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jools
Bronze Member
 England
192 Posts |
 Posted - 28 Aug 2008 : 8:20:08 PM
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please does anyone know of anyone who specialises in loading horses.
my poor mare had a fall in the trailer a few months ago, and now understandably wont load.
Well, i say understandably, she did reload fine on several occasions and has been out for a ride in it and was fine, but now she wont load just stands there, like they do, you know, with that look, nodding off, resting a hoof, even yawning at times 
Once she will go in, eat her dinner, then back out, but will she go in again???? NO!!!!!!!
she has loaded and travelled well for the three years i have owned her
I am now at a loss, im frustrated as she isnt scared, im sure she is taking the p....
she has just been backed and i have rides and vet visits for jabs and fun to be having with her 
i dont know what else to do and would really really appreciate any advice or any person who can come out and get her loading again please please please
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ju xx |
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rosie
Platinum Member
England
3662 Posts |
Posted - 28 Aug 2008 : 8:24:01 PM
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If you think she's not stressed out about going in, but just being stubborn, have you tried 2 helpers with a lunge-line around her bum?
Sometimes, that tiniest bit of pressure is enough to get her moving?
Good luck.
Lisa |
     
Last picture courtesy of Sweet Photography |
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jools
Bronze Member
England
192 Posts |
Posted - 28 Aug 2008 : 8:35:25 PM
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Lisa, yes tried that, it worked the first time, now she just swishes her tail and backs up into the rein then jumps sideways
ive tried her in her bridle
tried with the food, she goes in eats it then comes out backwards if the back is open or foerwards if the front is open, if we shut her in she is fine, then we let her out, but then she wont reload, you are back to square one again 
Tried loading her with another horse, that doesnt work, tried riding her first so shes tired, that doesnt work.......
im worried that if i load her at home and then go out to a show or a ride in the woods that she wont load to come home, then im stuck |
ju xx |
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Nut
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
2838 Posts |
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Pauline
Platinum Member
England
3185 Posts |
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jools
Bronze Member
England
192 Posts |
Posted - 28 Aug 2008 : 8:58:00 PM
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hi pauline, im in wadhurst, east sussex, i dont know of any Monty Roberts people i shall have to look them up on the internet and see if there are any local to me!!
thats if i dont call pritt stick first hehehehehehe ONLY JOKING!!!!!! |
ju xx |
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Merlin
Bronze Member
United Kingdom
59 Posts |
Posted - 28 Aug 2008 : 9:01:23 PM
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Hi we had the same problem only caused this time by the horse getting clostrophobic (excuse the spelling) all of a sudden in a trailer he had been travelling in for over 6 years. We had a monty roberts guy out and it did help, but the main thing that came out from it was we started to use a long whip, lung type or driving whip with a simple plastic carrier bag tied onto the end of it. You dont touch the horse at all but get someone behind him to rattle it, slap it in the ground or waive it in the air, which we found the best. It may take a while at first to work, but we very soon got the the stage where you only had to pick up the whip and walk behind him and he then went in very calmly on his own. I still carry the thing with me even now, but have not used is on my horse for over twelve months now, he seems to have just accepted things again which is great. I have also used this method on several other peoples horses who have been having trouble too, trying to get home from shows, and not failed to get them home yet. I am not saying it is fool proof, but I would certainly give it a try you have nothing to loose, as most carrier bags are free of charge. You can always PM me if you want to discuss mutual problems. I know that there is nothing more frustrating than not loading.
Good Luck
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jools
Bronze Member
England
192 Posts |
Posted - 28 Aug 2008 : 9:14:36 PM
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That sounds like a super idea Merlin,i will try that tomorrow, she hates carrier bags especially Tescos lol!!!!
It might be that she is chlostrophobic as she will load with it all opened up and no partition no problem whatsoever, but you shut the front, or try with the partition and she will not attempt to go in no matter what, i get very frustrated and could cry......... |
ju xx |
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Merlin
Bronze Member
United Kingdom
59 Posts |
Posted - 28 Aug 2008 : 9:18:45 PM
