Small Steps Forward: How trailer loading training makes everything better for you and your horse

 by Mary Gallagher

I have always invested a great deal of time in training my horses for trailer loading. And I mean investment…a horse that loads and unloads confidently and calmly, ready to travel, is a horse that is a great deal calmer and more confident in general. I use principles I’ve developed over the years in trailer loading training every day in my training sessions, with a wide array of horses, whether they get trailered or not.

The key to successful training for trailer loading (that applies to every interaction with your horse) is remembering and advancing in a positive progression. Before starting your session, remember where you were the last time and advance in some small way from there to end the new session.

So first thing, I set up my rules or parameters before starting. This is your work space and what you intend to advance. For me, this means always travel in a straight line to and away from the trailer. That’s my rule, whether there’s a trailer in sight or not. Many obstacles can stand in for the trailer; I might use an open gate as a “trailer”, and some 12’ parallel poles as a straight line in my work space.

When you start your session, start with simple steps to get yourself and your horse in the right mental frame: for instance, does my horse respond and move freely in all directions off a light feel? Chances are, not all directions. So wherever I feel the horse is sticky, I start there and focus on fixing that, until my horse feels light, then I will come back to it periodically to see if that move stays light.

Never except a past success as advancement; always end with a new success even if it’s a very small one. This goes back to our first principle—remembering where you started and ended the last session.

Importantly, when you and your horse achieve that small success, go ahead and feel satisfied in that moment, but know that it is not where you will live next time you work with your horse. So take that small step and find today’s win. For instance, maybe today I added a pole to my work space to back over, and my horse did great. Well, today’s ‘great’ can always get just a little bit better, so the next time I take on trailer loading, I’ll be looking for the next advancement.

I should mention that I always teach backing out of the trailer while I teach going forward into the trailer. Many people don’t think of the backing out part until the getting in part is installed. But getting out calmly and confidently is every bit as crucial as getting in successfully. This is the logic behind my second core principle of trailer loading, and why all my training sessions carry the strict rule of traveling straight on a line no matter where I work. It saves time in most situations, and even more importantly, builds the confidence the horse needs to back out of the trailer well.

I guess my last core principle is: When you think you’re done, there is always more to learn. At that point, it’s great to learn to use your imagination. Here’s an idea…. Have you ever thought of teaching your horse to back into the trailer…?

Just a thought. You never know what you’ll find out, and how many cool things your horse is capable of, without a little imagination and curiosity.

Give it a try!

Mary teaches these and other techniques in her Friday Morning Ground Class! Bring your horse or
practice with one of our school horses. It's a great investment in your horsemanship!