What are your tips for teaching a horse to confidently load onto a trailer?

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Permalink Reply by Shaiarabs on September 27, 2010 at 10:16am

http://www.perthhorse.com/FeatureReviews/Articles/FloatTraining/mai...

I am cheating this is my article...

Permalink Reply by Marlene Thoms on September 27, 2010 at 11:47am

Best tips I've seen yet, including the one to do a short haul and return home immediately.
This tapping technique works for other things too. I used it to get my gelding to go through aluminum step through gates which he was absolutely terrified of and nothing else worked. Now he goes through great, even though he's still a little chicken about it. It also helps if they are balking or shying on a trail.

Permalink Reply by isobel springett on September 27, 2010 at 4:29pm

I always start by teaching them to lead and back properly. You'd be surprised how many don't do this. I park my trailer in the paddock and get them totally used to it's presence and then i start to lunge at a walk past the entrance. When they are doing this calmly I ask them to stop beside the entrance. I do this in both directions. Take as long as the horse needs to feel comfortable. I will then stand with the horse facing the trailer with my right hand over it's back, holding the shank in my left hand near the halter, like a guide. I have a whip in my right hand which I use to gently tap the horse over the right hip. I've found that this gives me control over both sides of the horse. Usually after a very short time they walk right in. Sometimes the will ignore the whip for a while but eventually they realize that the tapping isn't going to stop so they'd better get in. I always have them get in and out several times until all is calm. Often they don't even worry about it. A nice big trailer helps for the first time. We then go for a few short trips before any longer hauls. I've used this method for years with no problems. Never had a horse that wouldn't haul.

Permalink Reply by Ellen Ofstad on September 29, 2010 at 1:45pm

The first step is to get the horse comfortable being around the trailer. Get the horse to think it is a good place to be first. Teach the horse to lead and tie up elsewhere. Then combine the two. Move as fast as both horse and human are completely comfortable and last (but not least) seperate training from loading :)
I have a little video clip where we are showing a trailer to a foal for the first time. Both his parents are with him and that helps (provided they like being there of course). If we present the trailer as a nice place the horse will load. After that one has to take care not to make the trip unpleasant, of course, but if one can make it a good place there really shouldn't be more difficult getting the horse in a trailer than in the stable at feeding time...
Here's what we do (same system for older horses - make the trailer a good thing)

Permalink Reply by Nicola Barnes on September 30, 2010 at 7:04am

I say put a long lead rein on their halter and talk to them. Let them take their own time and don't force them, or they'll be worse. Stroke, talk, coax, but don't pull, hit or force.
If the horse is scared of going in alone, try put a big mirror in the horse box so he can see "another horse" and be comforted.
Or u can try and trot him in, but it doesn't always work.