Re: Trailer Loading

["spencer" <spencer@inu.net>]

A year+ ago I bought an 8yo Arab who was like that.  The day we brought her
home we couldn't get her in a stock trailor using the ropes, etc.  I went
to the vet and got a tranquilizer shot.  30 minutes later we got her to
load.  After I brought her home, she was only given grain in horse trailor.
It took 9 days for her to get 'the picture'.  Then she wasn't loaded for a
while as she had nice palomino filly.  Soooo we decided to go to dressage
lesson(this is green broke 9yo mare at this time).  She loaded ok as I
always urge them in with grain.  When it was time to leave, she balked and
fell and I had to cut the lead rope.  Back to first square.  We used a long
line to keep her headed into the trailor and I pushed her butt.  There was
the treat of grain and then she loaded.  As I am trying to start riding
endurance again, I knew she would have to be better at loading.  SOOOOOO 
no load- no grain in am feeding.  She loads ok again.  Hopefully, she will
do ok after the ride next week.  I keep a 25 foot long braided nylon rope
on hand to use as comealong as I often am loading a balky horse alone.  I
have found  this to work for many years.  Some horses are too stubborn to
reaact to being whipped.  Then you need to figure out what you can bribe
the horse with.  Good luck.  
Mary Ann
TX

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From: Monika Smith <smithpr@cadvision.com>
To: ridecamp@endurance.net
Subject: Trailer Loading
Date: Friday, March 27, 1998 10:39 PM

Hi Guys!

Need help! I have an 8 yr old mare that really, really hates to load. She
is smart, canny, uses brute force if she has to; becomes an immovable
object also. Has successfully learned how not to deal with a flag, dressage
whip, etc. As one trainer once put it...boy can she dance!

I've been getting trainers (and good ones) to help. They are all amazed at
her ability to say NO. Just when I think the problem is cured, backslide,
big time. From taking 10 mintues to taking over 2 hours or not at all. It's
like everytime she sees the trailer now, it's like she's never seen one
before and its really to be avoided.  She doesn't act really afraid. When
we finally gets her feet on the ramp, she stands there and licks her
lips...willing to stay there all night without budging. Asking her to go
forward, means that she will go back.

She does remind me of the reluctance that some race horses have loading in
the gate...(Monty Roberts story).

Once upon a time she loaded, even willingly. then it got worse and worse
and worse. I honestly can't figure out what went wrong or what I did to
create this problem. I thought I've always been relatively consistent in
this! Always used a two horse (albeit different ones).

I've also loaded a small number of horse in the past (ie not a complete
green horn) and even taught yearlings to walk into a trailer willingly and
happily. Currently have 2 horses that load like a dream...then there's
her!!!!grrrrr.

Any thoughts? Have you ever dealt with such an old boot?  Riding her to and
from races is not an option <g>.

Does this mean a different trailer? she doesn't like stock trailers either.

Thanks! email privately is fine.  Sympathy requested!

Cheers!

Monika (Koko, the nameless wonder) and Ripp (who loads like a dream!)