Horse Forum: Trailering Issue - -

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Topic: Trailering Issue - - - Upset

It*Takes*Two
Junior Member
Member # 2352

posted May 10, 2004 10:20 AM

Hi There,
You guys may remember about my mare (this is emma, not It Takes Two, just using her name because i lost my password) Well anyways we have been working with her and working with her paitently and everything. Everytime she see's the trailer she startes shaking and her lips start to quiver. It hurts me to see such a phenominal loader on a step up (self loader) go to a scared horse when it comes to trailering now on a ramp. I have not yet tried to load her again on a step-up but I am now scared that she is totally turned off of trailering of all kinds now! I am balling and f.r.e.a.k.ing out. It hurts me to see her like this, I cant stop thinking about this because she is such a pehnominal horse, to see her actually scared about trailering now (she has never had anything done to her harshly at all!!). It breaks my heart! I am thinking about selling my ramp load and get a step up but first i am getting my friend to come over with her two horse step up to see if she will load again on that and to make sure she isnt totally turned off of trialering!!!! I am just in so much pain of heartbreak over this! I feel as though now she doesnt trust me any more, in which she tursted me so much before!!!!!! I am in so much hurt! I just want to be able for her to feel excited and happy about trailering again like before!!!
Thanks guys!
I am hurting alot once again over this!!!

I LOVE MY ADORABLE HORSE SO MUCH!

[ May 10, 2004, 10:23 AM: Message edited by: It*Takes*Two ]

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*It*Takes*Two*
-*xoxo*-
*Forever*And*Always*

Posts: 28 | From: ..Barn.. | Registered: Apr 2004

Blistering Winds
Member
Member # 843

posted May 10, 2004 10:47 AM

Got to be patient. If you get upset, so does the horse. Basically, if you have a step loader, and switch to a ramp loader, have to basically start trailer training from the beginning.

Just keep working at it. She'll be nervous, just be patient, stick some hay and grain. Do it in the morning, don't feed her the morning feed. Stick it in the trailer. She's hungry, she'll get in.

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Horses should not be treated as people. They should be respected for who they are and what they are capable of doing!

Born Free Now Expensive

Posts: 4337 | From: Texas | Registered: Oct 2003

It*Takes*Two
Junior Member
Member # 2352

posted May 10, 2004 11:08 AM

I have paitents trust me! Altho I am worried and upset when my horse starts to shiver and shake and her lip quivers I get emotional! I never get fustrated. I have tryed ALL routes except for brutality in which I WOULD NEVER EVER EVER EVER USE ON AN ANIMAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am just so torn up inside!

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*It*Takes*Two*
-*xoxo*-
*Forever*And*Always*

Posts: 28 | From: ..Barn.. | Registered: Apr 2004

kulasmom
Member
Member # 734

posted May 10, 2004 01:14 PM

Hey! I know where you're at on the whole trailering thing. I think we've all been there at one point. You should really try the John Lyons method. I'm not big on any one person's method, I kind of steal all their ideas, but his trailering technique is great! Basically, you teach your horse the go forward cue (stand at their shoulder facing their hindquarters- tap them on the rump with lariat or dressage whip- when they take a forward step, release and reward- hands are only used to keep the horses body straight). What's they learn this cue, you have them go forward through two ground poles, then into a stall, then up onto a bridge or ramp, and finally, onto your trailer. Load and unload one foot (he says do it two hundred times) then two, three, and four, backing them out each time before they back themselves out. It will take a while, but it works and it's worth it. About the quivering, I had to haul my mare to the University (two hours away) and when I loaded her, she was standing in the trailer just a shaking. Once we arrived, she was fine. When we loaded to head back home, she was more than happy to load and haul!

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God is great.

Posts: 96 | Registered: Sep 2003

cutting_queen
Member
Member # 1052

posted May 11, 2004 10:41 AM

you just need to calm down. she's not torn away from you. she still trusts you. she just isn't used to a ramp load trailer which is ok. she'll be fine once she gets used to it. she will not be scared for life if you ramp load her! just don't get so emotional when you are working her with the trailer! cuz if you get all nervous so will she. she feels everything little emotion that you feel. and she reacts on it! so just stay calm and maybe you should not be the one to re teach her to load in a ramp if your gonna be all nervous and scared for her. maybe someone else should introduce her to the ramp and you can watch! not meaning to be mean or anything. but if you want her to not be afraid of the ramp then you just gatta calm down and breathe and realize that she is ok. she probably isn't even afraid of it. she is probably thinking there is somthing bad in that trailer cuz you get so nervous!!! so she gets nervous!!! good luck!!

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***smalls***

Posts: 553 | From: washington | Registered: Nov 2003

It*Takes*Two
Junior Member
Member # 2352

posted May 11, 2004 02:38 PM

Hi Cutting_Queen, no offence taken at all. I dont get emotional or upset when I am actually loading her its like when I am sitting at home afterwards thinking about how my day went, thats when I get emotional! Thanks for the few pointers tho C_Q and everyone else! I think we are just going to get the ramp made into a step up load. Were not trying to 'run' away from our problems but honestly its not fair for the both of us, it truly isnt. I have all the paitents and time in the world to spend working through this. But i believe she has had a BAD BAD BAD BAD expierence with ramps and has now become even more timid of them, the more we try o work with her, so with that said i dont want to turn her off of trailering all together now. So to avoid any other fear of the trailer we are just going to get it converted over to a step up from a ramp! Thanks guys for your support!!!!

