[HorseBliss]

I'm sorry that happened, that sounds beyond scary. I hope she's OK.

Stanley hates to trailer ever since he injured himself in one at a show (still a mystery on HOW he did it). The next time I tried to trailer him I broke down and cried because I felt so awful. Then when I moved the first time, I had lots of issues, but after probably 15-20 min, he did get on. Then when I moved again last month, I had issues. We ended up drugging him some.

Give yourselves some time to heal, and see if someone will let you borrow their trailer and practice. Scratch the show that you have in 2 weeks. You can't expect her to get on a trailer so soon after something like that. Just spend the day working on it. There's no rush, and no pressure for either of you, it'll be a much more relaxing process. My horse's incident was faaar less scary than yours, and he still hates trailers to this day, and its been like 3 years. Just give it time.

[horseyfrk145]

Well, I'll stay out of the training aspect - but I can give my sympathy. I am sorry that you're so stressed. Could you maybe find a doctor or counselor or someone that you can talk to for a while? I'm also just a PM away, anytime you need it. *HUGS*

[BarrelBaby18]

thank you the last two posts.

but the trailer issue has gotton out of hand and needs to stop.

For one. I lunge her in a stud chain. I just do and always have. It doesnt hurt her, it makes her pay attention. I dont use "harmful" methods on training my horses.
The trailer. She loads perfectly fine in a halter and a plain lead rope. BUT. My trainer right now, told me this. She needs a stud chain till she finds out the trailer will be fine. Its not going to hurt her. We always use stud chains. She doesnt like to "look" at the trailer, basically she turns her head and this just lets her know that we are the boss. U are going to listen to us. It just corrects her. We arent out there wrapping it around her nose 200million times making it as tight as possible so she knows its there. I dont like that nor would we ever believe in that. So we use it. We all have our different methods. So therefore we can stop telling me to use stud chains because no matter what you guys say. We will still use them.

Thank you guys for the positive comments. I am stressed and refuse to go so a counsler or something like tht. my mom already tried. I am not going to go see one and need some person that is so sweet and talks and asks me "and how does that make u feel" its just like having a trainer. Or a riding instructor. Yes i need some help on soem things, but my riding. Let me figure it our myself. I have got lots of help on here from just seeing other peoples mistakes. and now i am going completely off subject! lol!!

[Dawn]

If you 'need' a stud chain to handle your horse on a daily basis, then she's not properly trained, pure and simple. And you saw last night the effects of working with a horse that isn't properly trained. Horse and human can be severly hurt in an instant.

Honestly, I really do sympathize with the entire situation. But ignoring it isn't going to make anything better.

It's very unfortunate that you are so stuck in your ways that you refuse to step back and see that there is a safer way to do things.

[BarrelBaby18]

Excuse me?????? Dawn you need to leave this thread right now because that was un called for. Saying my horse is not properly trained was way to far. You can stop right now because tht was ignorant. My horse is properly trained. U dont know me, my family or my horse. She got spooked. She was stressed and I pulled to hard from me slipping. Thats all. End of disscusion.

[Cami1230]

Calm down ladies.
I'm sorry you had trouble loading her. I hope she does better next time, you just gotta work with her on it, that's all

[horseyfrk145]

Originally Posted by BarrelBaby18

Excuse me?????? Dawn you need to leave this thread right now because that was un called for. Saying my horse is not properly trained was way to far. You can stop right now because tht was ignorant. My horse is properly trained. U dont know me, my family or my horse. She got spooked. She was stressed and I pulled to hard from me slipping. Thats all. End of disscusion.

Easy, Easy - don't be so defensive, it's okay. She was just offering advice.

My horse has been properly trained as well, but he isn't perfect! He can def still improve - and so can Rayven. I know it's hard (I've had this happen a lot since I bought my young horse), but sometimes you have to put pride aside, and listen to the people who really are trying to help you improve. Just a thought.

No, Dawn does not know this exact situation 100%, but she has probably been in similar ones and was trying to help you. You have to admit that things did not go well, and in hindsight, might have been able to be avoided - but that's what happened, and by listening to the people who may have more experience *in general* than you, you can avoid it ever happening and get through this issue.

[18thTomorrow]

I'm sorry---that's a real bummer that all of that happened and you were unable to get to your show.

What things have you tried, in training Rayven to go in the trailer? My Jezzie is a hard loader too, but she's getting better. Let me know what you have tried already and maybe I can give you some suggestions? I'm sure if you worked at it for the next two weeks you'd be able to have her ready to trailer to the next show.

[ejforrest]

That is too bad, but for once I do have to agree with Dawn.
Start from the ground on loading. If she wont even look at the trailer, start feeding her by it and work the food closer and closer to the trailer. If you have to put the trailer in the corral with her than thats what has to be done.
Once she is eating by the trailer, move the food to the back of the trailer where she has to "just" reach in to get a bit. Do this until she is eating with out hurrying.
Next- Get her favorite food and if there is an excape door, you stand in the trailer with her at her distance on a lead rope. Once she takes a step forward, reward her. Keep doing it until she is at the trailer door. You will have to repeat this as many times as it will take until she is comfortable. When she backs up, let her. You are letting her know it is o.k. to be scared and she can get out at her will.
Once she puts her front feet in the trailer, reward and let "her" back out when she needs too. Keep doing this until she will "stand with her feet on the floor of the trailer" and let her keep backing out when she needs to. Once she is comfortable standing with her feet on the back of the trailer, ask her to come in. Let her back out if she needs to and keep repeating this until she stands there eating with the food in the manger. Always reward, never punish. Punishing while she is trying to load will teach her that the trailer is punishment, not rewards.
This may take you a day to do or 2 weeks. It took my 16 year old mare who was terrifide of loading 4 days. I worked an hour at a time and let her back up or out when she needed to. Now it took my 6 year old Appy gelding 2 weeks to do this. He was used to being loaded with a rope behind his rump. Now they both just walk right up.
All it takes is time, rewards and lots of patients.

[tbtrainer]

The one thing no one has mentioned is the person loading (especially a difficult horse) needs the right shoes, and a pair of gloves.

I just went through the same thing, loading a 2 yr old that had never been in a trailer... I always make sure I have on my work boots with good traction, and a pair of gloves so if they do go flying back I have a better chance of hanging on to them, and not burning my hands.


I feel really bad about your situation... just keep practicing with her, everyday if you can... she will improve, it will just take patience.