She Just Will Not Get In

idlewild · 03-07-2009, 08:22 PM

That's a great video Linsday!!!

But gosh can we say "product placement?"

tlwidener · 03-07-2009, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BamBam.

I do not have a trailer to do that. We have been using food, the last three times. She lost interest.

Food doesn't work anyway. Safety and security is more important to horses than food or treats. A horse won't eat until it feels safe in its environment.

Lindsayanne · 03-07-2009, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by idlewild

That's a great video Linsday!!!

But gosh can we say "product placement?"

I know, right?! It works just as well for me using any kind of control halter- rope or a flat halter with a stud chain, though.

cassandra01000 · 03-07-2009, 10:34 PM

Has she always been like this when it comes to trailering? do these trailers the new owners bring have a ramp or no ramp?

amira_rox · 03-07-2009, 10:46 PM

Do you have an enclosed space of any way, shape or form? You could get some big barrels and set up a narrow chute thats just a bit wider than her and practice walking her through, just to get her used to that idea, my friend's horse was very claustraphobic, thats why he wouldn't load.

After she has had a bad experience (being beaten with a lunge whip ) its even more unlikely she will go on. Also I would not try for so long, she will only get hungry, tired and frustrated.

Okay, here is what my friend did:

She put a big bucket of hay in the float
She got two lunge reins and made a chute for him, walked him through it, then crossed them behind him so he would hit a wall if he tried to back out (but make sure they are quickly uncrossable in case he freaks). She had a helper with some hay, and every step he took he would get a mouthful of hay. Walked him to the bottom of the ramp and put his foot on it, then he got some hay. She kept doing this and eventually he got closer and closer until he was in, and then it wasnt so bad, he just ate his hay happily

SaddleTrail · 03-07-2009, 11:20 PM

An old cowboy trick my family use to use was putting a blindfold on the horse and then lead him around a bit then straight into the trailer. I would do that if need be. I prefer the slower method of walk back up but if they want their horse now, try it.

MissHopesMom · 03-08-2009, 09:24 AM

I know EXACTLY what you are going through - I had to reschedule surgery for Hope because of her refusal to load in a trailer. The man that was to take her to the hospital for me tried everything - food, butt rope, blindfold, brute force

( I was NOT impressed - he left shortly after that!). She practically flipped herself over, which was the scariest moment of my life and I asked the man to leave. It's not that she was scared at the sight of the trailer, she would walk right up to it, just wouldn't get in.

That being said, the following method will only work if you can get your horse to that point, where they will atleast stand beside the trailer without acting like a ****! We used a step-up STOCK trailer to load her, so there was plenty of room. We have a small holding pen erected at our field gate, and the gentleman with the trailer backed right up to the gate - with enough room for her to stand sideways when the gate is shut. I am assuming this would also work if the trailer was backed right up to a regular gate, with enough room for the door to swing open.

We led her through the gate and shut it, with her now standing sideways between the trailer and the gate, with the person leading her inside the trailer. From the point, all we did was give her little taps on the bum with a broom, and she hopped right in. Piece of cake!

The gentleman trailering her was recommended to me by my veterinarian, who said that they have him trailer the "problem" loaders that need medical attention at their clinic. She said there hasn't been a horse that he couldn't load using this method to get them to the clinic - I don't know that it would work with EVERY horse, but he sure did wonders with my girl.

Her fear of trailers is COMPLETELY gone - she loaded herself into the trailer on the way home from the hospital and I think even enjoys the trailer now!

Good luck!

IIIBarsV · 03-08-2009, 11:03 AM

Search "trailer loading" and you'll get an eyeful of info.... I have a massive trailer loading post or two floating around out there.... good golly I should just save it to a word document...

lcPiaffe · 03-08-2009, 11:25 AM

Another thing to try is backing the trailer up to the barn so it's dark in there but light in the trailer, we do this at work and works a treat!

I had to box one of the kids ponies today, she is a right pain, rears up if you push her, managed to get her in with the tapping on her b.um and hocks in the morning(took 10min) but in the afternoon she was having none of it, eventually we put a hand towel over her eyes and she walked straight in.

Another horse of my friends refuses to go in, unless you back him in!!! kinda funny to drive behind him with him looking at u!

ArtisticCowgirl · 03-08-2009, 12:05 PM

If you could even borrow a trailer for a day or 2 to work with your horse, i know how it is, i bought a paso X that took us 3 hours to load (she had to come that day so we had to force her in) but once i got her home i let her rest the rest of the day and the next day i started slowly with her grain and the closer she got she got some grain and when she would get more and then i would feed her in the trailer then when she was comfortable eatin in it i just started getting her to go in and out until she would just load with no trouble that is the way i start all my horses in a trailer and its always worked for me or bring her a buddy that will load

03-07-2009, 08:22 PM	#11
idlewild Senior Member+ Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Northern Colorado Posts: 6,449 Images: 423 Blog Entries: 167	That's a great video Linsday!!! But gosh can we say "product placement?" __________________ Honorary Aussie, Oi! Feliche +Idlewild = Serial Eventers // Idlewild and I Love BODIE! are M&M This one time, at band camp....I will tell you, but it will cost ya. I was on HGS when we made 2 and 3 million posts, and takin a math test for 4

