Dave Hickman April 8/2020

An emergency is NOT the time to be learning how to load your horse!
You are stressed, your horse is stressed and many horse owners do not even have a trailer and are using haulers or friends to move their horses. In an emergency time is of the essence so haulers are usually trying to move as many horses for people as fast as they can and understandably cannot afford the time to “ASK” your horse to get in the trailer or to discuss his/her personality, quirks or temperament.
So imagine what that has done to the psyche of your horse. To begin with they are claustrophobic animals. They do not like tight enclosures and unknown noises. Add to this the pressure of getting into an unknown space with other strange horses. They sense you are tense and you are supposed to be the “Better Horse.” (Remember Horse Games by Horse Rules).
You have created a platform where even if your horse gets loaded he/she may develop unknown problems down the road such as ulcers, cribbing, nervous behavior, and fear at the sight of trailers. Trailer loading in the future could be a major problem. I think you get the picture and this is a training tutorial on Trailer Loading The Safer Way, not a critique on why you should have taught your horse to load BEFORE you NEEDED to.
So let’s begin.
If you don’t want to read the TRAINING TIP watch the video or listen to the audio. It is all free.
Better yet do both for a better understanding
AUDIO TRAILER LOADING
TRAILER LOADING QUIZ
Welcome to Testing Your Knowledge. After watching my video,listening to the audio or reading my Trailer Loading Training Tips try the quiz
It is free – no email requirements – no address requirements.
You can post your score to your facebook page and get your friends to try the quiz also
Results
#1. AN EMERGENCY IS NOT A GOOD TIME TO BEGIN TO TEACH YOUR HORSE TO TRAILER LOAD BECAUSE:
You are nervous therefore your horse is stressed therefore adrenalin is being produced. At this point there is no learning and only the built in reactionary “fight or flight” instinct.
In an emergency time is usually of the essence so using the building block approach to build courage in your horse is not an option here.
Just a losing situation all around
“D” is the correct answer
#2. WHEN BEGINNING TO TEACH TRAILER LOADING IT IS IMPORTANT TO:
Don’t even think about trailer loading your horse until you can lunge him/her past the trailer door at a walk and with an INSIDE bend (meaning your horse does not change gaits at the trailer
door nor does he/she counter bend so the ribs are closer to you at this point
“D” is the correct answer
#3. IT IS IMPORTANT TO WEAR A WATCH WHEN BEGINNING TRAILER LOADING LESSONS SO YOU:
I have never seen a horse with a watch on yet. Do not start trailer loading training when your mind is elsewhere because of your schedule. It is also incorrect to think that once you start to begin
to teach your horse to trailer load you have to get him/her into the trailer. As long as you stop on a positive note you can continue the next day. In fact some horses benefit from more processing time.
“C” is the correct answer
#4. THE MOST DANGEROUS POINT IN TEACHING YOUR HORSE TO TRAILER LOAD IS:
You are the weak spot here since the inside of the trailer is a scary place and the far side has a door as a block. If you put too much pressure on your horse at this point he/she is likely to
escape between you and the trailer. Try to keep his/her head looking forward – where the head goes the body will follow.
“A” is the correct answer
#5. A SIGN YOUR HORSE MIGHT BE BEGINNING TO RELAX AS YOU LUNGE HIM/HER PAST THE TRAILER IS:
It is important to Play Horse Games by Horse Rules. “Frame of body is frame of mind”. The fact that your horse can maintain the same gait and doesn’t counter bend at the trailer door
means he is building courage and is no longer bothered by having to pass close to the trailer. He/she is ready for the next step.
“D” is the correct answer
#6. WHEN YOUR HORSE MOVES TOWARD THE TRAILER FOR THE FIRST TIME IT IS IMPORTANT TO:
This is a critical point in teaching trailer loading. You MUST reward the slighest effort or try. You are trying to build courage in your horse using the Building Block Approach. This is why you
must allow whatever time it takes
“B” is the correct answer
#7. WHEN YOUR HORSE FINALLY STOPS AND STANDS IN FRONT OF THE TRAILER WHAT COULD HAPPEN NEXT?
It is unlikely your horse will just walk into the trailer at this point. He may back up, run between you and the trailer or paw at the trailer floor. This is an important time to know whether to
continue to add pressure or make it your idea to take your horse away from the trailer.
“D” is the correct answer
#8. THE 22-FOOT ROPE IS USED:
Since we do not want to “PULL” our horse into the trailer we need a way to keep his/her head looking into the trailer. The 22 foot rope threaded through a window and back to your hand can do this.
HOWEVER it is only used to keep the head focused on the inside of the trailer – NOT TO pull your horse into the trailer.
“B” is the correct answer
#9. IF YOUR HORSE PULLS BACK ON THE 22-FOOT ROPE IT IS IMPORTANT TO:
You CANNOT pull on the 22 foot rope to get your horse into the trailer HOWEVER it is OK if he/she pulls back. They are doing the pulling not you. If you allow their feet to move it is less likely
they will panic and they will learn by not pulling THEY can release the pressure. By holding onto the rope as you move towards the front of the trailer you are continuing to keep pressure but at the same time allowing your horse to move his/her feet.
“B” is the correct answer
#10. WHEN YOUR HORSE DOES GO INTO THE TRAILER:
It is important that when your horse does go into the trailer he/she can come back out. Otherwise they could think they are now in this tin box for life.
Just try to control the speed at which your horse exits the trailer but be aware of your own safety. If they run out in a panic you did not spend enough time at the trailer door building courage in
your hose. Time for some “DO OVERS”
“A” is the correct answer
Dave Hickman
Equitation Canada Competition Coach
Chris Irwin Certified Trainer