[TrickPony]

Ok, soo there's some patience left... because I'm still working with him... not MURDERING HIM like I want to! AHHH!

What should I do here?
My horse has never been a great hauler, but I've worked with him TONS (we're talking hour after hour after hour....)
I haul A LOT, so it's worth it to me to put the time into teaching a horse manners and good trailering skills. But I just feel like he's regressing!

Last summer, I had him walking on and off the trailer nicely (regardless). Didn't haul him for a few months, now he refuses at the most inopportune moments.

He will usually load if there is another horse in the trailer, but not always. He will almost never load if he's alone. Please don't give me the "horses are afraid.. think like the horse" speech - because I HAVE thought like the horse. I've walked like the horse. I've spent HOURS in my driveway being patient, being firm - giving in, being late to horse shows, buying butt ropes - summoning the neighbor's kid to help... EVERYTHING.
AHHH!!!

He's just not getting better... and I haul 3 times per week (easily). Most horses just get over it after hauling that much... not this guy. I don't think it's my driving because I haul 5 other horses that walk on like champs.

What can I do to work on consistancy? He is TRAINED. I have put in the time, there is nothing left to "teach" him. He's just starting to out-think me.
If anyone has any ideas, please let me know. He generally hauls in a 3 horse slant.

[Horse Nut]

Does he just refuse to load???

When you were working with him did you teach him to self load???

Trailer loading can be frustrating so believe me I understand.. 3 times a week I agree I would have thought he would have understood it by now.. but some horses are claustraphobic or just really unsure of that dark box you are putting them in... (believe me I own a few of those)

To correct my bad haulers, I always teach them to self load..

I start by teaching the horse a go forward cue.. tap the hip.. when they take a step forward quit tapping.. when they stop again.. tap again.. just remember the tap is the motivator and that when you quit tapping that is the release so the horse knows he did right..

You want the horse to go forward no matter where you ask them to go.. I'd start with a stall if you have one.. ask the horse to go forward one foot at a time and load the horse into the stall..

You can also load your horse onto a tarp.. through gates.. etc.. anything to help the horse understand that go forward cue...

Then start with the trailer.. you walk the horse as far as they will go up to the trailer.. when he stops that's your starting point. He stops you tap and ask for him to go forward.. even if it is only one step and you are 20ft from a trailer.. stop and praise him.. then ask to go forward again...

Once you are at the trailer ask the horse to put one foot on the trailer.. now this is where things can get a little harder with that go forward.. obviously the horse doesn't want to go so you need to find an opportunity to praise the horse anytime there is even a forward thought.. a small step forward.. a head streaching out looking in the trailer.. etc.. praise...praise.. praise...

Also remember you only need to concentrate on the horse's nose.. as long as that nose is getting in the trailer the body will follow.. so don't worry about straightening out the horse.. all you want is one hoof on that trailer right now..

once the horse puts one foot on the trailer.. ask him to back it off.. then ask him to put one foot back on.. be specific.. load and unload that one foot (and I'm not kidding here).. at leat 100 times.. count if you need to...

Then move on to two feet.. again.. two on.. two off.. you are working on loading and un-loading at the same time... again.. 100 times..

then move to three feet.. then to four....

Remember to praise your horse each time they do it right..

This lesson seiously does not have to be done all in one day.. What I have to remember is that loading the horse is the final goal.. but each little goal is that I want each individual hoof going on... my horse has no idea that I want them in that trailer.. I keep stopping them from loading all the way anyway!!!

So you can break this down over several days or weeks...

Since you haul 3 times a week.. take this horse out and work for 20-30 minutes loading whichever foot you are at then stop and work another day..

The more you teach the horse that you aren't going to force them and they are going in alone they will build their confidence.

I've used this method a long time and I've fixed a lot of horrible loaders.. just takes time and patience but all of these horses you can point at a trailer and tell them to load up and they go right in and wait to be locked in.. they are totally comfortable with that trailer.

I hope this helps.. again.. I know the frustration.. good luck to you.

[bishopsangels]

When we got our Walkers last weekend and went to pick them up we had the worst time ever to load. Wired Supremely got his two front feet in, then all of a sudden he backed out and absolutely refused to enter again. After an hours work and the help of extra long lead ropes...he loaded.

As for the mare...she just did not want a thing to do with loading. We spent an hour or so walking her around and giving her rest at the trailer. She got to the point that she stick her whole head in it, but would not lift up her feet.

Finally...very frustrated (questioning the reason I bought these particular two horses) I just took her to the barn stall and brought him home. When I went back to get her, we backed the trailer up to the barn door, gated the area off so she didn't have anywhere to go but to the trailer. I opened the stall door...grabed her halter, and SHE lead me strait into the trailer.... I was so happy and furious at the same time!

