Problem loading horse in trailer...?

Question

we have somewhere we need to be tomorrow and it includes the horse I have, a gelding named Doc, a tb x qh. Well we have never had a problem with him loading in trailers, until today, the day before we have to leave. We were working on him for 2 hours, trying different ways, but none were successful. We put food in there, tried the nice way, put a stud chain on him, and did everything we can think of. He has been in this trailer a million times. Also, i know a lot of people suggest lunging him behind the trailer, or walking in circles. He doesn't really know how to lunge, so when we try it it just makes him panic. And walking him in circles works, but no matter how many rounds we go he won't go in. We don't have time to do any training, so is there a quick way to lure the horse in?

Answer 1

I don't know what its called but you get a very big sturdy rope (prefebly if thick and nonburning) and have one person lead him in the trailor. Have 2 people hold the rope (one at each end) than put it near his put and walk forward with kinda forces him up into the trailor. (I don't know if that makes since or not) I Also a lunge whip or dressage whip. Try loading another horse in first than when your horse gets in take the other horse out and back where he was. I mean your horse knows how to load and knows its not dangerous. So do the stud chains, nylon halters, "big rope".

Make sure you open ALL windows to make the trailor look "open and peaseful" so its bright inside. So your horse isn't going into the "creepy dungon of doom"

When you do come back go on trips that don't include geting riddon. Just a nice peaceful drive and back.

Hope this helps and good luck!

Answer 2

If you are taking another horse, load them first. If he sees another horse quietly go in and sees it in there, it may lure him in. I've also tried putting a lead line/any kind of rope behind my horses rear end, with a person holding each end and "pulling" him towards/in the trailer. Blindfolding could work but every horse reacts differently. You could use treats/feed and calmly talk to him.

It's weird that he has always done well until now. Did anything happen the last time you loaded or unloaded that could have spooked him?  

Answer 3

Load him last.  Maybe if he sees the other horses go in he will get some confidence up and try.  Only other way to is to blindfold him.   What type of trailer is it?

Answer 4

  My coach jen is working with her horse willow get into a trailer i watched it today. What she did was bribe her in. you need two people. One person infront of the horse with sweetfeed or anything else and everytime it takes steps by itself or from the person behind it with a crop.

Lol so incase you dident get that there should be one person infront of it

and one person behind it the person behind it should have a crop and keep on whipping it no horribly or anything. If it takes steps back whip it hard dont be scared to do this because your horse is behind rude and its only what it deserves.

Answer 5

First off I'd make sure that the trailer is well-lit from the inside. They can see better than we can at night, but they still need some light. I used to work at a race track and it killed me to watch grooms beat on the horses because they won't load into a pitch black trailer at 10 p.m.

I'd also try loading another horse first. Walk him past the trailer, without stopping. If you stop, he's going to think that this is a big deal. It's akin to stopping your horse in front of the scary bushes where he's stopped before. In stopping you teach him that there is something to be concerned about and he was justified in his reaction. Start walking him past the trailer and gradually adjust your course so that you and he are walking toward the trailer but just past it. He's going to see the other horse standing quietly munching hay, and realize that it's really not so big of an issue.

By the way, what kind of trailer do you have? Does it have a step or a ramp? Is it a side or rear load? If it's a step, maybe something is bothering him physically and he just don't want to irritate things. I'd double check him before you try again.

Chains and blindfolds, to me, negate the whole thing you are trying to encourage. Chains hurt, and blindfolds pretty much immobilize the horse. You are trying to teach him that loading is safe and painless; neither of the two above items will reinforce that.

Good luck!

Answer 6

Check the trailer good make sure there is nothing in there. Animals know they have instinct's.  

Answer 7

the way we loaded our gelding is bribed him wife feed,,,we didnt feed him at feeding time and he seen the feed and wanted it. So we had a stick and tapped his rear untill he took a step then gave him feed, then tap tapp tapp tap tap tap until he took another step then more feed.

Answer 8

Well, A few months ago I was helping my instructor load her horse in the trailer for a show. At first he FREAKED! First, we gave him a treat. Then we blindfolded him so he couldn't see where we were taking him. We gave him another treat ad left him blindfolded until we got some of the other horses in, so he wasn't alone. Then we took it off and gave him another treat. After that he was fine.

Answer 9

did you try having someone walk him up get two people in the back lock hands and push him in.just watch he dont come flying back out. good luck.

Answer 10

The only thing I can think of for a fast answer is blindfolding him. It sounds like you've tried everything else. You don't have enough time to make him associate the trailer with treats. Good luck with Doc.

Answer 11

I have encountered this problem a few time before

Here's what i suggest:

Take a cloth and over-lap it

then wrap the ends under his halter over his eyes : you can tape it to the halter if need be

Then you can lead him into the trailer but make sure your right next to him and are talking to him

Good Luck

Equest.equine