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Author
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Topic: Trailer Loading
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It*Takes*Two
Junior Member
Member # 2352
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posted April 27, 2004 10:43 AM
Hi Guys!
My friend has a mare that she is having a hard time loading. Heres the story. This mare is a self loader when it comes to a step-up..but when it comes to loading on a ramp she refuses. We think she has had a bad expierence on the ramp because even if you go behind her liek walk behind her she starts backing away from the trailer as if she has been hit with something from behind when loading onto a ramp. She has been using a come along with her and it works but teh hard part is getting her mare to move cuz she will go forward so far and then just STOP and wont budge and whenever you go to put the come along behind her she trys to get away from it by backing (in which whenever she did need a come along which was rare with a step up she was fine! something with this ramp that freaks her out!) I am just wondering if anyone has ANY suggestions what so ever that we could try! Thanks!
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*It*Takes*Two*
-*xoxo*-
*Forever*And*Always*
Posts: 28 | From: ..Barn.. | Registered: Apr 2004
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hOrSeCrAzEeE120
Member
Member # 771
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posted April 27, 2004 10:49 AM
Have you tried grain? i had a mare exactly like this but she would rear up and flip over, buck, strike out.
I wouldnt push her, that will make her feel uncomfortable. I would try letting her see another horse load in, maybe she will follow. If that doesnt work i would try grain..
if you need any other suggestions PM me, i have lots of experince with this..
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* ashley *
*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*
RIP Scarlet, we love you and will never forget you, you touched so many people's lives.
*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*
Sarge.Rules.Sebastian <3 my boys for life, i love you all no matter what you all have a very special place in my heart!
Posts: 1418 | From: PA | Registered: Sep 2003
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It*Takes*Two
Junior Member
Member # 2352
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posted April 27, 2004 11:01 AM
Hey, yes my friend has tryed grain feed everything, and the mare wont flip or rear she'll just back up to a certian point then just STOP..and if you try to give her a little nudge or tap with your hand to get her forward she'll just back more..but if you took her to a step up - poof she'll get rite on not needing anybody shes a self loader when it comes to that, and see my friend just bought a ramp loaded trailer.
Yah PM and give me so more advice. The come-along works good altho its just gettin her over the fear of wanting to come closer after that i know my friend doesnt mind having to use a come along its just the part about her stopping and refusing to move its the hard part. any info would be great!
THANKS! PM ME WITH SOME!!!
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*It*Takes*Two*
-*xoxo*-
*Forever*And*Always*
Posts: 28 | From: ..Barn.. | Registered: Apr 2004
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cowgurly02
Member
Member # 1962
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posted April 27, 2004 01:13 PM
I don't like using grain to "bribe" them in, then you always have to use it. Have you tried using a butt rope?
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"A day without bulls, horses, barrels, poles, cowboys, and wranglers wouldn't be a day at all."
- NJRA contestant
http://img64.photobucket.com/albums/v194/cowgurly02/
Posts: 471 | From: Alberta, Canada | Registered: Mar 2004
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It*Takes*Two
Junior Member
Member # 2352
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posted April 27, 2004 01:16 PM
A come along is a butt rope. Well the thing is if I can use grain/hay to bribe my friends mare in then as soon as she starts to accoiacte the trailer with 'good trailer thoughts' then it will be easy to take away.
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*It*Takes*Two*
-*xoxo*-
*Forever*And*Always*
Posts: 28 | From: ..Barn.. | Registered: Apr 2004
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1rish
Member
Member # 1951
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posted April 27, 2004 01:40 PM
I would start having her walk over a piece of plywood on the ground, then find a wood bridge (or make one by raising the plywood off the ground with 2x4's and braces) and get her to cross that. It could be that the hollow sound the trailer ramp makes scares her. Perhapse someone got her in a jackpot on a bridge as a youngster.
With my colts I bring them just to the line where their comfort zone ends (where they start to get nervous) then make them stand there while I brush them, then move a bit closer etc... sometimes they just need time to figure it out themselves.
