"So regardless of what you decide on -- make sure
YOUR horses load safely. Letting 'em jump over a ramp or race out of a
trailer or 'wander' off the edge of a ramp is just asking for
trouble...."
Hi Bonnie,
I'll weigh in on your side, at least to some
extent. I got ramps because I have an old horse with horrific
ringbone. Even though in his youth he preferred step-ups, it would be
too painful for him to jump out at this point. When I no longer haul him
anywhere, I might change to step-up for many of the reasons cited.
That said, before I got my trailer I used to have
to pay to have my horse hauled and the Sunshine was a terrible loader and has
wandered off more ramps than you could count and still never came close to
getting a leg under. On the other hand, backing out of a step-up onto
asphault, even though he is extremely well-balanced and was very careful, used
to make my whole life flash before my eyes. I think the problem is not
so much more or less room under a step-up or ramp, but that horses are large
top heavy animals and that, combined with a natural terror of being down and
trapped, do argue for additional training such as Jim does.
So, Jim, I suppose there is some kind of video out
about how to train horses to let you sit on them, etc.?
