[Simon Says]

So I have delt with tons of horses and trailer issues, but never have I run across one that says he doesn't want to get out! Storm hops right in the trailer like it is nothing, but getting him to back out is not happening! We have a 3 horse slant load, step up that is my trainers. He gets in w/ no problem, but backing out is a no. He will step down and jump right back in, so back up again, he steps down and jumps right back in! Ihad to get a dressage whip and tap and tap and tap, increasing the tapping and how fast I was tapping! No way is he going back! Now he has backed out of theis trailer many times, but the past two times it was a serious discussion about it and today he just said no. B/c i had been at a show all weekend and it was blazing hot, and I had a migrane coming on and caved and turn him around and let him walk out, but I made him wait at the edge and chill for a minute! I am not happy about this and not looking forward to making him back out! Any tips?

[John]

Maybe he wanted you to deliver him somewhere else.

[ridetolive]

hahahaha.
all i can say is work on it.
put him on and back him off, then dont go anywhere afterwards. just practice it at home on a quite day repeating enough times to get the point but not over do it and reward him when he backs out appropriately.
that way you dont have to worry about it after a long day and you dont cave to his bad habit. though after a long day i dont blame you for not fighting him, sometimes its not worth the battle haha.

[dotgotcalm]

This isn't that uncommon a problem. Most people let their horses rush when backing them off the trailer, the horse's hind foot slips as it hits the ground scaring the horse and presto.......horse no longer wants to back off the trailer. There is no magic cure for this that I've found. You had the right idea, tapping him until he takes a step back. The only thing I'd add is that once he puts a foot down on the ground you need to do your level best to stop him from coming forward again. Ideally, if you can stop him in that pose, one hind foot in one hind foot out, and let him stand for a moment before allowing him to step back in the trailer you'll be golden. Repeat as many times as it takes for him to get comfortable with going that far before asking him to put both hind feet out. Pause him there, let him come forward again and repeat. You're basiclly tapping one foot out at the time the way some people teach a horse to load by tapping one foot in at the time.

[Chester]

Is it possible to make a little earth bank you can back up to a few times to let him step back onto solid ground. It seems like he takes that step backwards, drops down and gets a bit of a fright.