Previously good to load pony seems to have changed his mind about it all!

[marialuisa]

Dpony has always been spectacularly easy to load/unload in all manner of transport. However last night he decided that trailer travel wasn't for him and took a certain amount of coaxing to get in the trailer to get to Pony Club and then home again.

I've been wracking my brains to remember if I drove badly, hit a lot of speed bumps or something on the last trip but really don't think so. He certainly wasn't braced or sweated up when we unloaded and even last night appeared to travel absolutely fine and unloaded very happily (wasn't anxious to get out or anything). There is no sign of fear when he refuses to load or when in the trailer. He will still stand in the trailer without making a fuss too.

I want to try and nip this in the bud so was thinking of spending a few happy hours loading and unloading (without going anywhere) on Saturday. Have any of you got any top tips for dealing with this? The stuff I found last night seemed contradictory to say the least.

[Olderyetwilder]

We've had occaisional problems loading Gd's old pony. We can never find a reason for it, most times he goes straight on, sometimes he just refuses. We use a long head-collar rope or lunge line behind, held both sides (or a lunge line attached to the side of the trailer if I'm on my own) which always does the trick, he seems to decide it's a fair cop and he might just as well get on board.

[frostyfingers]

If he likes food then use that as bait. My old horse was a pig to load but was more enthusiastic about it when I'd not given him breakfast!

In and out, walking through, possibly even a short trip around the field and then unload may help. Quite often though I think it is a deliberate ploy to show you that they are in control (or at least want to be...)

Above all, try and keep calm - allow plenty of time, don't raise your voice and don't give up.

In the end with my old horse I found a natural horsemanship lady who wanted to practise so she came out a couple of times for free and it helped alot.

[Callisto]

Food works for DD's pony if he doesn't feel like a journey.

[SaraT123]

Sometimes we put the horses in and go somewhere for a fun hack! So they don't associate with the pressure of competing. This worked really well with a young horse that was dreadful to load. Also try taking another horse a few times when you travel.

[marialuisa]

Thanks all. Whether or not to use food was one of the things that confused me. Last night food worked to get him to load on the way there but not on the way back (nudged him in with a lunge line round the bum). To be fair each episode was resolved in under 10 minutes and I probably didn't help on the way home by getting frustrated (8pm,-3, not had any dinner!).

Frostyfingers-interesting you should mention control. It definitely feels like he's on a wind-up mission with it and he was very affectionate when he'd actually got in the trailer (sort of.....you love me really)

SaraT123-It had crossed my mind that travel has gone from being exclusively for doing things he likes-hunting, xc, shows- to being for a regular, hard work, schooling session.

Hmm-will see how we go. Just can't quite believe the sudden and dramatic change and have distinct feeling I'm being played!

[SaggyOldClothCatPuss]

Is your ramp good? Pony could be feeling that it isn't stable perhaps and doesn't want to walk on it?

[Callisto]

We have a racehorse turned pointer on the yard who travelled appallingly badly when he first came in. Very highly strung and nervous and would turn into a wibbling wreck for a week after any journey (though always loads fine). Over the course of a couple of months we took him out a couple of times a week in the trailer and dropped him off somewhere he could be hacked back from. He is so much better now that he doesn't equate the trailer/lorry with racing.

Sounds like your pony is having a bit of fun with you though.

[Eve]

I have had a few bad loaders over the years, nos 1 rule is don't get stressed... As soon as you do, they get even worse. I know its hard when you are at a show/ rally and everyone is watching... Little buggers pick their moments.

Key to know is are they scared of the trailer, do they come out hot? If so, lots of short journeys, feed in trailer, and lots of loading, shut doors...don't go anywher, unload 5 mins later.


Travelling in a trailer is work to them, so maybe dpony just didn't want to do more after the rally, they don't know it means home. So you need to find the persuasion means that works for them. For one pony I have a dually halter that puts pressure on his nose, he reacts to that and used with give and take he loads., the monty Roberts method.

Other pony, plants 4 feet in reaction to any pressure, so a loose lead rope, and a handful of treats with a reward for every step forward gets her in.

[Ponymad11]

You want to make sure he is confident leading from the shoulder, in and out of narrow spaces and in and out and over obstacles. I find this really helps. Does he have any tight or sore spots because sometimes ponies will not travel if they are tight in their muscles as it takes a lot of strength to balance in a moving vehicle. I would try to avoid using food as 'bait'. This will encourage the horse to go on the trailer while at a stand still yes but will not solve the underlying problem of why he is refusing to go on it. Food baits often cause more stress in the horse.

[marialuisa]

That's interesting Ponymad, I've not had a chance to play with him and the trailer because of the weather, but he was signed "off games" at the beginning of the week with bad back and shoulders.....

[ShiresCountryBumpkin]

