Thanks Sharon! I'm not looking for a quick fix by any means, I know
this will take some time. Do you have any trainers you can
recommend - Monty, John Lyons - anyone you feel is more effective?
Thanks again!
--- In training-horses@yahoogroups.com, "sharon huskey" <huskey@...>
wrote:
>
> Even tho you can get him in the trailer he is not truly trained to
load and unload. People tend to think just becuase they get the horse
in the trailer that they are trained to trailer. "he's in, quick,
shut the door !! " That's the first HUGE mistake. They need to be
trained to UNload too. You need to go back to the beginning.
> I, personaly never lead a horse in a trailer. I train them to self
load. There are a couple different methods to train them to self load
and you need to find one that will work for you. The basics of all
these methods are to make it uncomfortable outside the trailer and
safe and restful inside the trailer. This does NOT mean you beat them
into the trailer. This will take alot of patience and time, usually
an hour for the first lesson and endless patience. I suggest you get
a video from one of the natural Horsemanship trainers so you can see
how it's done. Your body language is also very important. If you are
directing the horse in and move too far forward you are blocking him
and not driving him from behind etc..
> I would not try to shut the door or butt bar till you can get him
to load and stand quietly till YOU ask him to back off and back off
slowly, not flying back.
>
> Sorry I couldn't give you a quick fix
> Sharon
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Vivian_Richelsen
> To: training-horses@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Saturday, February 14, 2009 7:05 PM
> Subject: [training-horses] Trailer Loading
>
>
> 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
>