Loading horses question

[farm princess]

I am going to bring up a few of my moms horses and we do know that one of the horses will go into a trailor, but we are not sure of the second one. My question is what is the best way to load a horse into the trailor and any tips or tricks that will help with the one who has never been in one before. All help will be great.

Thanks in advance!!!! ;-)

 

[msscamp]

Are you using a regular stock/horse trailer or a 2-horse side by side? If a regular stock/horse trailer, load the horse that is used to a trailer first because that will help while loading the 2nd horse. Lead the 2nd horse up and let her/him check it out. Patience is the key, give her/him all the time they need to check it out and get comfortable with it. Keep yourself and anyone who is helping low key and calm so the horse does not get excited. Once loaded - I don't believe I would tie the horse that is not used to a trailer, but that is probably just me. If you're using a 2-horse side by side, I have no advice as I have no experience with them. I do know that horses tend to not like those trailers because they are small, cramped, and dark, so they tend to trigger the horses predator response. If it's going to be a few days before you move them, you also might consider hooking up the trailer and working with the horse that is not used to being loaded prior to moving day. I hope this helps, and good luck with moving the horses!

 

[flaboy?]

In my opinion the best trailer to start any horse learning to load in is a stock trailer. After they load easily in that you can work on the other types.

If you can get that horse separated from the others. Put the trailer in the pen with it and put its feed/hay inside the trailer a little ways. Move the feed/hay a little further in each time. I have loaded cows this way and of course horses too.

 

[circlet]

this doesn't answer your question, but it's kind of interesting i think...

there is a pretty big horse breeder around here who has an interesting way of acclimating his horses to the trailer. he parks an old one in the middle of his pasture(s) that has weanlings/yearlings in it, ties the door open and occasionally he puts grain in and leaves, starting at the back where they can reach it and gradually moving it forward till they have to walk in to get it. he says that when he pulls up with a trailer and opens the door, the horses run up to it and can't wait to get in.

it really works for him, but it's not really a preferred method for most situations i wouldn't think.

 

[flaboy?]

That's how I trained my Idiot. He was such a butt and got excited so easily I decided to let him do it on his own. Now when he around the trailer and I leave the door open he goes in to see if there is anything in there he wants. He also walks in beside me if needed. He did slip going in the last time and got excited and wanted to hesitate. Instead of trying to push the issue I went and got a cookie, showed it to him and I walked on in. He followed right on in with me. I say whatever works. :lol:

 

[circlet]

you know flaboy?, i agree with you. for the most part, "whatever works" is a good credo. sure there are probably definate do's and do not's, but if you find something that gets you to the end result and it works good for you, go with it. sometimes on this board i get tired of the endless bickering and debating on what's what and who's the smartest!

 

[flaboy?]

you know flaboy?, i agree with you. for the most part, "whatever works" is a good credo. sure there are probably definate do's and do not's, but if you find something that gets you to the end result and it works good for you, go with it. sometimes on this board i get tired of the endless bickering and debating on what's what and who's the smartest!

Well, you won't have me contending for smartest. :shock: :lol:

 

[Penridergirl]

I am sure that there are a lot of ways to get a horse that won't load to get into the trailer. Another quick, humane way is to point his head into the trailer while another person stands off to the side with a long lead rope. Start gently swatting his hind fetlocks with the lead rope. Don't hit him hard, just keep up the swatting. Eventually he will get tired of the rope constantly bugging him and will move forward. When the horse goes forward stop swinging the rope. If the horse balks start swinging again. Won't take long and the horse will start jumping in all by himself. Try it on yourself and see how long you can stand the swatting before you get irritated and move.

 

[circlet]

i like that idea penrider, it's basically how i do it except you've added another person. i just do it myself with a very long lead rope. i swing the lead rope constantly and any time the horse backs up i pop them on the rump. very soon it keeps them constantly moving forward. i was taught this method by a professional trainer and i've seen him do it (much better than i do it!) on many many horses that were real problems.

 

[Bez>]

That's how I trained my Idiot. He was such a butt and got excited so easily I decided to let him do it on his own. Now when he around the trailer and I leave the door open he goes in to see if there is anything in there he wants. He also walks in beside me if needed. He did slip going in the last time and got excited and wanted to hesitate. Instead of trying to push the issue I went and got a cookie, showed it to him and I walked on in. He followed right on in with me. I say whatever works. :lol:

That is what we do - except we remove all the water from the field except what is in the trailer.

They can go without food, but not without water. Just keep moving it forward.

Be sure to block the trailer good so it is solid to the foot.

Three days and they load like a dream.

Do not do this in the winter - they take to eating snow - which is fine by me - however they do not get load trained.

Bez>

 

[DrumRunner728]

That's how I trained my Idiot. He was such a butt and got excited so easily I decided to let him do it on his own. Now when he around the trailer and I leave the door open he goes in to see if there is anything in there he wants. He also walks in beside me if needed. He did slip going in the last time and got excited and wanted to hesitate. Instead of trying to push the issue I went and got a cookie, showed it to him and I walked on in. He followed right on in with me. I say whatever works. :lol:

Hmmmmmmmmmm, flaboy, wouldn't that be considered using treats for training? ;-)

 

[flaboy?]

That's how I trained my Idiot. He was such a butt and got excited so easily I decided to let him do it on his own. Now when he around the trailer and I leave the door open he goes in to see if there is anything in there he wants. He also walks in beside me if needed. He did slip going in the last time and got excited and wanted to hesitate. Instead of trying to push the issue I went and got a cookie, showed it to him and I walked on in. He followed right on in with me. I say whatever works. :lol:

Hmmmmmmmmmm, flaboy, wouldn't that be considered using treats for training? ;-)

Nope it's called bribing :lol: Actually, I was in a hurry to get loaded and get out of there. He had slipped and I knew he would resist so........................I took the easy way out. :lol:

 

[DrumRunner728]

Bribing always works for me - my gelding is a 100% sucker for an apple wafer. Fortunately, he loads and hauls like a dream. He's at boot camp for a month - been there since last Wednesday. It's all I can do to keep from calling and pestering the fool out of the trainer. I wanna know how my baby is doing!

 

[flaboy?]

Bribing always works for me - my gelding is a 100% sucker for an apple wafer. Fortunately, he loads and hauls like a dream. He's at boot camp for a month - been there since last Wednesday. It's all I can do to keep from calling and pestering the fool out of the trainer. I wanna know how my baby is doing!

Well, this was the first time he had slipped going in so I knew he would want to hesitate.

Well, don't feel bad I am taking both of my boys to the trainer this weekend. As much as I hate to I just don't have the time to work on finishing them. They have come far and I have just been too busy to work them the way they need it now.

I need to retire. This work stuff is getting in the way of the stuff I really like to do. :lol:

 

[DrumRunner728]

Not to hijack this thread . . . .

I hated to send my guy to the trainer too, but this lady is a HAND with a horse. I can usually get done what needs to get done, but this horse needed a little extra help getting on his rear end in his turns. I had exhausted all my usual methods with him and while he was making pretty good progress, I will be the first to admit when I need a little assistance from somebody that has a better idea. This horse is waaaaay too nice to screw up.