There's a horse I ride quite often who is the sweetest thing alive until she sees a horse trailer. She totally freaks out even if you're juz walking past the trailer and starts backing up. At one stage she had to go to the vet and freaked out so much she ended up hurting her hindleg. She's obviously scared of loading because she probably had a bad experience in the past so I have to take a passive, non-forceful route to helping her. So pls if there r any horsey people out there with experience pls give suggestions.
2006-11-12 06:28:03 · 16 answers · asked by Horse crazy 4 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
Completely true, I'm not making this up: A guy I work with has two horses and one totally freaks at the mere sight of a trailer. He has to practically drag it right up to the trailer and literally whacks it on the butt with a rope to make it go in. The horse goes into the trailer but the fear remains.
2006-11-12 06:31:44 · answer #1 · answered by spongeworthy_us 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Since your horse is terrified of trailers you have got to give her information through body language since English isn't in her vocabulary. If you have access to a horse that is completely bomb proof to a trailer, show the mare the horse as he/she walks up the ramp. Make sure the horse is completely confident about the trailer you can load the and unload the horse in front of your mare a few times but make sure the horse IS bombproof because a horse being sppokish about a trailer will just show the mare to fear. As the horse does this leave the horse in the trailer and slowly approach the trailer leading the mare. Circle the trailer with the mare letting her smell everything completlely until her attentions is drawn do this in counter-clockwise and clockwise circles. Then lead her towards the ramp of the trailer. Not letting her walk up the ramp let her sniff the ramp and see the other horse being petted and quiet in the trailer. Do not push her if she balks, instead let her graze around the trailer and the ramp until she grazes closer to the trailer as she feels comfortable. Eventually when she is VERY calm so close to the trailer let her approach the ramp and stay beside her at her shoulder so she can see you. Let her hear you croon and pet her. I fshe still balks leave it for a day and try again with the horse in the trailer. As she does eventually get confident with the trailer start moving the trailer with her in it and the horse beside her. Eventually when she is confident you can try without the companion horse. Make sure she is calm with a moving vehicle as well because that might cause her spookishness as well. Never push her or use any object with force on her because she will never learn that a trailer is okay and become afraid to be afraid of the trailer as well as just afraid.
2006-11-13 09:05:47 · answer #2 · answered by nicpiperloe 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Try first walking the horse around in a circle and then start going up to the trailor, stop when about 25 ft away. Make sure she ses the trailer. Then walk in another small circle and move closer. Stop and have her look at the trailer. This method of slowly walking forward will calm her while slowly introducing her to the trailer. When you get to almost the entrance of the trailer start pacing with her back and forth in front of the opening so she sees the trailer with both eyes. Do this for about 5 minutes. Then slowly, and calmly walk towards the opening of the trailer. She may start to get scared and if she does just go back to the pacing. Try going into the trailer again. If she refuses keep trying this until she does.
Also try to remember that to the horse, all she sees is a bg black hole where predators may be hiding, not a spacious trailer like we do. Try not to force it. Hope this helps!! :0)
2006-11-12 06:43:12 · answer #3 · answered by ♥Petlover♥ 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
This works every time -
Walk the horse towards the trailer.
When you feel he might be starting to resist, back him away from the trailer.
Lead him back towards the trailer again. When you feel he might be starting to resist, back him away from the trailer. You can use a stick to tap, tap, tap him to move forward. Use it only to annoy him and get his feet moving.
DO NOT SCARE HIM FORWARD.
Repeat.
Repeat.
Repeat.
Each time he will be getting closer to the trailer.
When the horse gets close enough to the ramp, do not let him go all the way in. At this point only let him put one foot on the ramp and then back him away again. You can lift a foot and place it on the ramp if necessary.
Each time let him walk only one step further into the trailer and then back him out.
Be patient and do not rush him. Eventually, the horse will try to pull you on the trailer.
When he is all the way on the trailer, back him out and do it again.
Always encourage him with your voice and do not get angry. This will only prove to him that there is something to be scared of.
Eventually, after the horse has been on and off the trailer a few times, feed him in the trailer.
2006-11-12 07:48:46 · answer #4 · answered by HorseLvr 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If I were you, I'd park the trailer where you would put it if you were going to load the horse. depending on how scared she is, you can leave the ramp up or down. walk her by it, then walk her away and praise her, walk her by it a few times a day until she relaxes and doesn't mind any more. then you can put the ramp down, and repeat. until she's okay with that.
At a later date, you will have to try loading again. I would open up everything , doors windows, you name it, and try to get my hands on a stock trailer. (you can work up to a traditional one, but stock trailers are more inviting to horses.) You will have to coax her on, and then let her off right away. I know it seems counter productive, but she needs to learn that she isn't trapped, and it it takes you 3 hours to get her on the first time, then the next time it should only take 2 1/2 hours, keep doing this until she goes right on. Then you can ask her to stand for a moment, until she isn't fazed at all when you shut the door.
By the way, expect it to take a very long time for her to become comfortable with the trailer.
2006-11-12 12:06:46 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
We raise horses, so the young ones start off scared of the trailer. The trick it to park the trailer in the pen with her. She needs to be the only horse in the pen. Then put all of her food in the trailer. Eventually she will be forced to come in the trailer. Don't worry if she doesn't eat for a day or so, and DON'T GIVE UP! If you choose to take this plan (which I HIGHY recommend) the worst thing you can do is put food outside the trailer. Also, don't try to force her to go near, in or around the trailer. This will only make things worse. Hope this helps.
2006-11-12 06:51:04 · answer #6 · answered by hey_its_from_clare 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋
I had a horse like this many years ago. I parked the trailer in his paddock and opened the back door and left it open. For several days I put his food and water in the door opening. About every three days I would move the feed forward in the trailer so he had to go in a little farther. Once he figured out there was nothing there to hurt him he would step up in and eat. He trailered fine after that.
2006-11-12 06:41:38 · answer #7 · answered by paintedbeautys 1 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Horses are born claustrophobic (scared of closed spaces) they are also born afraid of big dark scary things that could possibly eat them. You know what I'm saying?!? You need to work her away from the trailer for a bit, then try to have her go into it, she will refuse. Work her more and let her know she has to work away from the trailer and when she is hear or in the trailer she gets to relax. She'll choose the easy route eventually.
Try watching a Clinton Anderson DVD or show when he's teaching to load, or even Chris Cox. They are wonderful trainers!
Good Luck!
2006-11-12 11:05:17 · answer #8 · answered by silver_rain112 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You need to show her that the trailer is nothing to fear. Practice walking her over the ramp, after it is dismantled. Perhaps blindfolding her might affect her. Put her best friend horse in first so she can watch him load. You lead her by going in first and offering a treat, there are hundreds of ways to get around this problem.
2006-11-12 07:20:47 · answer #9 · answered by The Animal Psychiatrist♬♪ 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some of the advice you received was good. One thing I would add is to put shipping boots on her when your working around the trailer. This way she might not hurt herself as much if she panic's again. The boots can be bought at any good tack store or online.
Also get her used to the noise of walking on the trailer. Have her walk on boards, tarps anything that will make noise when she's on it.
2006-11-12 10:52:20 · answer #10 · answered by crzyhorse5 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