Problems with loading/unloading often stem from a bad experience that the horse has suffered.
As for how to fix it, it depends on the individual situation. You need the make loading and unloading on a trailer a pleasant experience for the horse. How does your horse react when you load/unload? If you give a few more details I could suggest a more specific thing to try.
I really like the "feed and leave" approach. To do this, you must have access to a trailer for several days. Place the trailer in the pen with your horse. This might be in a small paddock, or the round pen, or at the end of the barn if you can close the gates up to the trailer. Your horse must be the only one with access to the trailer. Block the back end of the trailer, or leave it hooked up to the tow vehicle, so that it doesn't tip when the horse steps upon it.
Depending on the fear level of your horse, place this feeding's feed in a rubber pan at the open end of the trailer, further out if the horse is really fearful, further in if the horse is not really fearful, just doesn't like to load. Put his hay in there, too, if he needs hay. The important thing is that he gets fed ONLY if he approaches or enters the trailer. Then leave. Be sure everything is in a safe position. Often, as soon as no one is watching closely, the horse will go up and eat quietly. The next day, assuming he has eaten, push the feed pan further up into the trailer, and the next day further, and so on. The horse is not going to starve himself.
Eventually, the horse will be standing fully up in the horse box, and eating quietly, no anxiety, because this was HIS idea, and no human was rushing up to slam the doors. After a few days of eating in the horse box, place his regular meal up there, but this time, lead him into the box as if loading, if all is going well, close him up and let him eat. If not, spend a few more days leading him in and leaving. Soon, the trailer will become "home" and it will no longer be a big deal to load.
Unloading may solve itself during this time also, as horse gets to unload himself without people pushing him. Fixing an unloading problem depends a lot on what the problem is....won't back out, gets scared at the step down, explodes out, what. My current personal horse is an "explosive unloader," and I have not really taken the time to work with him much on this, but with repetition, a few steps back, then forward again, over and over, I expect him to get better.
Lots of horses have trouble loading because the trailer can be scary for them. As prey animals, their first instinct is to run and you take away their ability to do that when you stick them in a big, metal box. This natural fear of closed in places can get compounded by loud highway noises such as road noise or big trucks and especially if the driver drives roughly without slowing down enough for curves or accelerates/decelerates too quickly. Any bad experiences in the trailer will make a horse less likely to load in the future. It's such an act of trust for them to get in there so it is very important for their person not to squander that trust. And they need to be taught how to get in and out of the trailer.
Some horses have trouble unloading because they are already scared and want out of the trailer so bad they can't think straight. Some horses have not been taught how to get out of the trailer. Also, with a step up trailer, when you ask a horse to back out of it, he can't see where he is going. From his point of view, he is stepping out backward into empty space.
Fixing either problem can be complicated depending on what the problem is. The simplest fix for either problem is a trailer that is designed for the horse's comfort with a light interior, plenty of room, noise dampening floor/ceiling, good air flow, and very careful driving. A ramp is also really helpful if the trailer is designed such that the horses have to back out.
Cherry Hill's book "Trailering Your Horse" has a lot of ground exercises in it to help with problem loaders. They include practicing a step up or down, walking under a suspended tarp, walking through a narrow aisle, etc.
IF the trailer is colossal adequate and the mare does not scramble to get in, load that foal first. A mare that scrambles and a irritating foal in a small trailer can bring about a foal with a broken leg or 2. you will no longer get everywhere at a week previous with optimal a foal with a halter and lead rope, they are too busy sorting out their ecosystem. First, attempt the in the previous suggested "feed in trailer technique." i don't be conscious of what your rationalization for loading the pair grow to be, yet once you may do it immediately this technique won't artwork. It does take time. you may make it a delightful journey for this toddler in case you prefer to have the skill to load it sooner or later with little difficulty. the superb thank you to try this's, if the trailer is in stable restore without rusted or broken edges, depart the trailer available to the toddler to locate. that's substantial that the foal does not look on the trailer as a huge monster finding to swallow him entire. candy communicate, treats, and a few gentle training will help with loading this toddler, now and sooner or later.
Horses are flight animals - to escape predators they run. Being asked to step inside a small space is frightening for them - it goes against all their natural instincts and they need they need to be conditioned into believing that getting into a lorry or trailer won't cause them any harm. I make a product to help with loading training called Solo Harness - see www.soloequestrian.com for more detail and also for lots more information on training a horse to load.
They haven't been trained to load or unload, they are injured. Be persistant to fix both. Eventually, they'll give in. Patience is the key to horses. My horse just hops in and backs out, he loves to go 'bu-byes'
there are billions of reasons why horses dont load and unload but to help just keep loading and unloading them that will tend to help or use food to walk in and give them it when they stay in
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Problems with loading/unloading often stem from a bad experience that the horse has suffered.
As for how to fix it, it depends on the individual situation. You need the make loading and unloading on a trailer a pleasant experience for the horse. How does your horse react when you load/unload? If you give a few more details I could suggest a more specific thing to try.
