by Mary Gallagher
Showing posts with label trailer loading. Show all posts
Showing posts with label trailer loading. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 3, 2024
The Ins and Outs of Trailer Loading
Thursday, June 4, 2020
Fun and Imagination Can Be Useful Tools in Training: Introducing Colts to the Trailer
By Mary Gallagher
Recently I trailered a couple of young horses I’ve been training back to their home at Wensleydale Farm in Oregon. I invited two of my advanced Hoof Beats students, Elise and Elly, since they had been handling and riding the trainees, and since there are more great young horses at Wensleydale, including new colts. I really enjoy coaching my students, and this day was extra fun for us all because we got to play with baby horses!
Horses are full faculty learners at birth, ready within a few hours to follow Mom out into the big world. What this means for trainers is, you can’t start too early exposing a baby horse to all sorts of different things, familiarizing them with human contact and making it easier for them to adapt to the human world in the future.
With talented students, it is a match made in heaven—a curious colt and an imaginative handler. In this case, there were no great deeds to accomplish, just a chance to let the girls help two colts test out life in a safe way.
We decided to try some basic yields which would help prepare the youngsters for trailer loading. Elise and Elly played some preparatory games on line, getting the babies to follow a feel in all directions. After they all got comfortable moving around outside, we thought of asking them to move in and out of open stalls in the barn.
Recently I trailered a couple of young horses I’ve been training back to their home at Wensleydale Farm in Oregon. I invited two of my advanced Hoof Beats students, Elise and Elly, since they had been handling and riding the trainees, and since there are more great young horses at Wensleydale, including new colts. I really enjoy coaching my students, and this day was extra fun for us all because we got to play with baby horses!
Horses are full faculty learners at birth, ready within a few hours to follow Mom out into the big world. What this means for trainers is, you can’t start too early exposing a baby horse to all sorts of different things, familiarizing them with human contact and making it easier for them to adapt to the human world in the future.
With talented students, it is a match made in heaven—a curious colt and an imaginative handler. In this case, there were no great deeds to accomplish, just a chance to let the girls help two colts test out life in a safe way.
We decided to try some basic yields which would help prepare the youngsters for trailer loading. Elise and Elly played some preparatory games on line, getting the babies to follow a feel in all directions. After they all got comfortable moving around outside, we thought of asking them to move in and out of open stalls in the barn.
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
Trailer Loading Tips: Loading Your Horse (Part 4 of 4)
by Jessica Crouch
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.
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.
Trailer Loading Tips: Approaching the Trailer (Part 3 of 4)
By Jessica Crouch
Over the last several months we've discussed several simulations to help you develop the foundation you will need to trailer load your horse. Having done those, how do you make the transition to actually asking them to get into the trailer? Horses are extremely sensitive to change, and often taking them to the parking lot where your trailer is to load is not near as successful as if you put your trailer in with the rest of your obstacles. (Or take your familiar obstacles out to the trailer.) That makes the trailer just another "toy" to play with.
Over the last several months we've discussed several simulations to help you develop the foundation you will need to trailer load your horse. Having done those, how do you make the transition to actually asking them to get into the trailer? Horses are extremely sensitive to change, and often taking them to the parking lot where your trailer is to load is not near as successful as if you put your trailer in with the rest of your obstacles. (Or take your familiar obstacles out to the trailer.) That makes the trailer just another "toy" to play with.
Trailer Loading Tips (Part 2 of 4)
By Jessica Crouch
Last month I gave you my #1 safety tip: NEVER tie your horse in the trailer...... UNTIL the partition or butt bar is in place. This month I continue on the theme of taking the time to work with your horse until he can confidently load and stand quietly while you close the divider and latch it securely.
Last month I gave you my #1 safety tip: NEVER tie your horse in the trailer...... UNTIL the partition or butt bar is in place. This month I continue on the theme of taking the time to work with your horse until he can confidently load and stand quietly while you close the divider and latch it securely.
