Last in a series
You've played with multiple simulations and developed trust, communication, and respect with your horse. It's time to finally use those skills to load your horse onto the trailer. Within this brief article I can only give you a basic formula to follow; adapt as you see fit, using all the skills you learned from the obstacle simulations. The general idea is to load and unload your horse in increments, so he gains confidence as he goes.
After you've warmed up with your obstacles, send his nose into the trailer, then his ears, neck, and maybe you'll just happen to get a front foot or two. If you are using a flag or stick, pet him with it or praise him. Those front feet are often the first big threshold. Take him away and give him a break. As you move forward from there, you will begin looking for a hind foot to step up, then both hinds. If at all possible keep your horse straight and don't let him turn around in the trailer. The stick or flag at this point can put a little pressure on his nose to help with this. Each step of the way, back your horse out straight, so he understands he can back in and out of the trailer easily. It's all about feel and timing--reward the slightest try, but make sure he is really trying!
Once your horse is quite comfortable with loading and unloading, and with you petting him each step of the way, you can step up into the trailer with him and ask him to step over so you can close the divider (in a slant). With a straight load, ideally I have a helper hold the lead at the front window as I put the butt bar up for the first time. (Of course, that same helper would have asked the horse to back out several times as we loaded and unloaded.) If there's a manger, a bit of grain in it sure helps to increase your horse's enthusiasm--but remember it is a reward, not a bribe. It is worth repeating: NEVER tie your horse in a trailer without having the butt bar or divider shut, and always untie before undoing those restraints. After you've successfully closed the divider or butt bar, open it and ask the horse out. You may find he rushes back, having been a little scared to find he could actually be trapped in there. Again, it could be dangerous for both of you, so be extra careful. Don't try to slow him down or force him to stay, do reload until he is confident with it. Then you may begin playing with actually shutting the doors and finally moving your trailer.
To summarize: Teaching or re-teaching your horse to trailer is a matter of developing confidence in increments. It could takes minutes, hours, days or weeks, depending on the horse/human combination. It's okay to take plenty of time; just make sure you are always making progress. If you find you are stuck over the course of a couple sessions, it's time to back off and get outside help. Being able to trailer your horse will open many new horizons for you: trail riding, showing, clinics, etc. Through the process you and your horse will have developed a whole new level of trust and communication. Do not hesitate to ask for help if you feel frustrated. Remember, having a relationship with a horse should be a delightful, satisfying experience.
Have fun with it!
(Originally published September 2014)
