She Just Will Not Get In

BamBam. · 03-07-2009, 06:26 PM

I sold my mare to a loving couple a few hours away. So they came to get her and she would not get in their two stall, witch was understandable because it was dark out, and small. So they came back the next day and we tried for SIX HOURS! We tried everything. Lounge line behind her, shaking grain, another horse, EVERYTHING! So the next day they came back for the last time. With a bigger horse trailer and everything. She still would not get in. So we had one of the men from down the road try and help, because we thought that he could and before we could stop him, he hit her with a lounge whip twice ans he went up and flipped over. She is pretty cut up, but okay. So we took care of that and had the vet give her a tranquilizer. She still will not get in. The people who were going to buy her, like her so much. I really want them to get her. It's like their is no hope. We did not ever hurt her or anything. Any advice?

MyTrustySteed · 03-07-2009, 06:58 PM

This is where I would break out the TREATS QUICK! Sounds like theres been some trauma and you don't want the horse to associate it with the trailer. I would feed her grain right at the back of the trailer with the door open. About 6-7 times in a day I'd get her from the pasture, walk her to the trailer and feed her a treat right at the back door. By the time your ready for the 7th one or so start putting it further and further in to the trailer... NORMALLY I would not use food to train a horse but in this ONE RARE INSTANCE, where trauma is involved I'd use it to overcome the initial fear factor.

BamBam. · 03-07-2009, 07:06 PM

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

storminthenight · 03-07-2009, 07:12 PM

Do you have another horse who is good with a trailer? maybe if she saw another horse get in first it might encourage her to get it.
Thats the only thing I can think of without having a trailer to work with her with.

Edit: Sorry reread your post. Could you ask the people that our buying her if they can leave there trailer there with you for a few days? so that you can work with her.
Or do you know anyone who has a trailer you could borrow?
Is this the first time she has acted like this getting in a trailer?

classydoll · 03-07-2009, 07:17 PM

My friend has the same problem. She uses this stuff thats like a little bottle of joy. Two sprays in each nostril and her horse practicly jumps into the trailer. I'm not sure what it's called, but maybe someone has heard of it on here.

MyTrustySteed · 03-07-2009, 07:26 PM

... If you have to get her in then this is what I would do... put her halter on with a 20 foot lunge line. Loop it through the window of the stall you want her in, (show the horse you can get in too) this is now a guide and a lead. Holding it with your left hand and a whip in your right, you start backing up with pressure on the line and pulling her forward. Allow her ONE STEP BACK to release pressure if you have to. Don't force her give her ONE CHOICE... to go in the trailer. Keep her looking forward. Thats what I would do...

cowgirl up 2 · 03-07-2009, 07:27 PM

the trailer thing takes alot of patience,1 rule do not hurry her.saw a guy take a horse that would not load,and teach him to load.walk toward the trailer,if she stops wait a second ask her to come forward,if she steps forward,praise her gently pet her,good girl,then ask agian,when she stops and won't move,make a big circle come back and start over till she gets in...I watched and believe it or not this works,but you can't rush or push the horse.the horse he did this with would not load no matter what the owner tried.but this guy was calm,patient,he then unloaded the horse and did it 3 more times,each time the horse got better..

horsegirl777 · 03-07-2009, 07:30 PM

Maybe you could try lunging her and then when you let her stop, have her come towards you and reward her (petting or treats). Then lunge her closer and closer to the trailer till she is walking towards you almost up onto the ramp. Keep rewarding her and she just might follow you in. Keep trying the treats as well. But I certainly would try lunging. It has worked for many horses I have worked with that are reluctant to go into a trailer. Make sure you let her sniff the trailer as well to make sure she isn't afraid of it. I hope you get her in soon! Good luck!

cowgirl8792 · 03-07-2009, 07:33 PM

What I did with my horse was just oped up the trailer and just stand outside of it for awhile grooming her and giving her treats. Then let her explore the enterance of the trailer on her own, let her smell it and possiably put her foot in, she isnt going in for some reason so you have to work her through that and give her time, sometimes they just really wont go in and it takes a few days

Lindsayanne · 03-07-2009, 08:15 PM

Watch this video:

YouTube - Monty Roberts Horse Trailer Loading

I personally find this method to work best.

