1st trailering-not good

[Bling]

I've been working to be a partner with my filly, and decided we needed to go on a "field trip" so we hired a nice experienced woman to trailer us. I didn't know her, but it turned out she's pretty traditional and when my filly (whose only trailering experience wasn't very good, but a long year ago) resisted, the woman's main plan was to "show her she had no choice" and "crowd her a little" and keep her tied so that she "couldn't get away." That's not the way we've been working together. I'm not a forceful person. I couldn't tell her I always give my very intelligent Kipa the option of an opinion; that my main method when things get rough is to move her feet (not tie her); and would she please stop PATTING her --- we do stroking. . . I'm mad at myself. After almost an hour and three broken lines I was able to call it a day. At least I didn't let things get rough. I told her going wasn't important, just the process, and if this is where we stopped, fine. The lady was very nice about it, anyway. Now to find a trailer I can borrow to set up in my yard. . .

 

[mayoguinness]

Hard isn't it. I know the feeling with Mayo and everybody knows the right way to do it and loves to get in on the trailer loading sessions. Best way I found was to have a trailer in a pen, be on my own at liberty with Mayo so he can be completely honest and I can't use force its working.

 

[capalldubh]

I know how you feel, I spend ages on training my way, then find I get into situations where people who don't train my way frown on what I do so I cave in and do things their way against my better judgement. It never works out well, I should know by now

Don't worry, sounds like you're doing all the right things, and she won't hold one afternoon of not great trailer loading against you in the long term - horses are very forgiving

 

[Lucy J]

i had a similar experience at a horse show. in the end i just left the 'helpers' to it as my poor pony had lost the plot and was beyond calming down. after that day it took me 3 hours to get him near a trailer again let alone in it! i even paid money for an RA to put a dually headcollar on upside down, demand we use the school (with a pony who was terrified and had so much room to run away!) in the end she gave up and left - still charging the full whack.

i got a richard maxwell halter, trailer and in an enclosed environment taught said pony to load in 2 hours. never had a problem again! hey, maybe i'm in the wrong job!

it takes me longer with my mare sometimes if she's not been loaded for a while as she likes to walk to the side of the ramp, but now she loads in 5 minutes tops. you just have to get the body lanuage right.

i get so annoyed at shows watching people trying to force horses into trailers that look as if they shouldn't be on the road. needless to say if you offer a friendly suggestion when you can clearly read the horses body language 'they know best' yeah, thats why they end up hacking home!!!

sorry rant over!