Help with loading issues

[FlyingFeathers]

Please can I have some advice regarding loading, I’m at the end of my tether.

My horse has had loading issues his whole life (9). He was a rescue. I think he’s claustrophobic, he also jumps out of stables and panics at being confined in them. So he lives out 24/7.

He’s always taken about 30/45 minutes to load, it was very fraught and he’d panic when everything was done up (he’s jumped the breast bar before). And when unloading he would charge out in a panic.

For the last year I have worked tirelessly on it (made the most of lockdown!). I got him to the point where he would walk on after 2/3 minutes, stand quietly whilst it was done up and then unload calmly.

However it has all gone backwards and I’ve taken him out 3 times in the last few weeks (on fun hacks) and we’re back to planting and not getting on for 45 minutes.

I can’t use any implements (lunge lines, whips) as it makes it worse. No one can touch him as he just pushes back against them and runs off (he’s generally quite bolshy).

I’ve tried him in side loading 3.5 lorries and vans, a 510/511, 505/506 and he’s the same with everything. I have a single trailer as I read somewhere about them preferably the wide space to travel.

I use a rope halter and pressure/release and I don’t get angry or shout at him. I stay calm (no idea how!)

He travels without a peep, and after the work I did last year when he’s actually on he’s fine and I can wait at least 5 minutes either end before setting off or unloading. So he has improved, but the actual loading is getting worse.

What else can I try? Any ideas before I go completely insane?! Thank you

www.totalequinevets.com/client-center/resources/TEVApedia/equine-trailering-101

I hope the link above works, I suspect this is all linked to pain, the above article confirms that time spent on the trailer is work for the horse, e.g. 1 hour trailer trip = 1 hour of walking. Your horse needs his hocks medicating as he is sore and he will walk on when no breast bar up as no likelihood of doing the thing that hurts I.e. travelling on the road.

Can you get the vet to come to you to inject his hocks?

I know how frustrating non loaders can be but I really think he is not loading from a fear of the pain.

Yes I’ve thought that too, and he’s got worse recently although he didn’t show any ridden signs his hocks needed medicating again, he just went lame a few weeks ago.

He will walk on with the breast bar up. And last year I could get him on with it all closed up, and I used to just keep doing that... putting him on, closing the back ramp and then opening it straight up again for him to get off. Then I’d increase the time in which he was in there. I did this for months before even travelling him. And he’s got worse since he’s been going out more, even though we’ve been out doing fun things (mostly hacking).

So I do agree with you that it could be pain related, and I did talk to my friend about it the other week. Do you know if they find it easier on their hocks to travel backwards?

That link works, thank you. Interesting information.

We don’t ever travel for more than 30/45 minutes away and generally only once every 4/6 weeks. So it’s not a massively regular thing. But I did want to increase the amount we go out as due to his hocks I’m having to give him some time off schooling and just hack, but it’s limited at my yard.

It’s so frustrating!

Unfortunately I have to take him to the vet for the hocks, I think I’ll go up and give him a danilon now, and then one in the morning as well as some sedalin (this never knocks him out, just takes the edge off slighty).