I love my baby girly to death!

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*It*Takes*Two*
-*xoxo*-
*Forever*And*Always*

Posts: 28 | From: ..Barn.. | Registered: Apr 2004

LadyDulcinea
Member
Member # 994

posted May 11, 2004 09:56 PM

I agree with Blistering Winds...stick the grain in the trailer. Leave it there. Horses (at least mine lol) are very food oriented. She won't starve herself. When she's hungry, she'll get in. Do that a few times. After a while, try it without the grain. Good luck.

Posts: 160 | From: Pennsylvania | Registered: Nov 2003

space_cowboy
Member
Member # 1308

posted May 12, 2004 06:15 AM

I would still teach her to get into a ramp if I were you.

You never know - you may run into a emergency one day where she has NO choice but to get into a ramp!

I agree with BW 100% put her feed in the trailer and to eat it she has to go in. She will be nervous at first but once she realizes it's ok she will be fine!

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Horses are my life, and I couldn't imagine my life without them.......

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Posts: 383 | From: houston | Registered: Jan 2004

It*Takes*Two
Junior Member
Member # 2352

posted May 12, 2004 04:21 PM

Hi Guys! Thanks a whole bunch for all of your faboulas tips! The only thing about feeding in the trailer is that I unfortunatly have to board my horse [Frown]

and another thing is, is that we then have to leave our truck and trailer down there and we are unable to do it (three drivers in the house, two cars [Roll Eyes]

). But the rest of the suggestions I will look into.

Space Cowboy, i completly agree with you about the emergency thing... i'm with you 110%!!!! Like she will get in but we have to use a come-along (butt rope), so its not as if she WILL NOT get in, she will but since she is such a wonderful loader on a step up 9self loader) then why go through all that just when its simple enough for us to get our trailer changed. But yes thanks again guys I know/knew I could count on yah!!!!
THANKS
Keep em' comming!

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*It*Takes*Two*
-*xoxo*-
*Forever*And*Always*

Posts: 28 | From: ..Barn.. | Registered: Apr 2004

It*Takes*Two
Junior Member
Member # 2352

posted May 12, 2004 04:31 PM

Hi Guys! Thanks a whole bunch for all of your faboulas tips! The only thing about feeding in the trailer is that I unfortunatly have to board my horse [Frown]

and another thing is, is that we then have to leave our truck and trailer down there and we are unable to do it (three drivers in the house, two cars [Roll Eyes]

Posts: 28 | From: ..Barn.. | Registered: Apr 2004

It*Takes*Two
Junior Member
Member # 2352

posted May 12, 2004 04:32 PM

Hi Guys! Thanks a whole bunch for all of your faboulas tips! The only thing about feeding in the trailer is that I unfortunatly have to board my horse [Frown]

and another thing is, is that we then have to leave our truck and trailer down there and we are unable to do it (three drivers in the house, two cars [Roll Eyes]

Posts: 28 | From: ..Barn.. | Registered: Apr 2004

saraa
Member
Member # 2377

posted May 12, 2004 04:49 PM

I sure hope she gets used to the trailer

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TwO sTeP

Posts: 33 | From: Newfoundland | Registered: Apr 2004

bay_blnd jmpr07
Member
Member # 932

posted May 12, 2004 05:10 PM

i didnt read all the post, but i'd try and have the trailer set up somewhere where she can graze with it in few(yeards away) and walk circles around it and see how close u can get w/o her getting so freaked like you've mentioned. just keep ur eyes ahead, dont look down, and just reassure her with your voice.
i've never experienced this, i just have a problem getting Fiona ONTO the trailer. but now i just have someone hold the lunge whip to their side(never touches her) and she walks right on cuz she knows we will touch it(not tap or hit in anyway)

and its nice to know u care for ur horse so much to get as much help as possible.

[Running Horse]

BBJ

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Woody-RIP 4/7/04- You will always be missed. We love you Lil' Woody Man!!!

"FEAR-Fake Evidence Appearing Real"--Lee Rouson

It's not an obsession...It's a commitment!!

"It's not in his feet...It's in his heart"--Red

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Posts: 1959 | From: Connecticut | Registered: Nov 2003

Sandra-A1
Member
Member # 588

posted May 12, 2004 05:19 PM

I would not give up and keep working with the mare. I believe that horses should learn to load and unload no matter what type of trailer is it. As long as it is the correct size for the horse they should load if asked. You never know when the need for them to do so may arise.
I think with some steady work on loading and unloading she will quickly catch on to the new arrangment and appreciate the ramp when it comes to backing out!
Why not set up a homemade wooden bridge with ramps at both ends, and get her to walking up, across and down. That way she will get used to the sound and feel.
Then get some barrels and stand them on end and use them to make a rail for the sides and then work on backing her. Once she is confident and relaxed with your bridge then go back and work her on loading and unloading the trailer. [Big Grin]

Well it's a another way to approach and solve the problem... [Wink]

[ May 12, 2004, 05:20 PM: Message edited by: Sandra-A1 ]

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"It is our choices Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities."
-Dumbledore

Posts: 1863 | From: Alabama | Registered: Aug 2003

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