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RE: [RC] [RC] Trailer loading - Terry Banister

I agree with Kat, Theresa. I have that Brenderup, and I throw the lead rope over my horse's neck, and then I stand at the side of the ramp. He walks in, and I am in position to fasten the butt bar immediately. Occasionally, if he is more interested in what is going on around him and reluctant to load, I back him up or turn him in tight circles, then ask him to go forward to load. On occasion, if he is still reluctant, I just get the lunge whip and stand at the side of the ramp, and tap, tap, tap on his hip.
Practice this when you have plenty of time, not when you are already scheduled to be somewhere. They frequently balk because of the person's tension and chaos of 10 people coming over to help.

On introducing new horses to this trailer, I use the same procedure, but do allow them to sniff the ramp a minute and make their decision themself before asking them to go forward. It sometimes helps new horses to have another horse already loaded. Also, someone could be standing at the open man door, and holding a carrot or treats, or even holding the lead rope, which has been fed over the chest bar and out the man door, but really, this should not be necessary. Once they decide to enter, I sometimes let them back out once or twice and reload, depending on time available.

When unloading the horse, remember to unhook the horse's head first BEFORE undoing the butt bar!! Then just stand at the side of the ramp, undo the butt bar, and tug the horse's tail to signal they should back out. Put your hand on their side as they are backing out, so they don't step off the side of the ramp. Then catch the lead rope as it drags by. They frequently back out on tiptoe, and this is totally normal/fine.

If a horse is new/anxious about unloading, get the butt bar down in one SWIFT motion, and firmly guide them straight, so they don't accidently step off the side of the ramp.

Terry
"May the Horse be with you"

From: "k s swigart" <katswig@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [RC]   Trailer loading
Date: Wed, 6 Dec 2006 07:33:47 -0800

Theresa Williams said:

> Using a Brenderup 2H straight load with a ramp.
> I lead her in, then when I try to go behind to fasten,
> she backs out calmly...over and over again.

If you ask me, part of your problem is that you are leading her in.  I
don't lead horses into trailers, I send them in.  If you do that, when
she starts to back out, you will be behind her instead of in front of
her, and it will be easier to correct it.

Oft times, when I have had a problem with a horse that does this, I will
teach them to be sent into a trailer (and stay in) using a set of stocks
instead of the trailer until the horse learns the correction that means
"stop backing up, I am behind you."

What I avoid like the plague (although I cannot say I NEVER do it) is
getting into trailers with horses.  In my opinion, a horse is not fully
trailer trained until you can throw the lead rope over the horse's
withers, point it at the trailer, and say "load up" and it leaps onto
the trailer.  Since you have a two-horse straight load, this should be
easy (it is a little trickier but not impossible with a slant loader,
which is why _I_ don't and wouldn't choose to own one).

kat
Orange County, Calif.
:)



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Replies
[RC] Trailer loading, k s swigart