So maybe loading from barn instead of driveway, might help.

Anyway that is the experience that I went through.

[SkipaJo Cowgirl]

Trick Pony - I know your pain to a tee. This is how Trainer Clinton Anderson attacks the problem of hard to load horses:

Start off with Horse Nut's good advice. The tapping to go forward is essential.

...once he has the tapping idea down real good...move to lunging. The idea here is -as long as he is outside the trailer, he has to work. As long as he is in the trailer, he can rest.

Begin to lunge him all around the trailer (real close to the trailer), for prob. 10 min or so, or until he realizes he's working hard, then ask him go forward into the trailer. If he won't even try to load, then keep lunging for 4-5 min and try again. If he keeps refusing to load, then just repeat this for a while. (You want him to lunge alot so he will be tired)

Once he does at least puts a foot in, tap him to go forward into the trailer. If he backs up, LET HIM - and repeat lunging. You want him to WANT to load. If he backs out, he WANTS to lunge - so oblige him.

Once he fully loads, let him rest for 2-3 solid minutes. He should yield and associate loading with a place of rest. After the 2-3 minutes, back him out and start lunging for 2-3 minutes and ask him to load. If he does, let him rest for 2-3 solid minutes. If he refuses to load, let him back himself out - but keep on repeating the lunging and loading exercise. This might take a few days, but hopefully just 2 or less hours.

Hope this helps!

[Blistering Winds]

BUTT ROPE! Since you've done everything else, have you tried THIS on him EVERY time?

I'd keep an extra lariat just for this. Haven't met a horse I couldn't get in with one. Still takes a bit of time, but eventually, they see my way.

[Paints4me]

What kind of trailer is it??? I have had horses that refused to load in a small straight load or two-horse... but they hop right in a open stock trailer... I think they don't like the confined space.
Some friends of ous has a great big paint mare... (16.2) ANyway she WOULD NOT LOAD in any trailer no matter waht they did... finally desperation set in... on day they tried backing her in.. she backed in like it was nothing... They eventually had their trailer customized with the feeder set in the back, so she could ride like that!! LOL (It was a straight load BTW)

[TrickPony]

Thanks for the advice guys!
Yes - he knows how to go forward with a "tap". (I generally use a long lunge whip on his hip while I'm leading him - is this what you guys are talking about?)

Yes, I've tried a butt rope. It did absolutely NOTHING for this horse! AHHH!!!

Here's his main "technique" for not loading:
Sometimes (but not always) he won't even walk towards the trailer. (This only happens when he's alone). Generally, however, I can get him over that.

Next - we walk up to the trailer with some vigor - and then he just stops before loading (or he walks right in... whichever mood he's in that day... sigh...). So, I step up to kindof "lead him in"... which either works or he starts backing away furiously. (He's a big boy, and there is absolutely nothing you can do to stop that horse from backing away!)
Ok - this is where I liked BW's idea of a butt rope. However, it doesn't do much. I've tried using it as the main "go forward" cue, not really pulling on his head at all - but he just stands there eating his cud. LOL. It has no effect - doesn't make him jumpy, nothing.

Ok... tapping him.
This does work, but it kindof requires two people (unless you guys can explain the technique?) Usually a lunge whip behind him is enough to convince him to load - but he knows that if it's only me he doesn't HAVE to get in.
Plus, it's my dad that is normally helping me, and he doesn't know anything about horses - so he's afraid/uncapable.

Lunging would be a good idea - but once this horse decides not to load he becomes Mr. Headstrong. He WILL NOT lunge next to a trailer. Instead, he starts trotting back to the barn - with me digging in my heels trying to stop him. I've trained a few horses to load this way - but this guy is just too big/determined.

Whew! Ok! Thanks for any additional imput.

[John]

If your horse loaded fine last year but has decided that it is time to stop you have a completely different problem than teaching him to load for the first time!! I would not bother with the one foot at a time at this point. Do as Bishops Angel did ,use a chute or back up to a barn door and PUT HIM IN. Dont give him time to go enie menie miney.......It is your decision and not his. Once he is in tell him he is a good boy then back him out and then load again.

[TrickPony]

Good point John! I don't really have a stall/chute - but here's my question.
Is it worth it to get a little bit agressive with this horse about loading? Not neccesarily hitting him to get in - but a little bit meaner and less "gentle" than you would be if you were actually TRAINING one to load?

[Blistering Winds]

I'm in agreement with John. GET the horse in.

He's got your buttons and he knows it. So push his.