I didn't get a chance to take any of the horses to 3D Equestrian Ctr on Wednesday because we had to go to an Open House at the Jr. High School for my son instead. So instead I just hooked up the trailer and worked with Jake and trailer-loading (my Clyde/TB gelding).
He came right up to the gate once I had the trailer hooked up. All the horses are amazingly alert and curious once that trailer is hooked up! Either they think they're going somewhere, or someone is coming to visit!
Last summer when I loaded Jake up for the first time, he went into the trailer no problem, but had trouble backing out. Instead, he turned around and came out foward. But since he's so big, he would have trouble turning around and get a bit claustrophobic and bolt out. When I loaded him this time, he did the same thing. I tried to keep his head straight so he wouldn't turn around, but he just ignored me and pushed through and came out. So I stepped into the trailer and asked him forward, then backed him up and did this a few times. Then got him to put one foot on the trailer and back up, then 2 feet and back up. He had some trouble with
stepping down even with just the front 2 feet on the trailer, so we did this a few times until he licked his lips, backed away and started trying to graze. Then I had him try just 3 feet in the trailer, but once 3 feet were in, he came all the way in. So I tried to back him out from there. He got all 4 feet on the edge of the trailer before stepping down. He didn't like that much at all.
Last summer when I loaded Jake up for the first time, he went into the trailer no problem, but had trouble backing out. Instead, he turned around and came out foward. But since he's so big, he would have trouble turning around and get a bit claustrophobic and bolt out. When I loaded him this time, he did the same thing. I tried to keep his head straight so he wouldn't turn around, but he just ignored me and pushed through and came out. So I stepped into the trailer and asked him forward, then backed him up and did this a few times. Then got him to put one foot on the trailer and back up, then 2 feet and back up. He had some trouble with
stepping down even with just the front 2 feet on the trailer, so we did this a few times until he licked his lips, backed away and started trying to graze. Then I had him try just 3 feet in the trailer, but once 3 feet were in, he came all the way in. So I tried to back him out from there. He got all 4 feet on the edge of the trailer before stepping down. He didn't like that much at all. He definitely wouldn't have backed out if I hadn't been holding his head straight. Luckily, despite being really unconfident, he still respected me and did what I asked. Otherwise I may have been sandwiched in there! We lots of just forward and back in and out of the trailer. He never did get quite relaxed with it, but definitely less worried. Each time he took less time to relax and lick his lips once he was out.
I wonder if I taught him to back from zone 5 (tail) outside the trailer, if he'd listen inside the trailer? Maybe next time....
I wonder if I taught him to back from zone 5 (tail) outside the trailer, if he'd listen inside the trailer? Maybe next time....
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