[iheartrezzi]

When I get my horse on the trailer shes fine, a little bit nervous but shes ok. If she has food, shes ok haha. so when we arrive at whereever we're going we pull down the ramp, etc. and she RUNS out and sometimes bonks her head, and just acts like an idiot. Once shes out of the trailer, shes fine, but getting off is just an issue.
And if you try to pull a little bit on the lead, then give, then pull, then give, she just pulls harder!
I dont know what to do!
HELP!

And shes 18 so shes not young or anything.

[shaiarabs]

you need to go back to the start with her, go right back to the beginning and give her the confidence to go on and off quietly by herself

try this article
http://www.perthhorse.com/news/artic...-training.html

[JuliaNeigh]

yeah i'd just start off with the basics and getting her to be pro at loading and unloading. my horse is the horse that sees an open trailer and just helps himself in waiting to go lol but i have seen many horses with trailering issues so just take the time and work her slowly getting her confidence up try having treats and feed and just get her relaxed

[IIIBarsV]

For one, if she goes flying backwards, do NOT try to hold her- let her go flying backwards on a loose leadrope.... once she decides to stop flying backwards, you walk towards her, pick up the slack and make her continue backing up for about 20 feet.

Then walk her forward, and re-load her on the trailer.

Rinse, repeat. Back her up every time, and tie with a slip-knot that will pull entirely free of the tie ring when you pull it, so nothing will get caught. Always have that leadrope LOOSE when she is backing out of the trailer. ALWAYS LOOSE. Don't pull on it, don't apply pressure.

And as she is backing up, use a vocal "baaaaaack" cue. Make it YOUR idea to be backing up.

If you are NOT pulling the leadrope, she will NOT bash her head off the trailer. She will raise it because she is fighting the pressure.

A side exercise that will greatly, greatly help is to teach her to drop her head when she feels pressure from the halter on the poll. You can do this in the stall, with nothing but the leadrope over the poll (easier to let go of in case of emergency). There are lots of threads here about teaching "head down", so investigate them.

I generally use a rope halter for trailer loading issues (horses tend to lean against a flat halter and ignore you), but if she's not totally pushy with the flat halter, then you probably won't have to change it.

[StarfireArizona]

I found the suggestion by IIIBarsV of continuing the backing up once they hit the ground to work very well. My mare would panic & blow out backwards. I didn't hold her in with any pressure on the lead, but followed her quickly out & made her back up quite a few steps & BRISKLY. She caught on quick.

Once I saw she was thinking of blowing out but hesitated & thought better of it, then I had her halt after every step backward. When her back feet were on the ground & front feet still in the trailer, I halted & lavishly praised her. She learned to smoothly back up one step at a time, and halt halfway out.

[Graceful Landin]

Originally Posted by IIIBarsV

For one, if she goes flying backwards, do NOT try to hold her- let her go flying backwards on a loose leadrope.... once she decides to stop flying backwards, you walk towards her, pick up the slack and make her continue backing up for about 20 feet.

Then walk her forward, and re-load her on the trailer.

Rinse, repeat. Back her up every time, and tie with a slip-knot that will pull entirely free of the tie ring when you pull it, so nothing will get caught. Always have that leadrope LOOSE when she is backing out of the trailer. ALWAYS LOOSE. Don't pull on it, don't apply pressure.

And as she is backing up, use a vocal "baaaaaack" cue. Make it YOUR idea to be backing up.

If you are NOT pulling the leadrope, she will NOT bash her head off the trailer. She will raise it because she is fighting the pressure.

A side exercise that will greatly, greatly help is to teach her to drop her head when she feels pressure from the halter on the poll. You can do this in the stall, with nothing but the leadrope over the poll (easier to let go of in case of emergency). There are lots of threads here about teaching "head down", so investigate them.

I generally use a rope halter for trailer loading issues (horses tend to lean against a flat halter and ignore you), but if she's not totally pushy with the flat halter, then you probably won't have to change it.

great post. heheheheh my horse used to hate going in the trailor... but we worked through that and now when ever he sees a trailor, he trys to hop in! because he knows theres food in there!! lol funny horse........