I had TERRIBLE loading problems with Lyric when I got her. It was really bad.An old time cowboy suggested I feed
Lyric in the trailer for a few weeks. I have a 2 horse straight load.I removed the center divider and all the
stuff in the inside.I borrowed
several sections of pipe corral and made an attached stall. I fed her in the open trailer for 4 or 5
days.The first few hours were very
funny.She was so afraid and
mad.She would stick her head in
the trailer then turn her head and look at me with utter disgust as her fellow
barn mates are all munching away.Next she would swish her tail and glare at me with a “ I could kill you “ look
as she circled around the inside of the temporary pipe corral attached to the
trailer.But this little gal is “the
horse that nobody feeds” and her stomach got the better of her.First, she would take a quick bit and
turn around really fast and eat it out side.By day 3 she was fine and standing still
eating in the trailer for extended periods of time.
Next I put the center divider back in but tied the back to
one side.It looked like a sick
slant load.This made Lyric eat on
only one side of the trailer.When
she was comfortable eating on one side I then moved the divider to the opposite
side and Lyric had to eat out of the other manger. She was mad as a wet bee when I did
that!But again, her stomach got
the best of her and she always would end up eating.
Lastly the center divider was placed in and locked into its
normal position and again Lyric was fed on both sides.This took about 2 to 3 weeks
total, but really helped to remove her fear of the trailer.However, it did not make her load like a
dream as in some how to video.
Next we had to get her to go in the trailer on command, not
when she was hungry.The only thing
that worked was a butt rope.I attach
it to the halter on the bottom ring and run it out the escape door back and across
her butt.I stand on the side with
the butt rope WITH GLOVES ON and my daughter would stand in the escape door to
clip her in after I clipped in the butt bar. Lyric will still try to slide out from
the butt rope if I am not paying attention.I now think it is a game she pays on me!
Currently I can load her alone in about 1 minute or less if
I have the rope set up and ready to go.Carrots and her favorite treat waiting in the manger help too.
I also believe that what you do when you get out of the
trailer has a lot to do with how easily a horse will load.Make the destination fun and your horse
will load easier.Never get mad
when a horse will not load.Be
willing to leave them behind and make staying home not fun. Knowing what your horse likes and doesn’t
like helps <g>.Not every
horse will respond to this training method.Not everyone has the ability to
temporarily feed in a trailer. But
it sure worked for us!
