I can add another touch to this just in case you
ever get in a position where you HAVE to get a reluctant backer out of a trailer
NOW
Add a lunge line or long rope on both sides
of the halter, run them down each side of the horse to the outside at the back
of the trailer. Two people, or one stout person, can "drive" the
horse backwards to make the first scary hind step down without letting him
jump back in, then it's pretty easy to let them step out with fronts
quietly.
Of course it's better to spend some time teaching
"step in with one front, step back, two fronts in step back, one hind
in, step back, etc., but now and then s--t happens and it must be
NOW. Only ever had to do this couple of times in a pinch, but it works
fine and spent some time later so didn't ever need it on those horses
again.
One tip I have is to leave the leadrope
attached, and swing it over to the side of the horse that will have the outside
bend, then encourage them to bend by laying the rope along their side and along
their haunch to put pressure on the outside butt cheek. That seems about
as clear as mud when I write it, so I'll try another way.
The
horse is facing to the left as you look at the back of the trailer, so you want
the leadrope along their right side. Without pulling on the head too much,
which will get the horse out of the alignment you need, you want to pull
straight back, and lay the line into the horse's right butt cheek, about the
level of the stiufle. They should want to move backwards, because the pull
is on their head, and also they should want to swing their butt to the left,
thus going around the corner. If that still isn't clear, let me
know. jeri
