Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

That is the style of training that we did together.  I took her up to a natural horsemanship trainer, and went up weekly to go through the lessons with them and her.  She knows all of the games, but as I said, even that trainer wasn't able to get her onto my trailer to come back home after a trail ride, using those techniques.  They put her on their trailer, but I wasn't watching, so I don't know how they closed her into the divider (slant load w/out rear tack), as it has been at least a year since I have been able to close her into the front stall of my trailer.  Like I said, I may be too timid for her, or too stubborn to sell my two-horse slant w/ rear tack for an open stock trailer (I'll admit to being guilty to falling into the "wussification" of endurance).  I don't know what could be wrong with my trailer though, as she is even difficult if it is completely open (with the rear tack collapsed).  I open up the escape door to let in more light and let it be more inviting.  I have jumped around in my trailer, and it feels solid, not a lot of rattling or whatnot.  It's a brand new trail-et, so not old and falling apart or anything.

On Sat, Oct 18, 2008 at 7:21 PM, Gerald Williams <ctghw@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Research Pat Parelli.

 

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From: ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Michelle Aquilino
Sent: Saturday, October 18, 2008 4:14 PM
To: ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [RC] Hard Headed Horses

 

I did a search on ridecamp to try to find anyone who has experience with hard headed horses, but then decided to just send an email to the whole group, and see what sort of responses I get.  I have a mare who I have gradually fallen completely in love with, despite multiple attempts at selling her.  She is great to ride (not perfect, as she is young and can SOMEtimes be spooky, but she is pretty solid and trustworthy, and I always feel safe riding her alone).  But she is strong, smart, and hard headed, and I am relatively timid.  I have built up some confidence through some training with the two of us, but when it comes to trailer loading even the trainer couldn't get her to load when she didn't want to.  I know that it's not a fear of the trailer, as she'll walk right on if she wants to, no questions asked.  But if she doesn't want to, there's no getting her in, and she only gets worse with more pressure and any of those techniques that most people recommend (butt rope, for example).  I can't figure out anything that works for her, and feel like with the way she is, even if we get to the point where she'll load, I know she'll test that requirement at several points along the road together, as I know she knows full well that she'll win a tug-of-war contest hands down.  It's not a fear thing, so it doesn't seem like the "desensitizing" needs to be done.  It's more of an "I don't want to, and even if I get on, I'm not going to stay on if you get near that door".  She's a great hauler though, is really quiet on the road, and unloads beautifully, which makes it all even more confusing to me.  I don't know, but I am hoping to get some ideas, so that maybe I can keep her =)  Thanks!  -Michelle

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"Don't breed or buy while shelter animals die"

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"Don't breed or buy while shelter animals die"