Trailer loading Trouble

Question

I was helping my uncle load his horses into a trailer last night, and we were having problems. The mare we were trying to load has a week-old foal, so she was a little ansy to begin with. She got up into the trailer fine, and we tied her. But her baby didn't follow. They called back and forth for a few minutes but the foal would not go into the trailer. Then the mare started going crazy and after about ten minutes of trying to get the foal into the trailer, we had to turn the mare loose because she was about to hurt herself. I know this will make it harder for us to get her loaded next time, so any tips on how to get them BOTH into the trailer without any injuries?

Answer 1

Always load the baby first.

We used to have 2 people lock hands/arms behind the foals butt and have another person guiding with a lead rope.  Just do not push them too hard and fast..  Just kind of ease them up in there and then lock the partition, then load mom.  Should be no problem.  

Remember though when loading difficult horses, the very best way is to run a long rope from the horse up through the tie ring in the manger and back to the person loading.  Then stand behind and tug gently, slap them easily on the hips or butt and get them to step forward and so on.  If they pull back let them bk out it is okay.  Just repeat and keep slapping them on the butt.  You are just using the rope as a guide NOT to pull them into the trailer because you will never win that pulling match.  

Now if they are really a problem use a stock whip - beginning lightly on their heels and then standing back a bit - if they won't go on up, make it a little hot for them.  Do NOT try to Pull them into the trailer - your objective is to 'drive' them in just guiding them with the long rope.  It really works.  

Answer 2

Please try this: put the baby in first!! Unless the baby is a draft breed, you should be able to lift and pull it in to the trailer. Have someone else hold the mare behind the baby. Make sure there is plenty of room, a one horse trailer won't do. If you have a two horse side by side take out the partition.

OR try this: leave the trailer in the pasture with the mom and foal at least a few days before you try to load them. Feed mom at the doorway or inside the trailer for a few days. Foals are so curious they will play in the trailer and will be used to the sight and smell of it by the time you need to go, they will walk in.

I had miniature horses for 15 years and most of my babies loaded no problems after using these tricks.

The arabs were a little less placid but still it worked with the babies.

Good luck

Answer 3

You and your uncle should try getting the baby in first.  The mare won't have a problem.

Answer 4

If you have a halter on the foal attach a lead rope to the halter, once it attached take the rope and drape it on the foals rear end. Once its around the rear end gently pull on the rope and the foal should have no problem loading. It works well for any size horse.

Answer 5

Next time, cover the foal's head with a towel so it can't see and put a harness on and lead it into the trailer first.  The mother horse will follow behind and will keep the baby settled when you remove the towel.  Be sure both horses are safe and can't fall before moving the trailer.  

Answer 6

put then in the smallest pin u have and leave the trailer in with them so they get use to it put some oats in the front and see if they both go on together it may take about a week but i should work

Answer 7

Catch the foal and carry it in first.  An adult can lift and carry a week old foal.

Answer 8

You could try loading the mare and leading the foal in with her (if the trailer is wide enough)  

Answer 9

You didn't say if you removed the partition in your trailer. These can be dangerous for foals who can get tangled underneath them and hurt their spine. Try taking out the partition and making a big box stall for the mother and baby together.

Answer 10

I know the foal is young, but have you attempted to halter train her and teach her to lead? If you were able to lead her, you could take her to the trailer and she would probably go in with her mom. It's good for them to learn these things at a young age :)

Answer 11

try putting the foal in first and if the mare still doesnt load then have 2 people on each side of the trailer holding a rope behind her and walk closer to the trailer and the rope will push against her butt she should go right in and she wont get hurt we had to do that with some horses

Answer 12

Putting feed in the trailer is not the best way to load a horse. Feed or treats should never be used to train horses or get horses to do anything. All that does is end up creating a horse with an attitude that doesn't really respect you. And what if one day you HAD to get a horse in a trailer but didn't have any feed available?

Its funny we expect horses to get on a trailer nicely but think about it from the horse's perspective. A horse is a prey animal. Asking it to go into a dark, confined space (where there could be a bear or cougar waiting...) is asking a lot of a horse for the first time. First let me talk about trailer loading an older horse who is reluctant or scared to get in a trailer.

The best way to get a horse to trailer load easily is to get him to see the trailer as a place of comfort, as opposed to something scary. You don't accomplish this by bribing a horse with a carrot. You do this by letting the horse see the trailer as a place of rest. So you take your horse away from the trailer and bring him back again. When he is away from the trailer, you make him work-lunge him, back him up, move his hindquarters. Then walk him up to the trailer, and let him rest there. Let him sniff it and explore it. Then back him away from it and make him work some more. Bring him back to the trailer, and ask him to put a foot in. Before he gets scared, then ask him to back out and repeat the process until he goes all the way in.

What we are doing here is a form of approach and retreat with some work thrown in. That is, we approach the stimulus that makes the horse uncomfortable, ask him for a small bit of progress, then retreat away from it to take the pressure off the horse. To encourage things to move faster we can throw some work in which is what I suggested.

Now for the week old foal, you're not going to be moving the hindquarters and all that stuff I described. But you can still use an approach and retreat technique if you can halter the foal and walk the foal up to the trailer.

Start by just walking the foal up to the trailer and let him look it over. If the foal has a time scale over which he becomes uncomfortable, note that to yourself. If its 5 seconds, then walk him up to the trailer and stand there fore 3 seconds, and then walk away from it.

Gradually increase the amount of time the foal is near the trailer. Walk up to it, let him look it over and sniff it, then walk away from it. When he is comfortable being by it (maybe he is already so you can skip ahead) then ask him to put a single foot in the trailer. Use the same procedure. If he keeps it there for 2 seconds and then starts getting wiggy, only ask him to keep it there for 1 second and then calmly walk him away from the trailer. Build on the time, so once he is comfortable at 2 seconds, then ask for 3 seconds. Take the pressure off right before he is going to start getting uncomfortable. Repeating the process will let you extend the time and what you ask until he walks all the way in.

When he walks all the way in the first time, don't just tie him down. Let him stand calmly and then walk him out. This will teach him not to be afraid. He will learn that he can get in the trailer and leave it without any harm. Once you have done that a few times, then you can secure him in the trailer.

This process takes more patience, but produces better longer-lasting results than coaxing with food or forcing them in.

David

http://gentlenaturalhorseman.blogspot.co...

Answer 13

Try putting the foals feed in the trailer. Park the trailer in the field and put the foals feed in it then when it walks in close the gate behind it to show it there's noting to be scared of

Answer 14

IF the trailer is big enough and the mare does not scramble to get in, load that foal first.  A mare that scrambles and a nervous foal in a small trailer can result in a foal with a broken leg or two.  You will not get anywhere at a week old with leading a foal with a halter and lead rope, they are too busy checking out their surroundings.  First, try the previously mentioned "feed in trailer method."  I don't know what your reason for loading the pair was, but if you need to do it quickly this method will not work.  It does take time.  You must make it a pleasant experience for this baby if you want to be able to load it in the future with little problem.  The best way to do this is, if the trailer is in good repair with no rusted or broken edges, leave the trailer accessible to the baby to explore.  It is important that the foal does not look at the trailer as a big monster looking to swallow him whole.  Sweet talk, treats, and some gentle guidance will help with loading this baby, now and in the future.