[Kryptonite_91]

I have had my 7 yo TB mare, Carlie, for about 2 and half years now.
And during this time my mum bought a double float for her, so i could take her on trail rides and go to the beach etc...
but the problem is, she is a horrible floater, sometimes she wont float, and if she does it will take us like 3 hours to get her in, i have have had help from various people to try and get her on.
Ive tried, putting her beloved mini pony in the float to try and get her in, another person has said to keep the door at the front of the float open when getting her in, another said to put music on, have a light in the float, others have said to lunge her out side the float then put her in, Ive been told that once she has her legs on the ramp not to let her go back, others have said thats allowed??? im so confused what is the best thing to do for my horse

Another person said to tie two lunging ropes to each side of the float and place them around the back of her legs and get her in that way, he came from a racing stud down the road and helped us get her in, she eventually went in but not willingly, she had the worst experience from this, i was reduced to tears when he was helping. Carlie was so distressed. This was something that made everything much worse! now it's alomost impossible to get her in.

So i would like to know any ways of greatly improving the way my carlie floats, for her to willing go in without the stress that she has while floating???
Please help

[Rising Star]

at my barn my BO helps us out alot with getting them in the trailer. He will stand behind them and get us to walk them in on a loose rope so they have lots of room. We cant look back at them at all. If they dont go in then he will bring out his magic flag. Its putting pressure on them from the back and they SHOULD move off of that if they are taught to. At first he will just flick it behind them. If they dont move it gets to be a harder flick and so on. If they go in and then start backing out he will flick more and more. If they are really scared then he will let them back out and then try again. We were going to our first show this year and my gelding wasnt hauled for half a year and didnt really want to get in. As soon as the flag came out he jumped right on it.
You can also take her for walks around it each day your out and spending time with her. it will let her know that its not a scary thing overtime.

You may need to work in the roundpen with a flag at first. Just take a dressage whip and tie a small bag or piece of material to the end and get her to move off of it well and obey it. You dont want them going into the trailer then freakin out because they arent used to it.

Also there are many different ways to get a horse to load. personally I wont use a butt rope but others might. Any one else who replies will most likely have a different way. the best is to try a couple and see what works for you.

[dlindsey2000]

my mare used to not load. i justed worked with her for a bit and would hook my truck to the trailer, and would feed breakfast in it. if she wouldnt load, she then had to stand outside the trailer and look at the food inside. she realised that she wasnt getting to eat till she got in so then learned on her own terms how to load. ( she had symptoms of abuse so i had to really work with her ) after she learned that loading wasnt a bad thing i just kept a flake of hay in there with her everytime we travled. kept her occupied and happy. side note...that took around 3 weeks of happy endings, she then would load up with nothing in the trailer calmly and sweetly...lol

[Ginger_Nell]

Whats a float?

[dlindsey2000]

Originally Posted by Ginger_Nell

Whats a float?

i was guessing a trailer?

[Ginger_Nell]

lol well I've never heard of someone callling it floating!

[gluey33]

Originally Posted by Ginger_Nell

lol well I've never heard of someone callling it floating!

Us Aussies always call it a float

If shes this stresses over it the slowest but least stressfull way is to park the float where you can feed her in it. Start with the food on the tailgate and gradually move in until shes eating out of a bag or net in the front.

Another way is to lead her up to the float to the point where she stops. Just stand there for a minute then walk away. Do a few circles and approach again. The idea is to get a bit closer each time. there is no way you can pull her in so shes got to want to do it. Recognise that each time she stops and does't run away she is trying to do what you ask. By taking the pressure off at the right time you are rewarding her. If you can get her to put one foot on that tailgate you are getting somewhere. You need to ask her just to the point she is starting to get uncomfortable and then give her a break. Slowly but surely you will get there with very little stress.

Try this and let us know how you go

[Xiphias]

Question, once she is in, does she travel ok, no pawing, or kicking?

Cathy

[MI Racer]

My mare used to be terrible with loading. Stay calm and do not get angry. Watch this video of Monty Roberts. This video helped me. I used the method without the panels too.

YouTube - Monty Roberts Horse Trailer Loading

Youtube is your friend.

