How to Teach Your Horse to Walk Into the Trailer on its own

[gcoxalaska]

Teach that horse to Stop and then load one step at a time and back him out with each step. So one step in, wait, back out. Go do something, come back, one step in, wait, back out. o do something else. Come back, TWO steps in, wait, back out. Build on that so he is looking and waiting for YOU to tell him to back out. THREE steps in, wait, now wait a little longer, back out, re-load, wait back out, go away, come back reload FOUR steps, wait back, reload, wait, wait longer, back out,blah,blah...

[Enkira1]

I have a single horse trailer. If my horse walks in it on her own, she wants to turn around (and she once did)... Do you have a solution for this problem?

[barrelracing771]

My trailer has no BUTT bar.

[rockandroll345]

do any trailers have no butt bar if so what do i do then?

[Dawnpaw]

@rockandroll345 If theres no butt bar you should put the ramp up and/or close the doors to the back before clipping the horse into the trailer. The eason is because if the horse's head is tied while the back is open, if he trys to back out he will be able to get almost halfway out before running out of slack in the rope, causing him to become nervous while half in/out of the trailer, and if you know anything about horses that is just a dangerous situation!

[comanchecobe]

i like you r gray horse i would tell i have a six year old gray mare who wont load and i thot her to im 9 year s old

[jett888]

so true "if you aren't a good leader you'll have a hard time convincing your horse to follow" I tell others, the horse just needs a decisive leader. all great points. Can't imagine having a horses that doesn't load- you read their body language so nicely too- very fair.

[elnapiz81]

Hello, I have a 8 year old pinto/friesian and I have trouble loading him in to 2horse straight trailer, everytime I try to load him, he gets nervous when getting close to the trailer. Also he starts pulling back and if he feel pressure he gets angry. Any suggestions please? I would appreciate that. Thanks.

[robynshorseplay]

warn her with your voice that the ground will change. say 'back' to back, and 'step' when she gets to the ramp or down to the ground, so she knows she can trust you to take care of her, she doesn't feel she's walking off into a hole. hope that helps.

[robynshorseplay]

1st work on getting her to back up easily somewhere else. You want to be able to easily back her up and walk her forward repeatedly. Then take her to the trailer and do the same thing in front of the trailer, up and down the ramp, etc. one step forward, one step back. two steps forward, two steps back.

[gjonestwh]

I have an 8 yr old TWH Mare and I am having difficulty getting her to back out of a straight load trailer/no ramp. Her 1st time she loaded great but wouldnt back up, it freaked her out every time she put her back leg on the ground and would jump back in. do you have any suggestions?

[shellosaurus]

i have a 16yr tb mare that won't go near a float...i have her trust... but when it come to a float she doesn't trust me i had rescued her, im not exatly sure weather she has has a floating acident or not but we have to bum rope her to get her on.....any sugestions? it doesn't help that i do not own a horse float!

[dappledbaybeauty]

this horse was trying to be respectfull by not going in the float ahead of her

[robynshorseplay]

start by desensitizing your horse to your aids/tools, without the trailer. if you can't use a lunge whip, you have some deeper issues, you need to resolve these issues and gain his trust before attempting anything else.

[laurandwollie]

when i try to load my horse he moves to the right hand side so he's on a diagnal and i cant load him and if you use a lunge line or a whip it just stresses him out and he wont go anywhere near it anyone have any thoughts/tips on how to get him in :) would be gratefully accepted

[miniaturehorselvr]

@laurandwollie Maybe you could try his favorate snack to try to lure him in at first & just talk to him & have him know that the trailer isin't a scary place,the horse needs to know that its alright & you should have great trust in him to,but if you put some treats in there & lead him up to the trailer he should go in more willingly,I hope this helps!

~MHL.

[2crayzjumperz]

We have a slant load and the first time we put our three year old in he was fine, but when he got out he some how slipped on the mat (yes we do have shavings in there) and spooked himself. Now with thing such as ramps and trailers he gets on but soon freaks out and skitters off. Whenever we apply a whip from behind or the side he panics. What should I do?

[robynshorseplay]

@2crayzjumperz

i would recommend backing way off with the pressure. he is panicky for what he thinks is a good reason...he lost his footing. your goal is to get him to slow down, relax, and be careful. take it one step at a time. your safe trail horse post has some good advice, you want to create a safe way to ask nicely for a calm step forward before you ever get to the trailer. if you use a whip, just gently tap him on his foot until he moves it. to be continues...

[robynshorseplay]

@2crayzjumperz once you have him stepping quietly forward without the trailer obstacle, make your way to the trailer, maintaining his calm attitude (and yours). if he starts to panic, take the pressure off. reward him with reassuring touch if he will approach the trailer calmly. be satisfied with each single step. only increase pressure if he turns away or backs up. as long as he is so much as looking at the trailer, back off and give him time and space to figure it out. hope that helps!

[safetrailhorse]

a simpler method easily understood by a horse is in Basic Training for a Safe Trail Horse where you can learn to relate to a horse as if you are the alpha mare herd member. With lead rope resting on withers teach horse to walk ahead of you into stall to find hay, as he hears a word like "on". Later, park truck and trailer in area where horse can go on to find hay/feed by himself. Next remove truck and trailer and lead horse to it. With lead on withers say "on" and watch horse load himself !

[rocketbarrel]

I like your training style but you shouldn't make it sound like your going after him when you say "GOOOOD BOOYYY"

[babalina]

nice video. I wish you were here to help me.

[iHorseFoal]

Wonderful job!

Gorgeous horse by the way! :)

[nameofthepen]

You sorceress, you!  :-)

[AmyFleming02]

good video!!!