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You know one woman who would rather clean a stall than her house.
Posts: 113 | From: Nevada | Registered: Mar 2004
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It*Takes*Two
Junior Member
Member # 2352
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posted April 27, 2004 01:48 PM
But its not the ramp I dont think that shes scared of its just i think bad memories my friends mare might have had when it comes to a ramp. because i know that she has loaded on a ramp b4 cuz i had talked to her very very first owners and thats ALL she was ever ever on,never been on a step up till my friend got her. So somewhere inbetween my friend owning her and the very first owner she had a bad scare with loading on a ramp.
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*It*Takes*Two*
-*xoxo*-
*Forever*And*Always*
Posts: 28 | From: ..Barn.. | Registered: Apr 2004
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hossluva
Member
Member # 2266
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posted April 27, 2004 02:36 PM
u could try blind folding her so she doesnt know its coming but i would get her used to the blind fold like lead her around in ur arena*my mare broke a womens leg - they didnt but the butt bar up and she backed out and the ramp came down on her leg so eva since she is timid
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PIX FINNALY!!! www.picturetrail.com/notanothercowgurl ~*MADDIE*~bay 9yr. old tb/warmblood cross
Posts: 241 | From: ohio | Registered: Apr 2004
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It*Takes*Two
Junior Member
Member # 2352
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posted April 27, 2004 02:44 PM
Ummm... i dont techincally agree with being blind folded.. i think i would consider taking another route. I perfer things like natural horsemanship and i WILL NOT tolerate brutality or any force on the horse. ps- I am not saying you were giving advice that invovled brutality, but just incase anybody out there is thinking about writing it, save your time.
Thanks for your suggestion anyways tho!!!
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*It*Takes*Two*
-*xoxo*-
*Forever*And*Always*
Posts: 28 | From: ..Barn.. | Registered: Apr 2004
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littlecelticpony
Member
Member # 1480
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posted April 27, 2004 02:57 PM
hmmm blindfolding is brutality? ![[Confused]](confused.gif)
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Xanga...
Pictures...
"I killed your cat! I thought that would bring closure to our relationship!"
"I'll have a Coke, then."
Do not underestimate your horse's pride, or he will dent yours.
Posts: 1225 | Registered: Jan 2004
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Dawn
Member
Member # 14
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posted April 27, 2004 02:57 PM
What in the world would you have against blindfolding. That is easily the least traumatic way to go about it.
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Heard in the midst of a handwriting exam ~ "And to think, we could've been bio-chem majors."
Posts: 6885 | From: Tennessee | Registered: Nov 2002
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It*Takes*Two
Junior Member
Member # 2352
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posted April 27, 2004 03:01 PM
I DID NOT say blindfolding is brutality.. what i have against blindfolding is that what for an example your in an emergency and you must get your horse on in the trailer and you dont have that 'blindfold' then what the h*ll are yah gunna do your SOL. I would perfer to have my horse load in all conditions, not because there is a blindfold over its eyes!
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*It*Takes*Two*
-*xoxo*-
*Forever*And*Always*
Posts: 28 | From: ..Barn.. | Registered: Apr 2004
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cowgurly02
Member
Member # 1962
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posted April 27, 2004 03:27 PM
but you said yourself with the grain example that soon they won't need it to load, so the same would be with a blindfold wouldn't it? I would much rather use a blindfold than grain. With the blindfold the horse is putting trust in you. I still don't like using feed though. Especially not for catching horses either.
[ April 27, 2004, 03:28 PM: Message edited by: cowgurly02 ]
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"A day without bulls, horses, barrels, poles, cowboys, and wranglers wouldn't be a day at all."
