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Re: [RC] Twitch for loading (long) - Kristene SmutsHi Amanda I agree with all the suggestions of trying to make it pleasant in the box, rather than twitching. However, I know how frustrating it can be to be alone and not have longer arms! I had to train an "out the mountains" stallion which hadn't even seen the inside of a building, to load into a 2 horse straight load without another person helping, so it can be done. After a long period of feeding inside the box, treating etc. Ibn would still get stuck with only his front feet on the ramp if I didn't offer some treat. I worked on the premise that one day I wouldn't have any treats on me so we both had better learn to live without them. By chance I had just read in one of Mark Rashid's books the cure for exactly that problem. He gave 2 solutions : 1. Tie a plastic bag on the end of a lunge whip and rustle the bag so that the feet would become unstuck. or (if that didn't work, which in our case didn't) 2. Touch the horse under the tail with the whip so that he clamps his tail and moves forward. But be warned about this last one - the reaction can be sudden and extreme! I know this doesn't exactly apply to your problem, but you can modify this by loading your boy, then if he thinks of moving out, rustle the bag or touch him on the tail to move him back in. Although I stopped the treats, I still made sure there would be a hay bag stuffed to the brim so that Ibn had something to do inside the box (nice juicy oat hay and alfalfa was much appreciated). Always make it as pleasant as possible without having to rely on treats all the time. The last thing I did and still do, is to make sure that when I open the ramp, I wait an indefinite period before opening the butt bar. That teaches patience and doesn't create a horse that wants to charge out every time you stop or open the ramp. Ibn now loads with me standing outside and will not move before I close the bar. Hope this helps a bit Kristene PS A wise person once said "Start the way you wish to finish" =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
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