[RC] "different" training technique - trailer unloading - sherman
Having a horse that wouldn’t back from the trailer
when asked, I can say that just telling them “back, back, back, step”
will not work in every situation. It doesn’t matter how low the step is (or
if there is a step off) if they won’t take the steps backwards to reach
that point. I worked for months to get one of my horses to back safely. I would
“drive” her backwards with long lines on each side and she’d
slowly go backwards, sometimes spinning halfway thru and jumping out. In she’d
go again, then I’d try to back her out again. After a success, we’d
stop the lesson ‘til next time and the entire process would start again.
She finally “got it” after about 6 months of this and is now
consistently backing out without any rope aids. This is a horse that responds
quickly to voice commands when not in the trailer, backs when I walk up to her
and tell her, stops when told whoa without even touching the reins. She just
had a “hang up” about backing out of the trailer.
Kathy
April wrote:
Ok, I can't stand it. Out of lurk again.
As silly as I sound, I back my horses out of the trailer
by saying, "back, back, back, back,..STEP"
They back one step for each time I say and when I say STEP they
know it is the edge and step out and down. They back smooth, as fast or slow
as I say, and are very relaxed with no worries about where the edge is. They
know I will tell them and they trust me.
I trained this by parking the trailer wheels in a ditch so
they can practically walk in and back out with only a few inches drop. We go
forwards front feet in the trailer, then back out, all the way in, back out,
over and over again. "back, back, back, back, STEP" .
Then reposition the trailer or use those cement blocks, the kinda flat
ones, to raise the trailer a couple inches, then do it again. Raise the
trailer, do it again. Over and over again until the trailer is full
height. I do this over several days, working each height level until the
horse backs and steps down smoothly at that height. Some times it talkes 7 or
8 times at a level, sometimes 2 or 3. It only takes 10 minutes or so at a
time though. I wind up with a horse that waits until I say "back,"
backs at the speed I want, and trusts me and is perfectly comfortable with
getting in and out of the trailer, no stress about it, and doesn't bump
and slip and drop getting down. They KNOW when it is the edge and
step down accordingly. My boys load like a beagle going hunting. The
only problem I have is if somebody is grazing in the yard while I am
practicing the trailer with another horse, they want to come get in and out
too.
