Need some trailing help.

RowdyRio1324 · 02-27-2008, 06:46 PM

Okay, I need some advise.

We have a 3 horse slant load trailer.

We're having issues loading Flower,and keeping her loaded.

First thing, when we walk up to the trailer( I don't look at her, just walk straight to it) she gets all excited, and starts pulling back. And then she'll put two feet in, and rear and fly out(hitting her head, she's tall) And hen once she gets all the way in, she'll sometimes fly out before I snap her. What can I do to clam her down? We have tried putting a horse in the first slot, a horse she loves, and that didn't work.

Another thing is once she's in and the divider is shut, she tries pulling her head around the divider, and I have shorten the trailer tie to where she can't pull it all the way around, but she tries, and I can just see her freak.ing out because she thinks she stuck.

How can I make her wait in the trailer? So I can un hook her? One time the second I un-hooked her, she flew backwards, it was like in .1 second of her being unhooked, couldn't imanged if she wasn't un hooked.

Because the second I un do the divider to walk up to her, she wants OUT.

Any tips would be appricated.

Blistering Winds · 02-27-2008, 07:20 PM

Try not locking her in right away. Let her unload, load her up again, and unload her BEFORE she acts up.

I will load and unload a horse several times before I ask them to stand, for a minute, then unload them again.

It may take only one session for newly trailered horses, but others need a few sessions like this before I close or lock anyone down.

usually the first time I ask them to stand by themselves, I have the lead being held outside the trailer by someone else....like they would be tied.....

Lots of patience....show the horse that not EVERY time it is loaded, the doors close, the places gets dark, and the scary monsters come out.....

Blistering Winds · 02-27-2008, 07:21 PM

This is also an area that I will use food to "encourage" a horse to stay in the trailer or load.

kewpalace · 02-28-2008, 07:52 AM

I would work with her way before you needed to go somewhere. Just take a day and start slow. Work a little before you lead her up to the trailer and then don't try to load her, but just rest before it. Then Rub and love on her. Do that a few times.

Then work her and ask her to load. If she backs out, fine, let her back out. Then ask her to load again. Just keep repeating and don't try to keep her in the trailer. She will eventually NOT back out and just let her sit there for a minute. Rub and love on her. Then ask her to back out. Repeat, repeat, repeat.

As for rushing out, the same principle. Don't try and stop her (but make sure you have a long enough lead rope on her that you have a hold of), but as soon as she's out, ask her to load back up. And keep doing that until she stands there. Then ask her to back up. If she rushes out, ask her to load again.

Then I'd pratice with her being tied. Same prinicple - if she rushes out as soon as you untie her, make her load back in - in/out until she stands there. Tie her back up. Leave her a minute and then untie her. Repeat until she will stand there until you ask her to back out.

Here's some links that also might provide something for you use:

http://www.infohorse.com/trailerloading.asp
http://www.aperfecthorse.com/trailer_loading.htm
http://www.naturalhorsesupply.com/trailer.shtml

pittmd · 02-29-2008, 07:34 AM

To put it very simply, make the trailer the best option. This takes time but is well worth the trouble. Get a trainer to show you how its done or invest in some training DVD's. If you get a trainer to do it you still better be willing to put the work in or you will be right back where you started before you paid a trainer. What is see sometimes on this forum is that people have not taken the time to really get the ground work down and try to jump right into "training to trailer load".

Blistering Winds · 02-29-2008, 08:48 AM

another thing you can add to everything.

Anytime she unloads on her own, lunge her. And lunge her GOOD. Then load her back up. Let her rest IN the trailer, and work OUT of the trailer.

Especially for those that could care less if their IS food in the trailer or not.

RowdyRio1324 · 02-29-2008, 09:05 AM

She's not into the whole food thing , really , and she LOVES to get lunged/worked.

I've worked with a lot of horses loading in the trailer, but she turns into a nervous wreck. She just starts shaking and doesn't think right.

I've tried standing with her in it for a minute, she had some treats in the feed bag, but she just backs out and pushes me against the wall.

She doesn't rush out as soon as I untie her, she rushs out as soon as I walk up to her...

Last time tried to load her, I couldn't even get her in, but I'll be working with her today.

Blistering Winds · 02-29-2008, 09:08 AM

Work on also as you unload, stopping her and bringing her back up. I did that with sage to work "controlled" unloading.

Same with Blister, as he likes to get the heck out of the trailer when the door opens.

IS she like that if another horse is in there too?

RowdyRio1324 · 02-29-2008, 09:10 AM

Yes, she is like this with another horse loaded with her.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blistering Winds

Work on also as you unload, stopping her and bringing her back up. I did that with sage to work "controlled" unloading.

Same with Blister, as he likes to get the heck out of the trailer when the door opens.

IS she like that if another horse is in there too?

Blistering Winds · 02-29-2008, 09:16 AM

Is your trailer enclosed? Is she better in an open top type???