I really like the "feed and leave" approach. To do this, you must have access to a trailer for several days. Place the trailer in the pen with your horse. This might be in a small paddock, or the round pen, or at the end of the barn if you can close the gates up to the trailer. Your horse must be the only one with access to the trailer. Block the back end of the trailer, or leave it hooked up to the tow vehicle, so that it doesn't tip when the horse steps upon it.
Depending on the fear level of your horse, place this feeding's feed in a rubber pan at the open end of the trailer, further out if the horse is really fearful, further in if the horse is not really fearful, just doesn't like to load. Put his hay in there, too, if he needs hay. The important thing is that he gets fed ONLY if he approaches or enters the trailer. Then leave. Be sure everything is in a safe position. Often, as soon as no one is watching closely, the horse will go up and eat quietly. The next day, assuming he has eaten, push the feed pan further up into the trailer, and the next day further, and so on. The horse is not going to starve himself.
Eventually, the horse will be standing fully up in the horse box, and eating quietly, no anxiety, because this was HIS idea, and no human was rushing up to slam the doors. After a few days of eating in the horse box, place his regular meal up there, but this time, lead him into the box as if loading, if all is going well, close him up and let him eat. If not, spend a few more days leading him in and leaving. Soon, the trailer will become "home" and it will no longer be a big deal to load.
Unloading may solve itself during this time also, as horse gets to unload himself without people pushing him. Fixing an unloading problem depends a lot on what the problem is....won't back out, gets scared at the step down, explodes out, what. My current personal horse is an "explosive unloader," and I have not really taken the time to work with him much on this, but with repetition, a few steps back, then forward again, over and over, I expect him to get better.
Lots of horses have trouble loading because the trailer can be scary for them. As prey animals, their first instinct is to run and you take away their ability to do that when you stick them in a big, metal box. This natural fear of closed in places can get compounded by loud highway noises such as road noise or big trucks and especially if the driver drives roughly without slowing down enough for curves or accelerates/decelerates too quickly. Any bad experiences in the trailer will make a horse less likely to load in the future. It's such an act of trust for them to get in there so it is very important for their person not to squander that trust. And they need to be taught how to get in and out of the trailer.
Some horses have trouble unloading because they are already scared and want out of the trailer so bad they can't think straight. Some horses have not been taught how to get out of the trailer. Also, with a step up trailer, when you ask a horse to back out of it, he can't see where he is going. From his point of view, he is stepping out backward into empty space.
Fixing either problem can be complicated depending on what the problem is. The simplest fix for either problem is a trailer that is designed for the horse's comfort with a light interior, plenty of room, noise dampening floor/ceiling, good air flow, and very careful driving. A ramp is also really helpful if the trailer is designed such that the horses have to back out.
Cherry Hill's book "Trailering Your Horse" has a lot of ground exercises in it to help with problem loaders. They include practicing a step up or down, walking under a suspended tarp, walking through a narrow aisle, etc.
IF the trailer is colossal adequate and the mare does not scramble to get in, load that foal first. A mare that scrambles and a irritating foal in a small trailer can bring about a foal with a broken leg or 2. you will no longer get everywhere at a week previous with optimal a foal with a halter and lead rope, they are too busy sorting out their ecosystem. First, attempt the in the previous suggested "feed in trailer technique." i don't be conscious of what your rationalization for loading the pair grow to be, yet once you may do it immediately this technique won't artwork. It does take time. you may make it a delightful journey for this toddler in case you prefer to have the skill to load it sooner or later with little difficulty. the superb thank you to try this's, if the trailer is in stable restore without rusted or broken edges, depart the trailer available to the toddler to locate. that's substantial that the foal does not look on the trailer as a huge monster finding to swallow him entire. candy communicate, treats, and a few gentle training will help with loading this toddler, now and sooner or later.
Horses are flight animals - to escape predators they run. Being asked to step inside a small space is frightening for them - it goes against all their natural instincts and they need they need to be conditioned into believing that getting into a lorry or trailer won't cause them any harm. I make a product to help with loading training called Solo Harness - see www.soloequestrian.com for more detail and also for lots more information on training a horse to load.
they only need 1 bad experience and that is enough.
fixing is the bigger problem. time is the only way. don't rush it.
don't try to load once you loose your cool they will never go in.
i have found opening the trailer up putting both ramps down,and walking them straight through without stopping and closing the doors.
if they think they aren't stopping in they can relax more.doing this over and over again for a few days.
if you are taking them somewhere for a set time start early.
They haven't been trained to load or unload, they are injured. Be persistant to fix both. Eventually, they'll give in. Patience is the key to horses. My horse just hops in and backs out, he loves to go 'bu-byes'
there are billions of reasons why horses dont load and unload but to help just keep loading and unloading them that will tend to help or use food to walk in and give them it when they stay in