Horse Loading Blues?

Question

I have a friend that has a gelding that has a problem loading and would explode and rear and go crazy. Even had reared on her and got his front leg stuck between the door and the trailer. She brought him over for and I finally got him over the rearing part and being calm at the trailer. He even loaded ver big rear and go crazy problem when yo try to load him in a trailer. She brought him to me to help with the rearing thing. I spent some time with him and have got him not rearing and get in the trailer calmly. He now will load in my straight load 2 horse trailer. But will not load in her two horse slant trailer. They have tried all kinds of things? Butt ropes and such. She is looking for suggestions. Any ideas?

Wow rereading my question I see it repeated itself several times - sorry. Thought I had deleted part of that. Anyway I think you still get the general comment.

Answer 1

You just have to start over with that trailer. You convinced him the other one was harmless, but he's certain sure that this one is gonna kill him.
Leave the trailer where he can see it, treat him near it, walk him passed it a few times a day, everyday, until he is comfortable with it. Praise him for bravery and keep trying.
Good Luck

Answer 2

May not be practical if she needs the trailer for other things but something I know has worked for others is fixing the trailer so it cant roll, where the horse has access and put the horse's feed in the front of it. Leave the horse alone, no coaxing, maybe not even be where the horse can see. Let the horse get comfortable walking into it on his own. Most problems animals have were in part, if not all, caused by people. He probably had a bad experience with such a trailer or something he associates with it. He has to overcome his fear of it without further trauma.

Answer 3

First, put shipping boots/wraps and bell boots on him to reduce possible injury. I would also recommend a head bumper. Have someone experienced (wearing gloves) calmly lead him forward to the trailer opening. Have another experienced person take a 6' whip and gently but firmly flick his hind fetlocks from the back every time he takes a step backing AWAY from the trailer. STOP flicking him when he begins moving forward to the trailer. You are NOT trying to hurt him so much as irritate him and give him the concept of moving on to the trailer=good; moving backward away from the trailer=bad. This should be done in an enclosed area if possible in the event he manages to get away from you. You did not mention if either of the trailers are step ups or ramps. Many horses find ramps to be uncomfortable as they wobble a bit when the horse steps on them. Horses don't care for unstable footing. Some horses will go forward with this method and jump to the side of the trailer opening which is not good either. Bad loading habits are incredibly dangerous to both horses and people. Please be careful and good luck.

Answer 4

I don't object to a slap if they bite or try to kick - I'll usually administer that myself if they try anything as I make sure I'm there for the farrier to hold the horse. If they're repeatedly pulling a leg away or 'waving' it around I won't object - I would like to say I do mean a single slap as a reminder to behave, nothing more than I would do to myself. I have seen one farrier step back and really boot a pony in the belly because it wouldn't stand and I've seen one smack a horse across the butt with the rasp - both of those are instant 'off the yard and out of my sight before I do that to you' moments, or at least if it had been my horse. On both occasions the owner was stood there and did nothing! I'm very fussy about my farrier and the one I use at the moment is great, he is very good at the feet but he's also patient with them (my mare has mild stifle lock and sometimes finds it hard to hold her back feet up high and the farrier lets her take her time lifting them and then keeps them low for her) but is quite honest in that if a horse bites him it will get a thump - he's not going to do any damage and certianly nowhere near as much as another horse would. This is also one of the reasons I always hold my horses, especially my sister's tb as he is very nibbly; although he doesn't properly bite it's unfair to the farrier to allow the horse to chew on him.

Answer 5

Try and track down the horse whisper lesson on a horse worse than that to load. In less than 15 minutes the horse loaded first time everytime. The jest of it is what expectations you tranlate to the horse by your body language and how well you understand their body language. The main deal is realize they are prey animals and we are predators. Once you think in those terms you can read a horse like a book.http://horsewhisperer.com/

Answer 6

Buy the Pat Parelli DVD on horse loading. Even if your freind is not into Natural Horsemanship he has great advice on trailer loading.

Answer 7

you should get them to learn Parelli. I learned it and my horse hated loading then i started to use parelli now i can sit on the side of teh trailer and point and she goes right on. Go to www.parelli.com for more information or go to a parelli demo and watch...good luck. if my 11 year old grand-daughter can do it you can!

Answer 8

If your need to move him is urgent....
Sedate him , Somtimes you just have to to avoid injury.
It best to have them sedated and truck them to where ever youre going ,

And when you have the time buy a Parelli floating dvd , and restart him , if your not exsperienced enough , pay a prelli instructer in your area to retrain him for you . The natural way is the best way !

Answer 9

try walking him around it ,tie him to it, leave some food inside so he must reach in to get it,and leave him by himself,have another horse much calmer already loaded and show the other horse

Answer 10

Have you tried blindfolding him? They can really injure themselves. We had a gelding who put a big gash in his head because of the same problem.