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| I have also found that mine now travels better with lots of room. He is in a lorry now, but we still had the same problems to start with, It should carry three, but I give him loads of room and just carry two. Space may also be her problem. Does she travel well once she is in the trailer ? |
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Pauline
Platinum Member
England
3185 Posts |
Posted - 28 Aug 2008 : 9:23:36 PM
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Jools I have PM'd you with a list of RA's
I personally would never try to force or frighten a horse into a trailer or lorry Would never use a plastic bag.
If I was closer I would come and help you But Fuel costs money.
Pauline |
Pauline Higgs
Equine & Human Holistic Therapist
www.thegentlestouch.co.cc
www.endurancegbmidsouth.co.uk
Berkshire / Hampshire Border |
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Deboniks
Platinum Member
England
3776 Posts |
Posted - 28 Aug 2008 : 9:36:38 PM
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Hi Jools If you are willing to pay my costs I will come over to help youI'm in West Sussex and I have had a lot of success with trailer loading.Using natural horsemanship methods I have taught horses to load themselves using no pressure or forceSetting them up to succeed and waiting is the key. It is a huge ask as horses naturally are sceptic and clostrophobic,the aim is to get them to load with confidence. Any pushing will only make them more sceptical of your intentions in the future and your relationship must come first.I'll Pm you with my tel no. call me if you're interested |
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Miska
Gold Member
United Kingdom
627 Posts |
Posted - 28 Aug 2008 : 9:49:25 PM
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Something that works with my mare is lifting one foot at a time and gradually getting further and further in. It is a method that takes alot of patience but it works really well with Miska.
Also as Merlin said, do you have partitions in your trailer? If so take them out, at least until you have your mare loading fine, that way the trailer looks more inviting + if you have a front ramp have that open so the horse can see straight through.
Best of luck - keep us posted |
RIP Ettie 2003 - 2010 |
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katherineepea
Gold Member
England
883 Posts |
Posted - 28 Aug 2008 : 10:05:41 PM
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she sounds like mine- he used to have a massive problem with loading and was scared, but then got over it, loaded fine, but now can be stubborn like you described but not scared at all. I use a monty roberts halter with a lunge line on the end and walk into the trailer, not asking him to come with me at all. he usually follows up to the ramp then stands there, then I stay where I am wiggling the end of the line till he gets on. The first time I did this it took an hour. now it takes about 5 mins
good luck! |
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jools
Bronze Member
England
192 Posts |
Posted - 28 Aug 2008 : 10:41:49 PM
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thankyou everybody, i have been in touch with a monty roberts lady this evening and she is coming out to see her this sunday, i will keep you posted how things go,Deboniks, i will pay whatever it takes to help my mare regain her confidence, shes a sweet girl and i wont push her or be hard with her which is why she has the upper hand with me i think sometimes, but thankyou for you offer of help, i will see how things go this sunday and will let you know, thankyou so much everybody i feel better about it already just knowing you all support me in this very frustrating problem  |
ju xx |
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jools
Bronze Member
England
192 Posts |
Posted - 28 Aug 2008 : 10:52:21 PM
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katherineepea, he sounds just like Gels, she will stand on the ramp but go no further too! if i turn away from her and stop looking at her, she seems to think, oh, mums not playing now, i might as well go in then! shes just like a naughty child, i really think she is playing me to see how far she can push her luck,,,,, but from talking to you all on her, i am starting to think the space thing might be an issue for her, perhaps i should buy a full length breast bar and try her without the partition  |
ju xx |
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katherineepea
Gold Member
England
883 Posts |
Posted - 28 Aug 2008 : 11:40:11 PM
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| he loaded the best in my friends single horse trailer, with the side door open. he still wont go near a lorry though.the dually halters are great though. someone suggested trying a chifney but we got nowhere at all with that. |
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Berryscroft
Silver Member
England
260 Posts |
Posted - 28 Aug 2008 : 11:45:14 PM
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| For what it's worth I had a loading problem with a youngster, had a Monty Roberts R.A. come out to help (Zoe Chipman) and she was so helpful, kind and patient with Bella and had her in a trailer within 20 minutes. Zoe then brought her out and loaded her up again. Brill ! ! The key is patience and having all the time in the world (or at least letting your horse think you have!). Good luck on Sunday, let us know how you get on. |
     