Trailer Loading Tips (Part 1 of 4))
by Jessica Crouch
Tuesday, March 3, 2015
Trailer Loading Preparation: Yielding Sideways (Part 4 of 4)
by Jessica Crouch
Over the last three months we've practiced sending your horse to a specific point, backing with precise focus, and squeezing between narrow openings. Now we'll address moving sideways. What does yielding sideways have to do with going into a horse trailer? When you close the slant divider on a trailer, your horse has to yield left from you (or the swinging divider) INTO the pressure of the trailer wall or partition.
Over the last three months we've practiced sending your horse to a specific point, backing with precise focus, and squeezing between narrow openings. Now we'll address moving sideways. What does yielding sideways have to do with going into a horse trailer? When you close the slant divider on a trailer, your horse has to yield left from you (or the swinging divider) INTO the pressure of the trailer wall or partition.
Trailer Loading Preparation: Going Through a Narrow Place, Part 3 (of 4)
By Jessica Crouch
Over the last two months we have developed our communication in asking our horse to step forward to an object (step on a plate) and to back carefully and thoughtfully over an obstacle (back over a pole). Now we are going to add in another challenge - go through a narrow place. I really like to play with 55-gallon plastic barrels. They are easy to move around and reconfigure according to your horse's needs. At the Farm, Jerry's been kind enough to provide us with plenty of barrels, but if you don't have any at home you can improvise - just make sure the object is safe, even if your horse bumps into it.
Over the last two months we have developed our communication in asking our horse to step forward to an object (step on a plate) and to back carefully and thoughtfully over an obstacle (back over a pole). Now we are going to add in another challenge - go through a narrow place. I really like to play with 55-gallon plastic barrels. They are easy to move around and reconfigure according to your horse's needs. At the Farm, Jerry's been kind enough to provide us with plenty of barrels, but if you don't have any at home you can improvise - just make sure the object is safe, even if your horse bumps into it.
Trailer Loading Preparation: Backing Over a Pole (Part 2)
By Jessica Crouch
Last month we talked about asking your horse to go forward to a particular point. (Step on a plate.) This laid the groundwork for the communication you will need when you ask your horse to go FORWARD into the trailer.
This month's exercise will focus on an equally important piece - confidence in backing out of the trailer. You might think - most horses can get out of a trailer in a hurry - that's not my problem! But a horse who rushes out of a trailer is generally not confident about unloading, and the problem can gradually escalate to a real issue. So teach your horse to back in all kinds of situations so they can be confident when asked to back out of a horse trailer.
Last month we talked about asking your horse to go forward to a particular point. (Step on a plate.) This laid the groundwork for the communication you will need when you ask your horse to go FORWARD into the trailer.
This month's exercise will focus on an equally important piece - confidence in backing out of the trailer. You might think - most horses can get out of a trailer in a hurry - that's not my problem! But a horse who rushes out of a trailer is generally not confident about unloading, and the problem can gradually escalate to a real issue. So teach your horse to back in all kinds of situations so they can be confident when asked to back out of a horse trailer.
Trailer Loading Preparation Part 1 (of 4)
By Jessica Crouch
You load your happy horse into your trailer and off you drive - to a wonderful trail ride? A fun show? Maybe a great clinic? In real life though, horses often worry about the trailer. A lot. Some arrive soaked with sweat. Some bang their heads or legs in their haste to get off the trailer. Some simply won't go in at all. But it doesn't have to be that way. Training (or re-training) a horse to trailer can be just another relaxed progression in his education. How you approach it makes all the difference in the world. The key lies in developing trust, communication and confidence AWAY from the actual trailer. Each piece of the trailer loading equation can be broken down. I'll be sharing an exercise each month that will help your horse learn the skills and confidence he'll need when you finally do ask him to load.
You load your happy horse into your trailer and off you drive - to a wonderful trail ride? A fun show? Maybe a great clinic? In real life though, horses often worry about the trailer. A lot. Some arrive soaked with sweat. Some bang their heads or legs in their haste to get off the trailer. Some simply won't go in at all. But it doesn't have to be that way. Training (or re-training) a horse to trailer can be just another relaxed progression in his education. How you approach it makes all the difference in the world. The key lies in developing trust, communication and confidence AWAY from the actual trailer. Each piece of the trailer loading equation can be broken down. I'll be sharing an exercise each month that will help your horse learn the skills and confidence he'll need when you finally do ask him to load.
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