02-27-2008, 06:46 PM	#1
RowdyRio1324 Senior Member+ Join Date: May 2006 Location: California. Posts: 3,814 Images: 160	Need some trailing help. Okay, I need some advise. We have a 3 horse slant load trailer. We're having issues loading Flower,and keeping her loaded. First thing, when we walk up to the trailer( I don't look at her, just walk straight to it) she gets all excited, and starts pulling back. And then she'll put two feet in, and rear and fly out(hitting her head, she's tall) And hen once she gets all the way in, she'll sometimes fly out before I snap her. What can I do to clam her down? We have tried putting a horse in the first slot, a horse she loves, and that didn't work. Another thing is once she's in and the divider is shut, she tries pulling her head around the divider, and I have shorten the trailer tie to where she can't pull it all the way around, but she tries, and I can just see her freak.ing out because she thinks she stuck. How can I make her wait in the trailer? So I can un hook her? One time the second I un-hooked her, she flew backwards, it was like in .1 second of her being unhooked, couldn't imanged if she wasn't un hooked. Because the second I un do the divider to walk up to her, she wants OUT. Any tips would be appricated. __________________ RIP Sleepy. RIP Rio. You mean the world to me, just so you know. LUKE 3:6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.'" (NKJ) I've been Goosed!

02-27-2008, 07:20 PM	#2
Blistering Winds Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Augusta, Kansas Posts: 31,870 Images: 822 Blog Entries: 17	Try not locking her in right away. Let her unload, load her up again, and unload her BEFORE she acts up. I will load and unload a horse several times before I ask them to stand, for a minute, then unload them again. It may take only one session for newly trailered horses, but others need a few sessions like this before I close or lock anyone down. usually the first time I ask them to stand by themselves, I have the lead being held outside the trailer by someone else....like they would be tied..... Lots of patience....show the horse that not EVERY time it is loaded, the doors close, the places gets dark, and the scary monsters come out..... __________________ HGS is a very powerful, addicting place that is just as bad as cigarettes, however healthier for you AND your horse.

02-27-2008, 07:21 PM	#3
Blistering Winds Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Augusta, Kansas Posts: 31,870 Images: 822 Blog Entries: 17	This is also an area that I will use food to "encourage" a horse to stay in the trailer or load. __________________ HGS is a very powerful, addicting place that is just as bad as cigarettes, however healthier for you AND your horse.

02-29-2008, 08:48 AM	#6
Blistering Winds Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Augusta, Kansas Posts: 31,870 Images: 822 Blog Entries: 17	another thing you can add to everything. Anytime she unloads on her own, lunge her. And lunge her GOOD. Then load her back up. Let her rest IN the trailer, and work OUT of the trailer. Especially for those that could care less if their IS food in the trailer or not. __________________ HGS is a very powerful, addicting place that is just as bad as cigarettes, however healthier for you AND your horse.

02-29-2008, 09:05 AM	#7
RowdyRio1324 Senior Member+ Join Date: May 2006 Location: California. Posts: 3,814 Images: 160	She's not into the whole food thing , really , and she LOVES to get lunged/worked. I've worked with a lot of horses loading in the trailer, but she turns into a nervous wreck. She just starts shaking and doesn't think right. I've tried standing with her in it for a minute, she had some treats in the feed bag, but she just backs out and pushes me against the wall. She doesn't rush out as soon as I untie her, she rushs out as soon as I walk up to her... Last time tried to load her, I couldn't even get her in, but I'll be working with her today. __________________ RIP Sleepy. RIP Rio. You mean the world to me, just so you know. LUKE 3:6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.'" (NKJ) I've been Goosed!

02-28-2008, 07:52 AM	#4
kewpalace Full Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 231 Images: 23	I would work with her way before you needed to go somewhere. Just take a day and start slow. Work a little before you lead her up to the trailer and then don't try to load her, but just rest before it. Then Rub and love on her. Do that a few times. Then work her and ask her to load. If she backs out, fine, let her back out. Then ask her to load again. Just keep repeating and don't try to keep her in the trailer. She will eventually NOT back out and just let her sit there for a minute. Rub and love on her. Then ask her to back out. Repeat, repeat, repeat. As for rushing out, the same principle. Don't try and stop her (but make sure you have a long enough lead rope on her that you have a hold of), but as soon as she's out, ask her to load back up. And keep doing that until she stands there. Then ask her to back up. If she rushes out, ask her to load again. Then I'd pratice with her being tied. Same prinicple - if she rushes out as soon as you untie her, make her load back in - in/out until she stands there. Tie her back up. Leave her a minute and then untie her. Repeat until she will stand there until you ask her to back out. Here's some links that also might provide something for you use: http://www.infohorse.com/trailerloading.asp http://www.aperfecthorse.com/trailer_loading.htm http://www.naturalhorsesupply.com/trailer.shtml

02-29-2008, 07:34 AM	#5
pittmd Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Pine Island, Minnesota Posts: 390 Images: 12	To put it very simply, make the trailer the best option. This takes time but is well worth the trouble. Get a trainer to show you how its done or invest in some training DVD's. If you get a trainer to do it you still better be willing to put the work in or you will be right back where you started before you paid a trainer. What is see sometimes on this forum is that people have not taken the time to really get the ground work down and try to jump right into "training to trailer load".

02-29-2008, 09:08 AM	#8
Blistering Winds Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Augusta, Kansas Posts: 31,870 Images: 822 Blog Entries: 17	Work on also as you unload, stopping her and bringing her back up. I did that with sage to work "controlled" unloading. Same with Blister, as he likes to get the heck out of the trailer when the door opens. IS she like that if another horse is in there too? __________________ HGS is a very powerful, addicting place that is just as bad as cigarettes, however healthier for you AND your horse.

02-29-2008, 09:16 AM	#10
Blistering Winds Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Augusta, Kansas Posts: 31,870 Images: 822 Blog Entries: 17	Is your trailer enclosed? Is she better in an open top type??? __________________ HGS is a very powerful, addicting place that is just as bad as cigarettes, however healthier for you AND your horse.