- NJRA contestant
http://img64.photobucket.com/albums/v194/cowgurly02/
Posts: 471 | From: Alberta, Canada | Registered: Mar 2004
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It*Takes*Two
Junior Member
Member # 2352
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posted April 27, 2004 03:38 PM
Yes I recall saying that about the grain but as soon as the horse finds out that the trailer isnt scary and its a happy place you can then just give them a few inhand treats or a nice pat on the neck. But as soon as you were to take off the blindfold the horse would go back to their same old non-loading selves. JUST MY OWN OPINION!
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*It*Takes*Two*
-*xoxo*-
*Forever*And*Always*
Posts: 28 | From: ..Barn.. | Registered: Apr 2004
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Cyn
Member
Member # 1208
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posted April 27, 2004 04:08 PM
Ok, what (I THINK) you need to do is first teach the horse to step forward on cammand. Do this away from the trailer. NOT walk in front and have her follow. She needs to learn by a cue. My horses know when I tap them on the shoulder repetedly with thier lead they will step up. This is so when alone you don't have to reach around to tap on the butt. Go practice this over and over. Each time they walk forward stop tapping. This is reward. When they stop, start tapping again. It is kinda annoying and they will learn that when they walk forward the tapping will stop. The key is to stop tapping AS SOON AS THEY MOVE FORWARD. Soon start tapping them closr to the trailer. Small step at a time with lotsd of praise after forward motion. AS you get closer to the trailer don't give up. If she moves back give her a QUICK jerk on her halter and stop her from backing. Start over agian on your forward motion. Be sure when you do decide to load her that you have plenty of time and patients. Don't give up or she will win. And don't forget TEACH HER THIS BEFORE YOU TRY TO LOAD HER. She won't have to think about loading. She will have to think , OH Yeah that means forward motion.
I have never been unsucessful with this method. It takes patients but it will work.
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*Cyndy*
Counting the days Til Sugar foals...DUE APRIL 29.
Posts: 1021 | From: Central, Ca | Registered: Dec 2003
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It*Takes*Two
Junior Member
Member # 2352
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posted April 27, 2004 04:17 PM
Hey Cyn, I thank you VERY much for your very detailed explaination. Certinly gives me something to try!! The thing is she defintly knows forward but its just that my friends mare as soon as she sees the trailer she panics and get nervous *I think it might have been from a previous owner with a ramp load and now shes scared of ramps*. Heres what I plan to do with my friends mare is that when she sees the trailer get her to walk forward and as soon as she halts get her to go fwrd and then when she does turn around and let her stand and praise her. Then try it a little bit further and so on. Till finally she gets all four feet on the ramp and then FINALLY is in the trailer. Thanks guys altho keep the suggestions comming!!!
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*It*Takes*Two*
-*xoxo*-
*Forever*And*Always*
Posts: 28 | From: ..Barn.. | Registered: Apr 2004
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Cyn
Member
Member # 1208
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posted April 27, 2004 04:29 PM
Good, But I wouldn't turn her around. Just let her face it. Does she know forward by following or can you stand still give her a cue and she'll go forward. Any horse can follow and some people seem to think that just because the horse will follow on a lead that they are halter broke. They should know how to move forward backward and from side to side with you behind their head. And some horses don't know how to turn AWAY from you. So many people have the habbit of pulling the horse around to turn and not turning them away.
Glad she is good at moving forward. Just practice, practice, practice and tell your friend to have patients.
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*Cyndy*
Counting the days Til Sugar foals...DUE APRIL 29.
Posts: 1021 | From: Central, Ca | Registered: Dec 2003
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It*Takes*Two
Junior Member
Member # 2352
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posted April 27, 2004 04:42 PM
Hi, Yes she will move forward with or without a lead by following. The reason I said to turn because that way she learns that when she goes forward towards the trailer that she gets to turn away. I dont mean head back to the barn just turn and then turn and start again to maybe procede a little bit furthur. Thanks!!
Keep em' coming!
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*It*Takes*Two*
-*xoxo*-
*Forever*And*Always*
Posts: 28 | From: ..Barn.. | Registered: Apr 2004
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Cyn
Member
Member # 1208
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posted April 27, 2004 04:50 PM
quote:
Hi, Yes she will move forward with or without a lead by following.