Hi,
Difficult loaders are my favourite pastime! I'm a Monty Roberts/ Kelly Marks student & like to think of my approach as being natural but with common sense. Just a quick point about food - being prey animals horses don't see food as a reward like dogs & cats do (grass doesn't run) but that doesn't mean that in certain situations it cant be a useful distraction - just dont think of it as a training tool cos its not - its just something us daft humans have got use to relying on! I have used it very sucessfully in the past with clicker training with the absolute worst non-loader I have ever worked with and this did really help him to focus on something else but I think in your case - food may just turn intlo a perk that works against you!
Try this out - its hard to describe 'feel' without showing you, but its worth a go!
I guarantee that something has started this bout of hesitant loading off - whether it gets worse really depends on how you handle it. Ponies aren't stupid, and it sounds like yours has done plenty of loading in the past so something has upset/worried him. It could be just as suggested and his recent trips out have become hard work, or it could be an issue with the trailer. Check out the trailer, vary his work, check his back & legs for any strain, throw in some play time and most importantly allow loads of time for loading & don't react to his hesitancy. Get a lunge line as a lead rope (not round the arse) and show him you know what pressure & release is & that you are listening to his worries and you can be trusted. Doesn't take long at all, but the feel you show on that lead rope should be communication not forcing (thats easy but you'll have to do it every time & it will only get worse). Open the trailer up, moving the partitions over and if you think he may panic & try to bolt through the trailer then leave the front ramp closed. If this isn't an issue or if he may need the added incentive then open the whole thing up so he can walk calmly through. Approach the ramp first, facing your pony with your eyes down looking at his feet, and keep a really light feel on that rope. When you are ready, take a couple of steps onto the ramp and stop, then 'ask' your pony to do the same. Just front feet on and stand. Good boy - let him get something right. Then back him off the ramp nice and slowly. Do this half a dozen times, this yo-yo technique helps to stop him thinking bout the trailer and start listening to you, and also stops you from just focusing on the loading too. Start coming further into the trailer, halting and backing out. until you are right inside, can get a nice calm halt, then a slow walk out the front. If you have a paniccy pony as he goes through the 'pinch'point at the top of the ramp, then a wee treat can help to distract here nicely and save your toes, but make him work for it. You want a nice controlled halt and a gentle unloading.
You have such a long line so that if he has a paddy & reverses out you don't have to move a muscle or say a word. Just keep really calm and ask him on again with a little pressure on the line (not barbara woodhouse, a consistant light 'ask').
This whole exercise should be almost silent - you want to let you pony think - not to have to deal with his own worry and a shreiking owner too (we've all seen them!) the only sounds I want you to make are whispered positive sounds used sparingly. No negatives at all unless he tries to run you over then you can say one sharp word but thats it!
Sorry thats quite an epic post isn't it! Good luck with your pony and if you are in the west mids area and need a hand then let me know!

[springaroundthecorner]

Great post Shires. There is nothing worse than seeing "trailer tantrums" going on at a competition.

Just a suggestion but I once had a horse that suddenly became a bad traveller for no apparent reason. I took the back half of the partition out of my trailer which gave her more room to stand with her legs wider apart and she travelled perfectly well like that. Obviously you dont have a back bar then so you need a good tail guard.

[ShiresCountryBumpkin]

This is a good point - bit odd to come out of nowhere though, you would expect this to happen if pony had taken a fall in the trailer or something similar?
I have got the full width breast & breech bars in addition to my partition as so many horses prefer to have the full width to themselves....but beware your insurance as I'm not entirely sure this complies....? I have a big Richardson trailer but the bars were 3 times the cost of the Ifor Williams ones which also fitted so for £100 I managed to get them both - peace of mind as you cant travel without them.

[marialuisa]

It's a single trailer, if anything I've wondered if he finds it a bit too wide...We've been opening front ramps and so on and he is completely and utterly happy once on board and when travelling. The difficulty started loading him in the dark and I wonder if he didn't like the torch and shadows. he does have form for trying it on so we'll see what happens on Tuesday, I'm allowing myself a couple of hours to get him loaded so DD and I can radiate calm disinterest!

[Olderyetwilder]

If you've got a couple of hours he's bound to pop straight on and leave you wondering what to do with the rest of the time!

[marialuisa]

It wouldn't surprise me! I think he's got too much time on his hands (yard policy that he's only allowed out 2 days per week) and he thinks up trouble. Earlier this week he apparently had a very sore hoof (where he'd had an abcess 18 months before), it was murder if you went near that leg, he might actually fall over (although fine to ride ) . Farrier has confirmed nothing whatsoever wrong and dpony obligingly lifted his hoof for him with no signs of distress. We've had to hang up his jolly ball because he was launching it at passers-by too!

[Olderyetwilder]

Why on earth do they restrict turnout to 2 days a week? Mine would all be nightmares on that regime. He sounds like a very bright pony who needs stimulation and perhaps more turn out would help. That said, our yard is a scruffy farm and the fields resemble the Somme at the moment so I can understand them resting the grazing

[frostyfingers]

Without fail if you allow hours then they're on in minutes and vice versa. I always allow an extra 20 mins for my dhorse - ex point to pointer and not used to slumming it in a trailer - and whenever I'm running a bit late he'll take a bit longer to load.

Coming back from hunting the other day he was so tired he practically undid the ramp and was in before I was really ready for him!

[marialuisa]

It's to protect their grass, they keep it like cow pasture (so they get rather fat and then have to be restricted). We're going to be moving to a very basic yard (friend's farm!) as they've announced 2 months with no turn-out at all and it's just not going to work for dpony. It's a shame as they've really helped us, DD has made good friends and great facilities but dpony's mental health has to come first.

[frostyfingers]

It's so bad for horses, and especially ponies to be incarcerated - 2 months is way too long. My TB is an ex pointer and came from a yard where he had 2 hours out a day, plus 1 hour on the walker when not in full work and was off his head. Almost a year of being on 24 hour turnout (fully clipped) and he's a different horse, so much more relaxed and easy to handle. He does love coming in though and is very happy snuggled up in his stable - he was thrilled to be on box rest over Christmas!

Ponies have a tendency to be naughty when bored so I should think when yours gets out he'll be a much more relaxed ride, and as you say probably more amenable when it comes to loading!

[marialuisa]

So....first time back in the trailer tonight....I allowed loads of time for him to load and in he skipped . On the way back he really didn't feel like loading and it took 3 of us a good 5 minutes . The route is a bit twisty with lots of roundabouts and speed bumps but nothing horrendous and he's travelled it every week since October. The main difference was that it was dark on the way home so maybe there is something very creepy about our trailer in the dark?! Lorries are appparently not scary in the same way. Still can't shake the feeling he's having us on though, I've seen him genuinely scared and this isn't the same.