ridecamp@endurance.net: Help! - Trailering / floating troubles with young horse!

Help! - Trailering / floating troubles with young horse!

Poole Chris (cpoole@aidpo.agric.wa.gov.au)
Wed, 6 Aug 1997 21:17:10 -0700 (PDT)

I have been off-line for some time due to a glitch with my Email, so am
using a friends PC to send this request for help! I have a 6yo Connemara
cross Arab gelding who I have been working on for endurance. To ride he is
really great - attitude says go! although sometimes a tad impatient, likes
to rear to get out of any situation he finds uncomfortable( not while
riding, only on the ground, shoeing, washing etc.) and I am having problems
getting him to go onto a float (trailer). He actually will go on now after
some coaxing, although if you try to push him, he rears up on the ramp, or
backs out with his head in the air nearly hitting the roof! I have been
using a bum rope which seems to work, but have not got him to the tie up
stage as I am afraid he may rear up in the float so frightening himself that
I will never get him on again! In so saying, he has definitely improved on
backing out, with less rush and a lower head carriage, is it just a matter
of time to get him comfortable? Would it help to tie his rope under the
chest bar rather than over it? Also, I thought that loading him with a
friend inside would help, but my mare (who is a good floater) decided to
carry on and try to get off before being untied, creating a worse problem
and perhaps scaring Zeppelin? Should I try without her? The big problem is
that I have to float him to a ride this weekend - Ha ha! When we bought
him, he was naughty getting on the float, but after a few rears before the
ramp, he eventually went on and stood quite calmly and travelled very well.
This was on his own - could maybe the mare be making him feel
claustrophobic? Basically, i just don't want to frighten him or cause a
future problem with travelling, and having never had a horse who likes to
rear like this, I am not quite sure as how to handle it. Also, I have found
that he is VERY stubborn, but force just does not work, and coaxing and
cuddling seems to be the best way to handle him - a nose twitch does work
wonders whilst shoeing though! Any help or advice would be much appreciated.
Thanks in advance!
Carol Willcocks and crew
Pandora, Zeppelin and Al Jahara

Home Events Groups Rider Directory Market RideCamp Stuff