When loading a horse should i leave the front bar on of off?

Question

Just a bit scared that if i leave it off he will bolt through with me and if i leave it on he'll back up down the ramp again or he'll squish me against the bar lol! Ta

Answer 1

you could try leading the horse around for the box for a while, and then through the box. If possible take the partition out and open the front and back ramp to let the horse get a good look if he is a difficult loader. Then just lead him through both ways, stand in the box, give him a hangfull of feed etc until he is comfortable walking into the box. You should then try this with the partition and lead him through the same side in which the front ramp is on. once comfortable with this, put the bar up and lead him into the box. Stand for a few mins and let him eat another handfull of food etc. Take the bar out and walk him through. This time, shut the front ramp and maybe leave the top door of the ramp open so he can see daylight. Then lead him into the box (with the bar up) and then get someone to put up the back bar, and then put up the ramp. I would then shut the top door above the front ramp, and go out through the jokey door. Hopefully, he will soon realise the box is nothing to be scared of and so he doesnt need to run through it etc.

Answer 2

i leve it on cuz i can just jump over it.

Answer 3

i put the ramp up else my horse would definately try and walk through! Perfect the art of ducking underneath the bar after your horse has walked in - i have never been squished and find it much safer than possibly being completely charged down! if you are worried he'll back out again, try and get someone to help you put the bar up at the back once he's in, so he cannot. Good luck!

Answer 4

If you are worried that your horse will try to run thru the front door, leave the bar down and the door closed so that you can get in front of him, but there will not be any opening for him to try to escape out of.

If your horse is rather unruly and you are afraid of getting hurt, then leave the front bar up and teach him to walk in by himself.

Answer 5

I always leave the front bar attached and duck under it quickly while leading a horse on (unless it's my son's pony who will walk in by himself).  If you do decide to open it, make sure that all escape doors are closed or you could have a big and painful accident if your horse decides to barge past you and through one of those skinny doors.  I think it's better to open all the doors for a sense of openness for the horse, and leave the chest bar attached.

As far as him backing out - he might try that.  The best thing to do, at least until he gets used to the idea of staying put - is to have a second person do up the butt bar as soon as he is on the trailer (and you're still holding the leadrope).  Otherwise, you'll need to scoot towards the back very quickly and try to beat him to the idea of leaving.  NEVER tie the horse up before doing the butt bar!  It's better for him to calmly back out of the trailer, than to pull back, panic, snap the leadrope or halter, then scare himself out of ever wanting to load in that deathtrap again.

Answer 6

The front bar is there to stop the horse from going out the front ramp, but also prevents the horse from falling forward and hitting himself in the event of an accident.

Also prevents the horse from catching his front feet in the haynet.

Someone should do up the back strap as soon as you are loaded and tied.

NEVER TRY TO LOAD A HORSE ALONE!  It is too dangerous.

Answer 7

Walk round and round up ramp through and out of front about 20 times then stand in with him for a while then put bar on.