[loosie]

Horses are naturally afraid of small, enclosed areas, unless they are taught otherwise. You need to desensitise her to it, with the same principles that you'd desensitise her, using approach & retreat, to anything else scary. It's best to introduce it slowly and positively rather than using equipment or muscle to force the situation, if you want her to actually become confident & willing about it.

I think it's best introduced as just another obstacle - don't make it any more of a big deal than say, putting her feet on a pedestal. You can also teach her to go into & back out of other enclosed or small areas, to simulate everything that's required before including the bad associations of the float.

How much time have you spent in training her to go in & out, to stand quietly in it, etc? Perhaps the only times you've tried are when you need to take her somewhere? If so, even if you're trying not to show it to her, there's a lot of extra stress & anxiety there, because you're on a schedule. The more you focus on your 'need' to get her in there, the more anxious she may get. Take the time when you've got it and try not to rush her into anything until she's ready. Try to have a low key, care less kind of attitude about the end result. Expect it to take 2 weeks and you might find she's OK within 2 days! Depending on her personality and how much bad experience she's had previously, it could take you a few hours all up, or it could take a lot longer. Lots of short, easy sessions are best, rather than one big one - even if the 'ingredients' of a session aren't very stressful, the longer it goes on, the more the stress builds, until it becomes too much.

If she yields well to you, leads, drives, lunges etc, then you can start with the float, but if she's not yet good at all that, I'd teach her the basics before worrying about obstacles. You can lead her into the float of course, but it's safer for you to be out of it, so I like to teach them to self load - I drive them in.

With regard to not letting them back off or stop on the ramp or any other place, it depends how you do it, but I think this can go against what you're aiming for. I don't try to restrain them or force anything. Instead I use gentle encouragement and positive reinforcement to motivate them to do the 'right' thing, and take things gradually enough that there isn't likely to be any major panic attacks - just nervousness at some points.

If at whatever point we're at the horse wants to back off or not go forward, I will keep some drag on the rope, but not try to hold it - allow it to slide, enough to dissipate any panic, and at the same time cue forward - tap with rope/whip on the rump or such. Not huge pressure, but enough to make it uncomfortable. The instant the horse ceases pulling, the pressure is released. Then I just ask again. If the horse comes forward or stands quietly at any point, I positively reinforce this with treats & scratchies.

First step; In the course of other ground games & obstacles, I will drive/lead/circle a horse to the float & allow him to go as far as he feels able, reinforce/reward him, allow him to stand for a few seconds then ask him(preferrably before he decides) to back up or continue on to something else - like another obstacle - before returning and repeating the exercise. I do this until he's quite comfortable about it before I ask for more. Repetition, instant reinforcements and retreat before it gets too much are the biggest keys.

As they become confident, I gradually ask for more at each stage, but do it in the same manner. Eg. next step might be sniffing the trailer, stepping on it with one foot, driving/circling over the ramp... immediate reinforcement and then we repeat it a few times if all was well, then go off do a jump, kick a ball, come back & do it all again.

I like to introduce the standing, backing off(if they think they have to turn to get out) and taking one more step when I ask early on, because I think it's less stressful teaching this to a horse standing on the ramp, or with only his head in the float, than it is trying to convince a horse to stay still for the first time when they're inside and their instincts may still be screaming 'out!'. If you've already taught the horse to stand on cue, and you're able to direct him from his side or from behind to step forward, this will be easy & just a matter of reinforcing it in this situation & repetition.

Once you've taught your girl to load all the way and to stand still for a while in there(remember to built the time of standing gradually too), then you can practice closing the breeching gates, then the tailgate... then immediately open them again & ask her out. Again, repeat this until she's confident before shutting her in for any length of time.

By that time, she should be fine to take places. Just make sure the first few trips are also short & easy. I found out just how bumpy, jerky and altogether unstable it feels in a float when I rode in one with my horse while my husband(very considerate float driver) drove. This has convinced me that it's important to drive VERY steadily & easily with a horse on board. It's no wonder some horses have problems after driving with some people, the way you see some drive. Don't be one of those & your horse should be right for life with traveling