loading horses

[mhoney05]

hello i have one issue. one thing my dad and i look for in a new horse is that it has good loading capability .......apparently our friend doesnt. my dad is stuck trailering her horses around all the time and not one of them will load in atleast 20 min unless a miracle has happened. i swear yesterday my dad and i trailored one of her horses so we could ride with the horse im going to buy....just to see how she did on trail. the first load took an hour and the one for home took two. we were seriosly stuck at these nice peoples home invading there home and since they live in the desert and we live near the coast we took alot of water bottles!!but then the horse whisperer came and butt winched her in (thats what i call it). he basicly took a rope around her butt and slowly pushed her in.the funny thing is when we tried to get her there we couldnt load her and the trainer that works there also butt winched her in. we would do that all the time exept for a couple of problems
1. my dad doesnt like to be around the bootie end of a horse AND
2. only that horse falls for that. this lady has a much much stronger mare quarter horse that does not like to be forced to do anything without real damage! ex. almost breaking my dad's hand,breaking many ropes,wood and many more (i think shes even breaking her stall down because she bucks so much!!)and its metal!!
does anyone have any good working tecniques????
we have tried slowly winching in the front (but all of her horses break our ropes or get hurt trying to,we tried tickling the hocks, half the time we are trying to coax them in but after they have been fed they dont care. I REALLY NEED HELP! thanks for reading

[mhoney05]

one more thing we have a 1965 very sturdy trailor (we redid it all) but its a two horse strait load and its kind of small but my dad likes it because my horses are ok with it and he can take it any where like drive throughs and it can do sharper turns and honestly i think horses should be taught to get into any trailor unless they are too big for it

[Walk_On_Cowgirl]

Well depending on the crowd that reads this, most of you will probably disagree and think that I'm cruel but it really works! One horse I worked with would not load no matter what...we tried putting the trailer in the field and letting her eat out of it...that worked for a while for her but when WE would try to put her on she would always resist and stick her head straight up in the air and lock her legs and wouldn't move a muscle. Also we've tried "butt winching" her as well....didn't work. So one day we put a lunge line on her with a chain over her poll, this is a huge pressure point, and when she would resist and jerk her head in the air I pulled down on the chain. ouch! Needless to say after a few times of hurting her head she loaded like a charm! If you're not against doing this, then it really works!!! Best of luck!

[HorseDayz11]

This is quite a problem for me too, but I have learned a few tricks. First, what kind of trailer do you have? A straight load or slant? Horses are very claustrophobic, so trailers naturally scare them. Slants are much bigger than straight loads and the horse feels more comfortable in them, so try to load her in a slant. Now, don't feed the horse the day of trailering. When you begin to load her get her food and put the bucket in the trailer, she may go after it. Also work her out of the trailer, lunge her, make her know that when you point, that is where she should go, this will help later. After a few minutes, ask her to go into the trailer. Point your finger towards the trailer inside and she should go in, if not keep working her. Inside is where she should feel safe to rest. NEVER go in with the horse, because anything can happen. Also try not to hit your horse, she will be scared everytime she is near a trailer because of it. Try a horse friend in the first slant too. Then she might feel safer. Hay is also a healthy trick.

[lillbits369]

I ahve had my loading problems with my pony b/c he did a back flip in a horse trailer when he was younger and he is afraid of trailers...what we used was food and put a horse he liked in the trailer first...makes him feel safer...another thing to try is to walk him in....we asked my pony to pick up each foot as if we were going to pick itout then before he knew it he was pretty much in the trailer...but we got a new trailer and we got a slant he seems to like it more...slants do offer more room for horses..but i understand u might not want ot get a new horse trailer b/c they are your friends horses...also every time the horses doesnt load back him...hores dont like to back its a nicer way to dicsipline...they get sick of it and decide to go in...try those methods expirimenting is the best thing to do u will be able to see what works best with you..GOOD LUCK

[wildrider001]

what i do for horses that suck at backing up is back them everywhere like into the stall or pasture or anything just for practice.

and loading horses you could do likethe big timers and have to people put their arms between the horses hind legs on either side and just push them in

