I think at some point in time we all have trouble loading a horse. Whether it was a young horse that had never had been loaded before or an older horse that always gives us trouble. Most of the time when we have trailer loading problems, we are going somewhere in a hurry and don’t have extra time. At this point, we are thinking ‘you goofy horse, what’s the matter with you?’ However, it’s likely that it is our own fault that we are having the trouble. #1 - We are in a hurry
#2 - We didn’t prepare – just think about this for a second with me and it becomes clear why a green horse is resistant and doesn’t want to load for us.
Imagine yourself relaxing in your house eating some dinner when your next door neighbor (or a couple of them) come into your house, pulls you outside and says “you’re going for ride”. When you walk outside you see a large UFO on your lawn. You know it’s a movable object because it wasn’t there earlier. Your friends take a hold of you and start pushing you into the opening into enclosed room. You say “what’s going on? what is this?” and you baulk! They say just jump in you’ll figure out what’s going on later. They throw a rope around your neck and start to pull you into the enclosed room with someone holding a door to close you in. You have no idea what’s going on, where it came from or if it is even safe. Right about this time if this were me things would get pretty ugly fast and one of my rebellions would likely get thumped on because I would put on one heck of a fight.
But if they would have brought me outside, gave me time to look it over, explained to me that it was just a float on wheels they made to be in a local parade and convinced me it was safe and let me get in willingly without them forcing me, I would not have had a problem at all.
You see how our horses could have a problem loading? The trailer is a small, enclosed space. They know it must move because it wasn’t parked in front of the barn before. Now you are in a hurry and pushing, pulling and spanking them to go in. It’s no wonder we have problems. Even if it’s an older horse that we have bought, we don’t know what experiences he has had in the past.
I will describe here a real simple method we use to load horse and get problem horses to load and it has worked for every time on many many difficult horses. First of all, let’s think this through, most of the time our # 1 problem is we don’t prepare and train before hand. The worse thing we can do is wait 10 minutes before we have to take a colt to the trainer or vet and say “OK let’s get him loaded” that’s trouble! We need to start a week before that departure date and practice loading when we have plenty of time and there is no stress. This method requires plenty of time and patience but I promise you will like the results.
Lead the horse up to the trailer. Lead him all around the it as long as they are looking and sniffing just let them be. When they quit and look away, move on and bring them to the back of the trailer opening. It can help if you have one person leading and one person behind the horse with a cotton rope or you can stand beside the horse keeping his nose pointed into the end of the trailer with the lead line and have a rope in the other hand.
The key is getting the horse to load calmly or to relax if he has a problem with loading. We don’t want to pressure him into it, let him know he can back up and leave at any time. Think about it. if you start whipping them from the back or run a rope up through the trailer winch them in, it’s no longer about trailer loading it’s about panic, HELP I’ve lost control. I’ve got to fight to get my freedom or control back. So, the last thing we want to do is pressure or force them. As with any training, we want to set it up to where they choose to do it on their own. So we keep suggesting and suggesting they get in and with very low pressure showing them the alternative is not real great. To do this, I have a hold of the rope with lots of slack in it, we have his nose pointed into the trailer again as long as he is looking it over, I leave him alone and give him time. (Insert picture TRL #1) When he is relaxed and starts looking away, I will pull his nose back to the center of the trailer opening. Now he is ready for a bit of low key pressure. I start or have my help start to tap slowly and lightly on his rump with a soft rope. I swing the rope around like a wind make slowly and methodically tapping him each time. (Insert picture TRL #2) I’m watching very closely for even the smallest step forward with one foot. If the makes even the slightest motion forward, I quit tapping and give his 30 seconds. I then start again until I get another step and another closer. If they look away or try to turn, I just keep pulling or pushing the head back towards the trailer and then put slack back in the lead line as long as they are looking and paying attention. (Insert picture TRL #3) It will take a little time but they will catch on to what is happening when you apply pressure if they move forward the pressure is released. (Insert picture TRL #4) You can get them real close and it is just too much, they can’t handle it they can back up and leave. (Insert picture TRL #5) If they start to back up, resist the temptation of pulling on them and trying to hold them. They are bigger and stronger then you and you make them feel trapped. Let them know they can leave. Instead put pressure on the other end if they back up. I start tapping faster with my rope and stay right on them until they take a step forward again. Immediately stop, releasing the pressure for a few seconds. Then begin again and work your way up to the trailer. (Insert picture TRL #6)
I’m irritating the horse right into the trailer, not fighting him, no pressure. This process again, can definitely take time and patience as with all training but you will make a good solid horse in the process. (Insert picture TRL #7)
When I have the horse’s head and front foot or both feet in the trailer, I’ll do something he doesn’t expect. (Insert picture TRL #8) I will then pull him back and lead him around in a big circle and let him relax and think. This again shows him that there is no pressure and likely if he’s nervous or sour this is the point where he wants to leave. I’m going to leave before he does catching him by surprise so it’s my idea. This allows us to break the training down into steps. It’s easy to get so focused on the end result – getting our horse in the trailer – that we forget we are training a step at a time and what it best for the horse.
When I get the horse consistent at putt his front feet in the trailer real relaxed. I will ask him to step all the way in but don’t try to tie him up quick. (Insert picture TRL #9) Let him stand until he is comfortable. If he wants to back out at this point let him. Especially, if he is a sour horse, it will take some time and several sessions of this to get him relaxed. For a tough sour horse try feeding him once you have him loaded. Again, don’t tie him so he feels trapped. Do this for a week. Just because you get this done once doesn’t mean you have a solid horse and your problems are solved. Horses learn by constant repetition. Each time they have a good relaxed experience they become a little less apprehensive and a bit more relaxed and confident.
This process could take from 15 minutes to 1.5 hours so give yourself plenty of time and try to stay firm and persistent without loosing your temper. Don’t push the horse too fast. Remember again your training is step by step, not focusing on loading the horse.
I hope this information is helpful to you…My moto is ‘Keep Trying and Keep Learning”

Best of Luck to you and God Bless America…

Monty Bruce
Monty Bruce Training Center

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