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Is he OK to back normally? For example how far can he step backwards in the stable, yard or arena?
Hi all, I have a bit of a problem loading my young horse. I have him about 5 months and besides the previous owner loading him for me to transport him to my yard, he has only been in a horse box 4 other times ( 2 trips ). He travels fine, thats not the problem, in fact when he's in the box he then doesn't want to get out. He won't reverse and I literally have to push him backwards down the ramp. The first trip he loaded ok and then since then he panics loading and then won't unload when we get there. I don't like using the lunge line on him and want to try and fix the problem so I'm not battling with him. I plan to practice trailer loading and then driving around the block and then unloading a few times tomorrow. Has any one any good suggestions or had this experience and can recommend the best way to do all this?
Is he OK to back normally? For example how far can he step backwards in the stable, yard or arena?
“You know horses are smarter than people. You never heard of a horse going broke betting on people”. ~ Will Rogers
Hi Welsh Girl yes he backs ok, he is only 5 and is a bit of a napper ( which I'm trying to get him out of !) , so backing is no problem to him!.
Haha! I know what you mean, but does he back for you when you ask him to, with even steps and not dragging his feet. Why I ask is because if he's not good at backing on solid ground he will unlikely be confident to back onto a hollow thing such as a ramp.
Also does your trailer have a front ramp? Another thing you can do is to practice at home just loading him with the front ramp down and breast bar in place. Let him stand untill he relaxes, and then unload by the front ramp. He will earn then that the trailer isn't always about the backing which he is currently have issue with.
“You know horses are smarter than people. You never heard of a horse going broke betting on people”. ~ Will Rogers
Ya, he steps back ok too. Its a strange one alright. Very frustrating, might work on loading on right ( it was left he has been travelling in as always the smaller horse) side with side ramp down as you say and see if he feels better about it. I'd say something if the problem was with him travelling but he's as quiet as a mouse and doesn't sweat or anything so I know he's not afraid. Just the loading part. Thanks for your advice tho!. I'll let you know how I get on.
Just thought of one other thing, does the horsebox have stabilisers? Sometimes the rocking of the box as they load or unload can bother them. Maybe put these down when the box is stopped for loading/unloading, untill he gets more relaxed. You could be onto something with trying him on the right, I heard its easier for them to balance on the right so perhaps try that too untill he calms down a bit. Keep us updated.
“You know horses are smarter than people. You never heard of a horse going broke betting on people”. ~ Will Rogers
I had some loading problems with Molly at the start, she got her breakfast in the horse box every day for a week though and developed a firm horsebox = food attitude and even at her nappiest she will always go towards food.
I used to have a handle on life...it fell off
Food trick works, my lady was very difficult to load when I got her first. She now walks up into the box herself and I just have to lift the ramp.
If the other suggested posts have no success for you, perhaps you could remove the partition and the larger space might be more inviting, when you get him up and in, immediately turn in the box and walk back out again. Repeat several times to build confidence. Then put the partition back in and see how you get on.