03-07-2009, 10:34 PM	#14
cassandra01000 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Langley,BC Posts: 1,459 Images: 117 Blog Entries: 15	Has she always been like this when it comes to trailering? do these trailers the new owners bring have a ramp or no ramp? __________________ *HGS FACEBOOKGROUP* http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2250168399

03-07-2009, 10:46 PM	#15
amira_rox Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Behind you! Posts: 1,116 Images: 20	Do you have an enclosed space of any way, shape or form? You could get some big barrels and set up a narrow chute thats just a bit wider than her and practice walking her through, just to get her used to that idea, my friend's horse was very claustraphobic, thats why he wouldn't load. After she has had a bad experience (being beaten with a lunge whip ) its even more unlikely she will go on. Also I would not try for so long, she will only get hungry, tired and frustrated. Okay, here is what my friend did: She put a big bucket of hay in the float She got two lunge reins and made a chute for him, walked him through it, then crossed them behind him so he would hit a wall if he tried to back out (but make sure they are quickly uncrossable in case he freaks). She had a helper with some hay, and every step he took he would get a mouthful of hay. Walked him to the bottom of the ramp and put his foot on it, then he got some hay. She kept doing this and eventually he got closer and closer until he was in, and then it wasnt so bad, he just ate his hay happily __________________ Miley Cyrus was voted worst celebertiy influence 2009. Finally there is justice We've all got a gun against our head. Its just a matter of when life decieds to pull the trigger.

03-07-2009, 11:20 PM	#16
SaddleTrail Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Happy Valley, Ca. Posts: 1,393 Images: 5	An old cowboy trick my family use to use was putting a blindfold on the horse and then lead him around a bit then straight into the trailer. I would do that if need be. I prefer the slower method of walk back up but if they want their horse now, try it. __________________ "Insults are the arguments employed by those who are in the wrong" " In a hard situation try a soft word"

03-08-2009, 11:03 AM	#18
IIIBarsV Senior Member+ Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Eastern Ontario, Canada Posts: 3,375 Images: 27	Search "trailer loading" and you'll get an eyeful of info.... I have a massive trailer loading post or two floating around out there.... good golly I should just save it to a word document... __________________ Three Bars The Fifth Jags Fleeting Rocket Wish I'd Get Lucky Chipped In Stone Zip Code Bay B Suns Eternal Flame

03-08-2009, 09:24 AM	#17
MissHopesMom Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 540 Images: 26	I know EXACTLY what you are going through - I had to reschedule surgery for Hope because of her refusal to load in a trailer. The man that was to take her to the hospital for me tried everything - food, butt rope, blindfold, brute force ( I was NOT impressed - he left shortly after that!). She practically flipped herself over, which was the scariest moment of my life and I asked the man to leave. It's not that she was scared at the sight of the trailer, she would walk right up to it, just wouldn't get in. That being said, the following method will only work if you can get your horse to that point, where they will atleast stand beside the trailer without acting like a ****! We used a step-up STOCK trailer to load her, so there was plenty of room. We have a small holding pen erected at our field gate, and the gentleman with the trailer backed right up to the gate - with enough room for her to stand sideways when the gate is shut. I am assuming this would also work if the trailer was backed right up to a regular gate, with enough room for the door to swing open. We led her through the gate and shut it, with her now standing sideways between the trailer and the gate, with the person leading her inside the trailer. From the point, all we did was give her little taps on the bum with a broom, and she hopped right in. Piece of cake! The gentleman trailering her was recommended to me by my veterinarian, who said that they have him trailer the "problem" loaders that need medical attention at their clinic. She said there hasn't been a horse that he couldn't load using this method to get them to the clinic - I don't know that it would work with EVERY horse, but he sure did wonders with my girl. Her fear of trailers is COMPLETELY gone - she loaded herself into the trailer on the way home from the hospital and I think even enjoys the trailer now! Good luck!

03-08-2009, 11:25 AM	#19
lcPiaffe Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Pretoria, South Africa Posts: 1,012 Images: 406	Another thing to try is backing the trailer up to the barn so it's dark in there but light in the trailer, we do this at work and works a treat! I had to box one of the kids ponies today, she is a right pain, rears up if you push her, managed to get her in with the tapping on her b.um and hocks in the morning(took 10min) but in the afternoon she was having none of it, eventually we put a hand towel over her eyes and she walked straight in. Another horse of my friends refuses to go in, unless you back him in!!! kinda funny to drive behind him with him looking at u! __________________ BURGERSTROTS BAJONET aka TROY 23 Sept 2004, Seal Brown, Registered and Graded Boerperd, Colt! PIAFFE, MY ANGEL, REST IN PEACE!

03-08-2009, 12:05 PM	#20
ArtisticCowgirl Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Whittier NC Posts: 306 Images: 94 Blog Entries: 2	If you could even borrow a trailer for a day or 2 to work with your horse, i know how it is, i bought a paso X that took us 3 hours to load (she had to come that day so we had to force her in) but once i got her home i let her rest the rest of the day and the next day i started slowly with her grain and the closer she got she got some grain and when she would get more and then i would feed her in the trailer then when she was comfortable eatin in it i just started getting her to go in and out until she would just load with no trouble that is the way i start all my horses in a trailer and its always worked for me or bring her a buddy that will load