Loading issues

[bozybabe]

My 12yr old Dartmoor has been an absolute dream to load/unload for ages, always been used to settle skittier friends horses etc when required. HOWEVER, since July of this year, he has taken to pulling both myself and very strong husband sideways when he gets to within 5ft of his trailer. I have changed trailers three times since owning him, now have a single, but he has had no problems going in that earlier in the year. He goes to a show at least 2-3 times a month but have absolutely no idea what is wrong. After 5-6 attempts of getting him close, with or without food he loads like a lamb, but it takes over 30-40 mins some days to get him close. I have tried putting the trailer in a small area/paddock but he still evades. He has never had a bad experience in the trailer and when he is at shows behaves impeccably and loads like a lamb to come home again. Need advice as I hate being late for classes lol

[carrie17491]

Maybe he's fed up with showing?

[bethanyy]

I agree with Carrie, he could associate being loaded with the stress of shows. maybe take him out somewhere fun for a change like a fun ride or to the beach.

[lilliella1]

I would say it is your trailer. Many ponies hate single trailers (i have known really good loaders to refuse to load), generally they are not as stable as a 2 horse and most horses find it hard to ballance as they cannot spread their weight. The issue you have here is his memory and what he associates with going into the trailer (maybe a bad journey when he travels). Many years ago I had a Bateson Ascot and my old boy would load himself by following me in. My trailer was off the road one day and I used a friends Ifor Williams. We could hear him crashing about in the back when traveling. He never loaded in to any trailer again after that (even the Bateson). Some horses travel well in some forms of transport and don't in others (my 122cm FR sweats up in my friends 3 horse lorry but travels a dream in my Whittaker). I think you need to assess your trailer and start again with him. Hope this helps.

[lucynlizzysmum]

These ponies are sent to try us!! I went through this with one of mine who had always been fine to load and then for no reason stopped - no change of trailer or anything. We persevered with her, but eventually came to the conclusion that she associated it with showing and when she was fed up, she wouldn't go in!!

We ended up taking her other places in the trailer so she associated it with other things, but by the end of the season she was always a bit stuffy about loading!! She has gone out on loan now and it will be interesting to see if the same happens!

[Milliesmum]

A friend had a pony that wouldn't load with plaits in!! We had to go mega early and plait up once we got there.

[lulah]

as he is fine to load on the way home it sounds very much like hes fed up of showing. i would give him some time off showing and take him to the beach, pleasure rides and new hacking routes.

good luck

[victoria264]

I also agree with everyone else on this.. And that he mught be fed up with showing id deffo take him to the beach or somewere fun for a change

[Deleted]

my mare use to be a pain to box until someone once lent us a chifney bit on a show ground as she totally refused to go in the box to travel home the chifney worked a treat i never leave home without it now.

[bozybabe]

thanks for your comments, he doesn't just go to shows, he has been taken to friends yards to school in and everytime he goes out, nothing is ever scary etc. Unfortunately I live over 2hrs drive from the nearest beach so pain. I have tried today using a Dooley headcollar, got him close but even then he ran off again ! Tomorrow is my last show in the single trailer as its being sold, reverting back to a double trailer (when purchased) as I have 2 ponies to take !!

[equibest]

I would suggest parking the trailer in his feild, leave it open and put his food in there and a haynet (like a field shelter) let him work out for himslef that it is a good place. This will take some time so stick with it. Show him the food get him to wotch you put it in there then stand well back and let him do what he wants ( you can leave him with it if the food has gone the next day then hes been in.

[Guestless]

Nov 19, 2012 12:09:19 GMT equibest said:

I would suggest parking the trailer in his feild, leave it open and put his food in there and a haynet (like a field shelter) let him work out for himslef that it is a good place. This will take some time so stick with it. Show him the food get him to wotch you put it in there then stand well back and let him do what he wants ( you can leave him with it if the food has gone the next day then hes been in.

Please check with the trailer's manufacturer before going down this route. Most trailers are NOT safe for loading without a vehicle attached.

[09rebel99]

My mini shetland loaded great when I first got him. Now he plants his feet in!! He has been out about 8-9 times this year. He use to be used as a companion for travelling and I take him on his own so I put it down to this as he was a nightmare when I first travelled him, rearing and bashing the sides. Now he travelled brilliantly on Sunday but still planted his feet, on the way out and on the way home. It only takes us about 2 minutes to get him in though and he gets lots of fuss and a carrot. Hoping that with time he'll get better as he hadnt been out since july when we went to aintree and he went in no problem on the way home then.

[equibest]

Thanks guestless a very good point I forgot I did mean to make sure it's stable first. If you have legs on the back then it should be ok, however you are on grass so make sure that the legs are standing on somthing solid like wood to spread the wieght so it doesn't sink in, the same with the jocky wheel and make sure the break is firmly on. If this can't be done I would suggest parking it attached to the vehicle when you have a spare couple of hours.

[bozybabe]

I have just brought an Ifor Williams so next week I am going to do loading practice with the trailer attached to the vehicle and try loading my new pony first, who you can load in her sleep, and then hopefully the "stubborn" pony will follow. I can only think its the single trailer he got worried about....will let you know how he gets on but am hoping that now he has a "girlfriend" then he will just watch and follow.

[equineunity]

Hi, how often do you practice loading when not going to shows. I am a Natural Horsemanship trainer and work with lots of loading problems. The Dually halter always works wonders when fitted and used correctly and with a longline attached. Start by going right back to basics, lots of leading and backing up and coming forward off the pressure exercises followed by walking over difficult obstacles, tarpualins, rubber mats in strange places, wooden boards etc and then work on the trailer. Practice when you arent going to a show, lots of walking in and out regularly untill he loads happily everytime. If you need any more help feel free to pm me

[LJM]

I swear by the monty Roberts loading headcollar, my young mare used to be really bad and then now iv got that if she just runs on, on te odd occasion she does object I only have to put it on her and apply slight pressure and she goes on. It works on them being submissive and going on. Really really good. Worth every penny!

[TheBooMan]

I agree with the 'make it fun' comments and the Monty Roberts Dually (worth its weight in gold).
My boy was a problem loader, due to a bad accident before i got him, now with a lot practice, a few tips from good old Monty & Kelly and making him relate the box to places we go out and have fun (And sometimes a little help from the dually) he actually pulls me to a box with a ramp down!!!
I never thought i'd see the day when that happens.


Patience is the key, take a season out from showing or even try something different at shows (from ridden to jumping or handy pony?) and just enjoy your time together instead of it becoming a stress to get to shows. Your positive energy will transfer to him in no time

[daisychain1]

Our horse did the same, went from always easy to load to an absolute mad woman. It turned out that she had a deep seated injury to her fetlock joint which was not obvious in her day to day work. It only showed up when she had traveled a long distance or had stood on the trailer a long time.

[bethayes]

Mine was the same so for a week everday i walked her in and out at least thirty times a day (sounds alot but doesnt take long once they are listening) and fed her a few nuts once she was in until she just walked in calmly without stopping and back out in the week after i did it a bit less and every other day. Now i just do it a couple of weeks before a show