Loading!

[heidirenee]

Ok so Rannie isnt doing so well on loading into a straight load trailer. We are going to try to get a few guys rounded up tonight to see if we cant get him in there. We have tried Hay/Grain but he just doesnt think he can do it. I know he just needs to be shown once and then he will get it no problem its just the first time is going to be difficult. Any good advice?

[angelsdream]

I've been through this several times. Hopefully what i've learned I can pass on to you. First of all - using grain/hay to coax them in the trailor is not a good idea. It may take longer not using it, but I feel that trailor loading is a process that needs to be done correctly at the beginning or you will have loads of problems later.

I would keep steady pressure on the lead rope towards the trailor until the horse took a step towards or in the trailor, then release it immediately, his reward is the release of pressure. Let the horse stick his head down and sniff, look around etc for a few minutes then pull him to come forward again, remember any little step forward is good, means he's trying and wants to come in so you must release the pressure from the rope. He may only put one foot in at first and back up, which is ok, allow him to back up , whatever you do, dont keep pulling him forward when he is backing up, release the rope and once he stops , pull him right back to where he was before. Ive seen people get into tug a war matches with horses trying to pull them in or when they are backing up scared, they keep pulling and trying to out pull them (YEAH RIGHT) Which only freaks the horse out more - You may have to get someone standing some ways behind him to add a little extra pressure if he gets to where he's not wanting to go forward at all. Like I said, it may take a while , but going slow at this is always a good idea. Gives them time to think about what they're doing and its there decision. Once he gets in, pet him, give him praises and let him think about it for a minute. Then you may have the problem of getting him to back out once he's in. My mare I had would get all the way to the back and take her foot off and wouldnt feel anything and would get scared and come right back in. I can remember standing in that trailor for almost 2 hours trying to get her to back out.

Hope this helps. Good luck.

[dara]

I totally agree with Angelsdream! Take it slow and dont try to do it all in one day. I did use grain for my horses but i would have liked to have done it with out. MY little mustang has had some badly rushed trailer days and was really not liking my two straight load horse trailer i got. She is a Very food motivated horse so i used it to my advantage, but it still took me two weeks of doing what angelsdream sugested and now she loads with no problem. same with my 1/2 kiger mare i can put the lead rope over her back and point her in and she loads with ease. She is very scared to back out though, i only let her back out when i am ready for her to and always give a verbal command to "step down" when she is at the very edge of the step. I have no idea if that helps her or not but i guess with repitition she might understand what i mean. Good luck, Dara

[heidirenee]

Well no luck so far on the loading. He gets so close, his knees press against the end he just wont step up. He loads fine in a stock trailer. We will keep trying!

[angelsdream]

Im sorry! I know how difficult it is. For some reason, straight load trailors always scare horse's out when they're used to open stock trailors. Straight load trailors are very confined so maybe that's what it is. Maybe get someone behind him to add more pressure from behind to encourage him to go on in. But not too much or he'll go flying in. Just enough to get him to step up into. Maybe once you see him moving in, back off.
Maybe someone else can suggest something else that might help.

[nrly]

yes you are right angelsdream, let him think it is his idea. i watch Perelli and she did it on loading, and she never forced the issue, but she let him sniff, trust was a part of it. it was so good, and she got this troubled TB cross to go in when he realized she was not forcing, it was pressure and release, and trust.. Take it slow and easy, he will get it.

[lindad]

This is not training advise but a trailor loading story. We were trying to load my miniature donkey late one evening to no avail, even though Cola usually jumps right in. Three of us did it the correct way initially and but eventually deteriorated to 30 minutes of pulling/pushing/ bribbing with no result. We looked like the cariacatures so often depicted trying to motivate an unwilling donkey. Then it came to me to use Cola's personality to my advantage. I told my husband and daughter to get into the trailor with me and to talk and laugh as though we were having a great old time and to just ignore Cola. It worked like a charm. Cola loves to be in the midst of a good time being a real party animal, and hopped in to join the fun! He got a treat for joining us.
Linda D

[nrly]

well done Linda D

[DianneC]

The problem sounds like Rainee doesn't know how to step up. That's a problem we've had before with foals. Put the trailer on the downhill side of a small slope in the ground so the step is not high, be sure to set the truck brake and chock the wheels of the trailer. once they get the idea of stepping in and that there is food in the front you can move it to a place where the step is more, and then more. Once they get in let them just eat and hang out, don't ask them to unload until they are ready. They will step in and out and pound the trailer floor with a foot many times before loading. Each thought forward release and praise them.

[kimk]

There have been alot of good comments on this thread, and although I am certainly no trailer loading expert, I have taught my share of extremely difficult-to-load horses to load. Trailer loading is no more than an advanced leading lesson. I would start by taking him AWAY from the trailer, and teaching him a go forward cue. Expand this to going forward over objects, such as a concrete slab, a reinforced pallet with heavy duty plywood on top, a tarp, etc. When you can successfully get him to calmly cross several objects on cue away from the trailer, then take him back to the trailer and ask him to go forward into the trailer. If he just puts one foot up, that's okay. Stop him and ask him to back out. Try to avoid him getting all the way in right away, as you want to now incorporate into your lesson teaching him to back out. You want to do this one foot at a time if you can. A very helpful tool for you would be John Lyons video, "Leading and Loading Safely".
Ki used to be a bugger to load....took 3 people to get him into a large stock trailer. Dianne can attest to the fact that now I just throw the lead rope over his back and say "Kennel" and he climbs right in and goes all the way up to his spot in the front without me even getting in the trailer.
I would go back to a place in Rannie's training where you can ask him for something and get yes for an answer. don't make the trailer the main issue, but start someplace you can have success and work your way back to the trailer.
Good luck and keep us posted!
Kim

[heidirenee]

We finally did it! What a weight of my sholders. ;D The fist time it took 1 1/2 hours, the next 5 min, then walla....right in. He finally realized it wont hurt him. I am soo happy!

[angelsdream]

Yay!! Im so happy for you. Great feeling!!