Loading .......don't quote me but....

[bonnyben]

I think I have sort of sussed what T did last Monday although I haven't actually seen her to ask her for details since and everyone else seems toally mystified so unless you hear to the contrary (once I have actually seen her to ask) this is how it works.

She held his tail, his actual tail (not the hair) to begin with, and if he moved backwards she applied pressure forwards, if he moved to the left she applied it to the right and so on, It appeared to be just a steady, gentle pressure and once he obliged she moved her hand down to the the hair, thus he still knew she was there but there was no actual pressure.

I should have asked her very clearly what she did but I was so over the moon that all I asked was "what was the problem?" and she said "there is no problem, if there was a problem he would not load. He just runs back because he can and then he plays his game with you........"

She did say though that self belief goes a long way....


The brilliant news is this, on Saturday we decide to try again for Eglinton and he loaded straight off, he walked straight into the trailer and I clipped him on and gave him a pear while OH put the back bar on and closed the ramp. At the other end he walked on when it was time to go home, ran back half way down the ramp and then marched straight back on again as if "Mum, I can do as I please and at the moment it pleases me to please you...."

So I am not sure if the problem is solved or not but I am far less anxious and more positive about it all. He seemed fine when we got home and it was a longish journey, an hour each way on some bendy roads.

The question now arises as to whether I should replace the partition because I think he travels better with it in. I was aware of him moving around on Saturday whereas when the partition is in he leans on it and is more stable. On the other hand I have been told that they like to find their own balance as in standing straddled or sideways across the trailer.

Any views/experience on that guys please?

[solomon]

It is like everything in horses I guess, you have to believe they will do it so they can. If you doubt their ability, they doubt it too.

[fleabitten]

i would think that if there was 2 horses in the trailer with the divider then its designed so they can balance anyway isnt it? i should think they could straddle. but if you are worried you can just put the front part of the divider in and leave the back bit out so he has something to lean his shoulder on.

might as well experiment and see what works best BB

[brigadier]

Hi BB, I use a partition but only so I can have stuff (well tied in ) at the other side. But I have travelled horses both ways and there never seems to be much difference. Its the driving that matters with most horses I think.

[bonnyben]

Thank you guys, yes Flea OH came up with that last night. I don't honestly think I'd have thought of it!! Front in and back out!!! Best of both worlds hopefully.

It also means we could carry OH's bike couldn't we? This is what you have in mind I daresay brig?

Anyway saw T yesterday and yes, what I described is the principle of the tail method is correct but she urges caution. As she said, the dock has bones in it so you have to be careful, you must be gentle and not grab or squeeze. Also she said it really wouldn't work for a determined non loader.

Thanks again everyone for your help and suggestions and support.

[fleabitten]

talking of putting other things in the trailer. we have a 3 door jeep and the boot isnt all that big, so what dad did was get a wall mounting saddle rack and drill a wee slot thing into the divider of the trailer (the pole bit) and then all you had to do was slot the saddle holder into the slot hole in the divider (he made a wee nobbly thing on the rack) and then you put the saddle onto the rack and put a cover on it and then used one of them stretchy things with hooks on the end (you might use them for bikes i think) and placed it over the saddle and hooked it underneath the saddle rack, keeping the saddle in place and the cover protected the saddle from marks etc.

we also tried fastening the pooper scooper to the front (inside) of our old red trailer with some hook things which you press the handle into and it holds it in a grip but the hook things were crap and didnt hold them in.

[ceej]

Feb 16, 2010 9:41:10 GMT bonnyben said:

Anyway saw T yesterday and yes, what I described is the principle of the tail method is correct but she urges caution. As she said, the dock has bones in it so you have to be careful, you must be gentle and not grab or squeeze. Also she said it really wouldn't work for a determined non loader.

and probably not recommended for a horse with a red ribbon tied in his tail!!!

I agree: suck it and see - do it whichever way he seems happiest with

[joandlad]

I would NEVER EVER stand behind a bad loader. It sounds like she was using a variation of pressure and release. Safest place to be is up front using pressure and release via a headcollar/pressure halter.

I've known horses who have become difficult to load because they have been unable to balance themselves properly in a trailer with the partition in. In general, horses like this are much better with the partition removed. Cross tie them and they tend to place themselves diagonally across the trailer and balance themselves perfectly. I'd be worried about travelling a horse that needed to lean on the partition. They are far more likely to lose their balance and slip. Presumably you've got a breast bar that you can use without the partitions?

[bonnyben]

I spoke with T who confirms that if Ben was a bad loader the tail thing wouldn't help but I do take your point.

Yes I have taken the partition out and have a single breach bar back and front. He was cross tied but I honestly don't think he travels as well without the partition as he did with it in. With it in he didn't move at all when travelling but when I took it out I was aware of him moving about and interestingly when he walked in for the return journey he stood at the side rather than in the middle.

There are so many ways of looking at it I know - I haven't had him in the trailer since the Eglinton trip but plan to get into the habit of hitching it up and just walking him in and out. The feed bucket idea of Fi's is also going to be brought into play.

[brigadier]

I do think that is the solution BB, just repetition so he learns there is nothing to fear. I do wonder if travelling with a horse mirror may help, although Basil loads well he is such a stress head that he is always excitable after journeys so I am seriously considering getting him one just for the trailer.

[bonnyben]

Horse mirror? What is that? Not one of those huge mirrors they use in arenas so you can see your position is it? Can't be, surely.

I was supplied with a smallish mirrior when I bought the trailer, about 8in x 6in but I haven't found a use for it. The wing mirrors are fine for vision so I don't know what I am supposed to do with it. Should it be fitted in the trailer?

Ben would be able to see his face in it I expect but wouldn't that upset him?