The Ins and Outs of Trailer Loading

by Mary Gallagher

Trailer loading—a task that needs a lot of practice—was the theme of last Friday’s Ground Work class. Getting a horse to be okay at loading into  a scary cave on wheels is a challenge for the horse and handler. We warmed up using our foundational skills to establish communication cooperation and confidence in our horse partner. We did this through exercises like front end and hindquarter yields as well as stepping over and stopping over a pole going forwards and backwards. Once we were warmed up we left the arena and went outside to the horse trailers. Our first task was to establish a straight centered line to and away from the trailer. Not getting in the trailer was key, until that communication was in place.

 Horses don’t automatically know how to get out of a trailer once they get in. Many times, in the rush to get our horse into the trailer we don’t see the bigger picture of how will they get out. Not knowing how to get out can lead to fear and panic for the horse. So we made sure to practice the unloading process in conjunction with the loading process. Similar to having the horse step over the pole one foot at a time on the obstacle or trailer, we practiced asking the horse forward, stopping, and then backing—always finishing straight on the center line.

To create a sense of a straight line, I laid out six plastic lids as a path to the trailer, as well as (alternatively) a wooden step up obstacle—a great first stand-in for the trailer. I coached the students to find a feel on the rope, asking for a step or two forward for starts. Comfort lies on the straight line leading up to the trailer and away. We began with the simpler step-up obstacle; discomfort only came if the horse lost straightness. I coached them to observe when the horse got distracted and how the horse put effort into leaving the straight center line, following these distractions. So we continued to practice forward and back, watching even more carefully, not allowing our horse to get distracted, and allowing periods of rest when they were centered and straight.

Of course, at first we might well be anything but straight. The horse may be scanning for grass, for herdmates, for threats on the horizon, or giving us that ‘you and me’ sweet look that makes us feel loved but does not get us to straight! The task from start to inside the trailer becomes focusing on getting our horse to see the comfort was always on the center line no matter the direction.

Yep, it’s us managing us as a means to providing leadership for the horse on the way to comfort—as in so many other things we learn about in ground work class.

You kind of had to be there to really understand the process. So please join us for Friday Ground Class! It’s a great investment in those critical moments when we need our horse calm and cooperating, such as in trailering.