Hi Vivian,

You just need to take some time getting him more comfortable with the
inside of the trailer. Instead of loading him all the way in, just load
is front feet, let him stand for a few seconds and then back him out. Do
that many, many times, you can even throw some food on the floor half
way in and let him stand there and eat it. Then start working on just
one back foot getting in, and then unload him, do this again many times.
If you are comfortable loading him from the front that is not ideal but
I have used it with some horses in the past as long as there is an
escape door. Otherwise I teach them to load with me outside and then
going by me. This way you can tug the rope when you want them to come
out. After you have spent lots of time load all the feet separately,
then try the last and final foot. When he loads all the way in, try and
ask him to back out before he decides to, load him like that over and
over again. Let him stay in longer and longer and pat him on the butt
and have food in the manger. If you work this consistently and have time
to do it several days then you can start trying the butt bar. Never tie
him in there until all doors are closed and locked and in the reverse
never open any back door until he is untied. There are lots of great
trailer loading videos, John Lyons, CLinton Anderson to name a few, they
will help you with techniques if you need it.

As far as taking out the partition, the horse might try and turn around
and being so large that could end in trouble, you could slide the
partition over, but I doubt that will help his claustrophobia, more time
and patience will. Gina

Vivian_Richelsen wrote:
> I have a question on trailer loading. My gelding is 17 hands, and is a
> freisian saddlebred cross. I have a two horse, ramp load trailer with
> a removeable/moveable partiton in the center. It is definitely tall
> enough for him, but I feel like he's a bit claustrophobic inside of
> it. I can walk him right up into it, but as soon as someone tries to
> secure the butt bar, he goes flying out of it in a panic. Can anyone
> help me figure out how to make him feel comfortable in this trailer?
> He's broken a bungee trailer tie in his rush to escape, but he has not
> hurt himself on or around this trailer. I've only been able to do the
> butt bar once and put the ramp up - do you think that is what he is
> fearing? Should I not lead him onto the trailer, but rather train him
> to load while I ask him from the side? Are these type of trailers safe
> if the partition is removed, thus not having use of the butt bar? I
> just didn't know if the absence of the partition would give him the
> impression of a larger space and slightly more comfortable. I have
> trailered him in my friends step up stock trailer with no partitions -
> but he doesn't load as easily as he will get into the ramp load. Any
> suggestions, training advice, etc., would be helpful! I'm not willing
> to rush him and/or "trap" him into the trailer - I want him to be
> willing to do it without making him fearful. Thank you so much! Vivian
>
>
>
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