MORE ADVENTURES IN TRAILER LOADING
To paraphrase a well-known Australian horseman, “If you build
a strong set of foundational skills with your horse, 90% of your problems go
away.” This means that is you get your
groundwork really tight and your fundamental riding skills solid most of you
behavior issues go away because you have dealt with the problems through the
course of your training without even really focusing on the problem.
Time and time again we see this to be proven as “gospel
truth” and are so glad we took that particular message to heart.
We also know that “the basics” are boring. It is the truth.
Everyone would much rather be cruising down the trail, playing with cattle or
riding is a show that working on your round pen and ground work skills. Playing
over obstacles is more fun that working on your steering wheel, gas pedal and
brakes. Still, if you don’t have those “basics” rock solid then the enjoyment
of the cool stuff is a far off dream…or a nightmare depending on your horse!
You can’t build a house without a good foundation. Taking the time to make sure
the basics are really solid is an investment that pays off over and over again!
Today we met a sweet 7 year old Quarter Horse mare with
limited “life” experience and a fear of getting into the trailer. This is a
common issue. Humans lose their brains trying to get a horse to load up in a
trailer. It is almost comical if it wasn’t s dangerous for both eth human and
horse! The goals is to have the horse quietly lead into the trailer on a lose
lead line…or better yet step in and load themselves.
We got acquainted in the round pen first. This is a great
step to take because it tells LOTS about the horse and the level of sensitivity
and training they have had. It demonstrates their attitude “today” and lays the
foundation for a solid partnership. This mare had LOTS of energy. She needed to
burn it off and open her brain up to communication and following our lead. So
we worked on these exercises: respectful lunging, 5 in 1 circles, backing,
lateral flexion and sending through. We wanted to make sure that these
exercises were “on the brain” before going over to the trailer.
At the trailer we allow the horse to take time and
investigate. This allows them to become familiar with the trailer on their
terms. Then we ask them to load up. Why? Because with a slim minority of horses
that is all that you need. Most, however, decline the offer and the humans as
to get busy and start hustling hooves! We work all around the trailer and only
rest near it. This gets repeated with rest only happening when more and more of
the horse is actually in the trailer. Now, you often have to work through some “ugly”
to get to the “good” and this mare was no exception. She crowded our space, she
pulled back, reared up, jigged about, and had a hissy fit. We just make a
correction and then get back to moving those hooves! When the horse quietly
leads into the trailer on a loose lead line…or better yet steps in and load itself
several times…we call the lesson a success and quit. The human will have to
follow up with the horse several times over the next week or so to ensure that
no “backsliding” happens.
We called the session a win when the mare lead quietly up to
the trailer and then with a simple point loaded up several (like six) times
calmly and backed out calmly.
It was a good day!
If you need help with teaching your horse to load up in a
trailer just give us a call or drop us an email at luckstarhorsemanship@gmail.com!
Highlight pictures at:
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=2023571557866899&id=1857426887814701
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