[mhoney05]

thanks for the help. i have a straight load trailor. this one horse of hers though!!!we were teaching her in our trailor how to load but she also freaked out and landed backwards...with a saddle on .she wont even go in a slant three horse for atleast 15 minutes and shes the only horse that always seems to have cuts from our trailer i swear she kicks the **** out of it!! any way im open for any ideas even if they are a bit harsh because im about tired of waiting hours to go home!! and even if im not open my dad would sure be!!he just wont do anything around the back end because his grandpa lost an eye being kicked by a mule and he respects that(apparently).. Thanks though

[HorsayLuv]

If you don't mind, i have a question on this topic for everyone else too. My horse is an old stuborn horse. I have a smaller old bumber pull like the op. my horse will NOT load in it. He's pretty much dead to some aids because he knows what im doing more than i do. So does anybody have any ideas? Definitly going to try the chain thing, i just hope mine is long enough!

[cursivenight]

Ringo has had problems too. He likes are trailer though.

First off, make sure nothing is slippery bcause the horse will feel unsafe. Spread shavings or whatever down, ESPECIALLY if its a ramp load. Don't have any other horses in yet if its a two horse straight load, and if you can, pull the divider over as far as it can go. Open any doors or windows that can be opened and turn on any lights. Also have a small treat in the bin or something.

I use a rope kind of parelli halter that puts pressure on the poll. When he stops I gently pull and dont let him take a step back. If he does he gets more and more pressure or a yank. If he goes forward, even a bit, the pressure is lessened and he gets a good boy or quick pat. Slowly but surely they'll go on, unless tehy are really bad or afraid.

[HorsayLuv]

I would like to sugest to make sure there is nothing your horse can cut himself on. I feel stupid because my horse finally loaded, but he cut his leg up on his way out. :p

[gingerlover101]

my horse use to have problems loading in our two horse straight load too. we then put the chain on and tried butt wrendching but she would flip her self then we let her sniff the trailer and put the longe line chain around her nose and every time she tried to rear we pulled and it put pressure on her nose and pinched and then we finally got her to load!!!

[HorseDayz11]

I respect your father's desicion of not pushing your friend's horse in by the behind. It isn't safe or healthy or smart. This will just scare the horse more and more every time you try to load her. The chains aren't smart either. This can scare the horse and she might rear and kick you. Stay away from the inside of the trailer. It is better to ask her in a safe trailer than to pull or scare her in. A straight load is harder, but in time she will load.

Ask around and see if you can work on a slant until she feels safe with that. This will take time, it isn't something to be rushed. I learned that the hard way. Cursivenight has respectable ways. Reread hers and mine from before. Work with this about twenty minutes everyday. Good luckand keep me posted. :)

[gingerlover101]

we used to always have a collar on her neck and a halter then u put the lead line through the halter loop and hook it on the collar and then they usally will walk in cause theres two things pulling and don't use a chain!!

[mhoney05]

I respect your father's desicion of not pushing your friend's horse in by the behind. It isn't safe or healthy or smart. This will just scare the horse more and more every time you try to load her. The chains aren't smart either. This can scare the horse and she might rear and kick you. Stay away from the inside of the trailer. It is better to ask her in a safe trailer than to pull or scare her in. A straight load is harder, but in time she will load.

Ask around and see if you can work on a slant until she feels safe with that. This will take time, it isn't something to be rushed. I learned that the hard way. Cursivenight has respectable ways. Reread hers and mine from before. Work with this about twenty minutes everyday. Good luckand keep me posted. :)
ya the horse we used on saturday is now really scared of the trailer .she reared at me while we were loading the first time and my dad and the guy that was trying to help him were a bit harsh on her the second time. we use ropes instead of chains but once shes half way in the trailer she doesnt mind butt winching. but my dad wont do it so....but since our friend has 9 horses and her only transportation is our two horse....i think its about time she buys her own trailor. she offered my dad to go in on a four horse but all my horses get in my trailer so why would we pay to buy a new big trailer that my dads truck is too small to haul when all my horses can get in to my perfect size two horse.......im just venting now . thanks for all of your guys help though . i will definately put it to good use!