Okehampton, Devon |
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Angelic
Bronze Member
England
170 Posts |
Posted - 29 Aug 2008 : 07:39:57 AM
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| Oh Im so sorry to hear that Gels isn't loading well at the moment. That fall in the trailer must have really knocked her confidence but she trusts you so much that she will soon re-gain her confidence in loading with a bit of help. You have done a fabulous job so far with her and hope you can get out there having fun riding very, very soon :) x x x |
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Suelin
Platinum Member
England
2514 Posts |
Posted - 29 Aug 2008 : 08:29:55 AM
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| E-mail Mirage Arabians and ask Sally and Ryan. I watched them load a youngster in the summer using a method I'd not seen before and it took 3 seconds. Brilliant. |
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precious
Platinum Member
England
2253 Posts |
Posted - 29 Aug 2008 : 08:58:36 AM
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Good luck sunday, you will get there!!
Let us know |
     
Gemma Thompson
Birmingham West Midlands
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Karon
Gold Member
England
1411 Posts |
Posted - 29 Aug 2008 : 09:06:03 AM
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Just to be nosy, which RA are you getting out to help?
I'd also recommend either an RA approach or a Natural Horsemanship approach - I got both my difficult loaders loading calmly and easily this way. No need for a chifney, plastic bag, lunge reins etc either! |
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baxter
Gold Member
England
1123 Posts |
Posted - 29 Aug 2008 : 09:23:38 AM
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I have FIRST hand experience of non-loaders!!
Please please go down the dually RA route, you won't regret it and will learn a whole lot more along the way, including reading the horses body language, simple things as licking and chewing and leaning blah blah, all are the horse talking to us... Presume that's why it's called horse whispering, if only they could speak at times! But become in tune in a natural way and you'll know your horse inside out and how too ask them to do something in no time.
Best of luck and keep us posted, will keep tuned into this thread with interest. |
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moatside
Platinum Member
England
3224 Posts |
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Claire
Silver Member
England
422 Posts |
Posted - 29 Aug 2008 : 4:47:39 PM
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Hi,
I had a very similar problem with my horse- he would load fine to go to a show and then stand welded to the ground for up to three hours before deciding he would get in to go home. Unfortunately this meant that at every event we went to we got a crowd of well meaning people suggesting whips/lunge lines/a strong husband to help (not sure if they were planning on lifting him in!!)- this never helped as unfortunately Mirshid loves an audience to play up to!. He has never had a bad experience and just gets a very stubborn look in his eyes!
I had a very nice lady come out to me for an afternoon who was in a natural horsemanship article in horse and hound (I believe she is still based in suffolk).
I now use a parelli halter and long line and stand in the trailer myself with panel above front ramp open and just using pressure and release he will walk in calmly within five to ten minutes and it hasn't failed yet (fingers crossed). I normally start by making him step forwards, backwards and yielding side to side to side to make sure he's concentrating.
Hope you have luck with finding a natural horsemanship practitioner- would thoroughly reccommend it- I have to say I didn't find parelli amazingly helpful (mainly because they didn't load him/help me load him having promised to do so when I signed up for the first course and unfortunately I didn't have unlimited funds to do another) |
      
Suffolk |
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phoenixbruka
Gold Member
England
1190 Posts |
Posted - 29 Aug 2008 : 5:20:47 PM
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I'd 100% recommend Richard Maxwell
I had Max out to my anglo a couple of years ago and she was loading herself within 30 minutes ( and no I'm not kidding! ) and there are no lunge lines, whips etc etc used, just good horsemanship.
see www.richard-maxwell.com and click on consultations, email nikki in the office and she'll get you sorted no problem
Max GUARANTEES to solve the loading problem, you can't say fairer then that 
It not only solved my loading problems but it completely changed my mares general attitude to life and she was SO much better to deal with in altogether! It was amazing |
   
www.liveryatcordwell.co.uk |
Edited by - phoenixbruka on 29 Aug 2008 5:22:04 PM |
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jools
Bronze Member
England
192 Posts |
Posted - 29 Aug 2008 : 8:49:12 PM
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hi everyone, you are all giving me so much hope, the lady who is coming out to Angelica on sunday is called Jo, and she works with the Monty Roberts method, she comes out with her husband, i think his name is Theo, jo said she works with the horse using pressure and release only she uses no whips or gimmiks which im really pleased about, whilst she is working with Gels, her husband will be with me explaining everything that jo is doing and why she is doing it. I cant wait now, i will find it all really interesting and i know Gels will too as she loves new things and learning i think alot of her stubboness is boredom!
i will tell you all how we got on as soon as im home on sunday |
ju xx |
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