gets sticky backing when it's halfway on, I know I have more work to do with backing before it gets that far on next time!

Also it's not a drill as such and there are only a few steps involved getting on and off a trailer - 6 or 10 maybe...???...so we can ask for lots of on and off and we are not talking about many steps. If we go one step on, one step off, two steps on, two steps off etc...we only incorporate about 10 'backs'.

And I do think it's important that we be in charge. NOT in a bossy demanding way but trailers are dangerous and not a kid's toy and horse's NEED to have an adult guide!!! This is why I don't let them explore trailers on their own...too many things to bump into and too tight a space!! Young horse's will get themselves in trouble by walking right on then suddenly realising they are not in Kansas anymore and spooking and can hurt themselves rushing off! So...I want absolute control of every stride and the way to get that and keep the horse having a positive experience, is taking it slow, keeping them relaxed and lots of treats! IF the horse is starting to tense or resisting any of the forward or any of the back I either quit the session or take it slower by not going on so far. One thing about treats is that you can detect tension in the way they take the treats out of your hand before you can see it in their body. So if you feel teeth, that means the face is tense and the lips are tight...so...time to quit or slow down.

Oh dear...another novel...

Thanks Sarah! I think it was good to clarify that piece!