03-07-2009, 06:26 PM	#1
BamBam. Full Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Fruitport, MI Posts: 284 Images: 49	She Just Will Not Get In I sold my mare to a loving couple a few hours away. So they came to get her and she would not get in their two stall, witch was understandable because it was dark out, and small. So they came back the next day and we tried for SIX HOURS! We tried everything. Lounge line behind her, shaking grain, another horse, EVERYTHING! So the next day they came back for the last time. With a bigger horse trailer and everything. She still would not get in. So we had one of the men from down the road try and help, because we thought that he could and before we could stop him, he hit her with a lounge whip twice ans he went up and flipped over. She is pretty cut up, but okay. So we took care of that and had the vet give her a tranquilizer. She still will not get in. The people who were going to buy her, like her so much. I really want them to get her. It's like their is no hope. We did not ever hurt her or anything. Any advice?

03-07-2009, 07:17 PM	#5
classydoll Full Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Arizona Posts: 30	My friend has the same problem. She uses this stuff thats like a little bottle of joy. Two sprays in each nostril and her horse practicly jumps into the trailer. I'm not sure what it's called, but maybe someone has heard of it on here. __________________ Riding: The art of keeping a horse between you and the ground. ~Author Unknown As a horse runs, think of it as a game of tag with the wind. ~ Tre Tuberville

03-07-2009, 07:33 PM	#9
cowgirl8792 Full Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Minnesota Posts: 116 Images: 3	What I did with my horse was just oped up the trailer and just stand outside of it for awhile grooming her and giving her treats. Then let her explore the enterance of the trailer on her own, let her smell it and possiably put her foot in, she isnt going in for some reason so you have to work her through that and give her time, sometimes they just really wont go in and it takes a few days __________________ ~He was always there no matter what, from bumps and bruises, to braces and broken hearts. ~

03-07-2009, 06:58 PM	#2
MyTrustySteed Full Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: So Ca Posts: 100	This is where I would break out the TREATS QUICK! Sounds like theres been some trauma and you don't want the horse to associate it with the trailer. I would feed her grain right at the back of the trailer with the door open. About 6-7 times in a day I'd get her from the pasture, walk her to the trailer and feed her a treat right at the back door. By the time your ready for the 7th one or so start putting it further and further in to the trailer... NORMALLY I would not use food to train a horse but in this ONE RARE INSTANCE, where trauma is involved I'd use it to overcome the initial fear factor.

03-07-2009, 07:06 PM	#3
BamBam. Full Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Fruitport, MI Posts: 284 Images: 49	I do not have a trailer to do that. We have been using food, the last three times. She lost interest.

03-07-2009, 07:12 PM	#4
storminthenight Full Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Missouri Posts: 299	Do you have another horse who is good with a trailer? maybe if she saw another horse get in first it might encourage her to get it. Thats the only thing I can think of without having a trailer to work with her with. Edit: Sorry reread your post. Could you ask the people that our buying her if they can leave there trailer there with you for a few days? so that you can work with her. Or do you know anyone who has a trailer you could borrow? Is this the first time she has acted like this getting in a trailer?

03-07-2009, 07:26 PM	#6
MyTrustySteed Full Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: So Ca Posts: 100	... If you have to get her in then this is what I would do... put her halter on with a 20 foot lunge line. Loop it through the window of the stall you want her in, (show the horse you can get in too) this is now a guide and a lead. Holding it with your left hand and a whip in your right, you start backing up with pressure on the line and pulling her forward. Allow her ONE STEP BACK to release pressure if you have to. Don't force her give her ONE CHOICE... to go in the trailer. Keep her looking forward. Thats what I would do...

03-07-2009, 07:27 PM	#7
cowgirl up 2 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: minnesota Posts: 838 Images: 44	the trailer thing takes alot of patience,1 rule do not hurry her.saw a guy take a horse that would not load,and teach him to load.walk toward the trailer,if she stops wait a second ask her to come forward,if she steps forward,praise her gently pet her,good girl,then ask agian,when she stops and won't move,make a big circle come back and start over till she gets in...I watched and believe it or not this works,but you can't rush or push the horse.the horse he did this with would not load no matter what the owner tried.but this guy was calm,patient,he then unloaded the horse and did it 3 more times,each time the horse got better..

03-07-2009, 07:30 PM	#8
horsegirl777 Full Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 216 Images: 40	Maybe you could try lunging her and then when you let her stop, have her come towards you and reward her (petting or treats). Then lunge her closer and closer to the trailer till she is walking towards you almost up onto the ramp. Keep rewarding her and she just might follow you in. Keep trying the treats as well. But I certainly would try lunging. It has worked for many horses I have worked with that are reluctant to go into a trailer. Make sure you let her sniff the trailer as well to make sure she isn't afraid of it. I hope you get her in soon! Good luck!