[silverleprichuan]

ya the horse we used on saturday is now really scared of the trailer .she reared at me while we were loading the first time and my dad and the guy that was trying to help him were a bit harsh on her the second time. we use ropes instead of chains but once shes half way in the trailer she doesnt mind butt winching. but my dad wont do it so....but since our friend has 9 horses and her only transportation is our two horse....i think its about time she buys her own trailor. she offered my dad to go in on a four horse but all my horses get in my trailer so why would we pay to buy a new big trailer that my dads truck is too small to haul when all my horses can get in to my perfect size two horse.......im just venting now . thanks for all of your guys help though . i will definately put it to good use!


If the horse reared then she is scared and feels she has no where to go but up. Getting more aggressive will cause more problems, do some research, go slowly.

http://www.infohorse.com/trailerloading.asp

[ashleygoesrawr]

hm, i can't help you, sorry. i've always been lucky enough to have horses that just pop right in.

i wish you luck, though!

[mhoney05]

hm, i can't help you, sorry. i've always been lucky enough to have horses that just pop right in.

i wish you luck, though!

ive been pretty lucky but these arent my horses i just get stuck caring for them and again im venting....sorry!

[RODEOBABE4]

OK, MY MUSTANG DiDNT LOAD UNTiLL WE TRiED THiS.


TEACH YOUR HORSE, WHEN YOU KiSS OR CLUCK TO MOVE FORWARD. AND WHEN YOU PULL BACK, TO BACK UP.

ONCE THAT iS MASTERED, YOU BRiNG HER UP TO THE TRAiLER AND KiSS TO HER TO STEP iN. iF SHE DONT, TAP HER WiTH A WHiP. WHEN SHE STEPS iN, BACK HER OUT AND TAKE THE PRESSURE OFF OF HER, DO THE PROCESS AGAiN AND MAKE HER STEP HALFWAY iN, THEN BACK HER OUT AGAiN. THiS TiME, MAKE HER GO ALL THE WAY iN. WHEN SHE DOES, LET HER STAND THERE AND PET HER AND TELL HER THAT SHEE DiD GOOD. THEN BACK HER OUT ONCE MORE AND THiS TiME MAKE HER LOAD ALL THE WAY iN. YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO GO NOW!


-RAYY

[mhoney05]

thanks..i can get all the help i can get ....her horses are the worst loading horses ive ever met....sadly we have the worst trailer for those guys

[RODEOBABE4]

WELL, THAT THiNG i TOLD YOU TO DO, iF YOU EVER SWiTCH TRAiLERS OR SOMETHiNG, AND THEY WONT LOAD, JUST DO THE WHOLE THiNG AGAiN.

[mhoney05]

ya i know.....but i think we have pushed this lady into buying her own trailer so her horses will get in and our trailer will be left in peace........one of her horses kicks our trailer and now theres a gash on the inside.......poor s.s horse trailer.....(its battle gray)

[HorseDayz11]

I am sorry girl. I know at a horse show this horse just flipped and went down under a horse trailer. A kid was on her back crying, but was safe. We don't know what happened with the horse, but it kept kicking the trailer trying to get out from under it. Luckily, three men pushed it up as the horse began to stand and luckily, the horse was safe. The owners though gave her up, said they were going to shoot her, but thankfully, didn't. It was a new trailer too and the trailer owners weren't there... Horses are just freaky near trailers. As people have said, take it slow. No ropes, no chains, just a horse and you and comunication.

Hopefully, for your sake, they do get their own trailer, before yours is torn up. Just require a bigger one, a slant preferably. You are smart, but try to keep the "butt winching" to a minimum and comunicate better. Trust is everything in a horse and doing it yourself is great. It is your friend's horse and her responsibility. She shouldn't throw the pressure on you. Also, try to let your friend read the good ones of these for help. :)

[mhoney05]

thankyou guys for all your help .....if you have any suggestions then just spit them out im going to look and try all of these atleast once but all i have to say is thank the lord i own perfect little demon ponies that are sweet little basterds BUT WILL ATLEAST LOAD!!!! from what ive heard my new little mustang's gonna load like a charm considering her old owners have a trailer somewhat like mine so wish me luck on that!! :D

thank you guys!

[HorseDayz11]

your welcome. :)
keep me posted on the result of each.