RE: [RC] Re: RC: Ramp vs Step

["Peggy Bergman-Smith" <peglets@lightspeed.net>]

I have a 3-horse slant, step-up and have taught my horses to back out by
repeating "back" as I back them out and "step" when they are reaching the
step down point.  Now, they back out confidently and only search for the
step when I say "step".  Before I started this, they would be tapping and
searching the whole time they backed up.  This only took a couple of times
and I have had no trouble at all since I started this.
I'm no expert, but this has worked well for me.

Peggy

> -----Original Message-----
> From: tallcarabs@juno.com [mailto:tallcarabs@juno.com]
> Sent: Saturday, February 23, 2002 11:04 AM
> To: ridecamp@endurance.net
> Subject: [RC] Re: RC: Ramp vs Step
>
>
>   I'm getting a little confused as to how you can get kicked in the head
> at putting up a ramp.  I have had two trailers - a 2H BP straight and a
> 3H sland goose.  On both, the ramp is outside the doors - you have to
> close the back doors, then put up the ramp.  I can't see how a horse
> could kick you in the head with that door in between you!
>   Anyway, my preference is definately ramp.  I've never had slipping
> problems and have had LOTS of trouble with horses in a step-up.  I've had
> to haul many horses with minimal trailer training and have seen too many
> that were terrified of stepping up (had one that would step up, then
> immediately go to her knees and crawl in) and stepping down.  The back
> step seems to scare them the most and I've gotten where I can't bear to
> see the terrified trembling of a horse tippy toeing backwards, waiting
> for that drop-off.
>
> Rae
> Tall C Arabians - SE TX
>
>
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