That's sorta my point. She needs to learn how to move forward on cue NOT by following.
My only thinking on turning her away is that she needs to know from you that the trailer is not scary. By turing her away (I feel) it's like saying "Don't look at that scary trailer" By facing it your saying" Look it is not scary, If I can face it so can you"
I think you are great for trying to help your friend. Maybe you can get some more ideas from some others.
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*Cyndy*
Counting the days Til Sugar foals...DUE APRIL 29.
Posts: 1021 | From: Central, Ca | Registered: Dec 2003
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It*Takes*Two
Junior Member
Member # 2352
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posted April 27, 2004 04:56 PM
i dont mean following like the way it sounds.. It was the wrong word to use, the word I am trying to think of is on my tip of my tounge..hmm.. trust me this mare knows how to lead she has done showmanship and all that great in hand stuff and has pinned in it quite high. Ureka LOL.. the word I was trying to remember is that she knows FORWARD Momentem and when asked to move forward with or without lead she will until otherwise asked to woah or next voice commnd. Thank You!
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*It*Takes*Two*
-*xoxo*-
*Forever*And*Always*
Posts: 28 | From: ..Barn.. | Registered: Apr 2004
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Cyn
Member
Member # 1208
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posted April 27, 2004 05:04 PM
![[Smile]](smile.gif) Sorry for the confusion ![[Wink]](wink.gif)
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*Cyndy*
Counting the days Til Sugar foals...DUE APRIL 29.
Posts: 1021 | From: Central, Ca | Registered: Dec 2003
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It*Takes*Two
Junior Member
Member # 2352
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posted April 27, 2004 05:13 PM
Oh No problem there at all..its just my lack of abality with words that made everything seem so confusing LOL! Ive been known to mix up my words LOL! but yah, THANK YOU SO MUCH for your help!
Keep em' comin!
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*It*Takes*Two*
-*xoxo*-
*Forever*And*Always*
Posts: 28 | From: ..Barn.. | Registered: Apr 2004
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Scooter
Junior Member
Member # 2024
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posted April 27, 2004 08:08 PM
When I'm working with young horses I will put an easy loader in first. (older horse) and then work on loading the beginner or problem horse.
I sometimes will back my trailer up to the round pen. lunge the horse in small circles about ten times slowly getting closer to the door. as the horse comes around to the door step in front of him so he can't go by. let him stand there. if he gives any forward movement at all, praise him. If at anytime he tries to back-up or go around you or through you. Go back to lunging in tight circles (ten more times) then work him back to the trailer and do same as above. Ive had good luck with this. Some horses load in 10 minutes, some longer. I never coax a horse in the trailer with food or treats. The horse loads under my conditions not thiers.
This works great with young horses and problem horses.
Posts: 19 | From: Colorado | Registered: Mar 2004
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It*Takes*Two
Junior Member
Member # 2352
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posted April 28, 2004 10:43 AM
Hmm Thats a great idea there scooter!
Thank you- Another thing to think about! THANKS SO MUCH GUYS! Keep em' comming!!!
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*It*Takes*Two*
-*xoxo*-
*Forever*And*Always*
Posts: 28 | From: ..Barn.. | Registered: Apr 2004
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drafts
Member
Member # 883
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posted April 28, 2004 11:02 AM
Irish has given you some really good advice. You say it is not the ramp, but I will bet you $20.00 it is. I know a ton of horses that load like a pro into a step up, but are terrified of the ramp trailers. ALot of them do not like the way it sounds as they walk up it, or the way it feels. The reason she probably knows to back away from it before she gets to the trailer is becuase someone has probably tried to load her into on, and she did not like it then either.
Don't discount good advice, until the mare tells you what is wrong, you are only guessing and it does not hurt to cover every aspect.
Me personally would have taken a broom to her backside and had her loaded in 5 minutes, but I do things alot differently.
Posts: 307 | Registered: Oct 2003
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