Re: RC: horse and trailer

[Maureen Mathisen <blueoak@snowcrest.net>]

Pam,

Perhaps this horse had a bad experience in loading before you bought
her.  You might try starting over just as if she'd never been loaded. 
One method I use with my colts(and others who have not loaded much) is
is you have a big pen or field you could leave your truck and trailer in
for several days, try putting all her feed in the front of the trailer. 
It make take several days, and I leave a trail" of grain leading to the
front.  She may associate the trailer in a better way after while.

If this doesn't work(or you can't do it) I would NOT get into the slant
load with her--she could panic and you could get hurt.  Try putting in
feed and leading her in from the side with a long rope and LET her back
out as many times as she wants until she feels comfortable going in and
out.

OR--get someone to help you, have them hold the rope run through the
front, and you take a long carriage whip and gently"tap" her on the rump
over and over(DO NOT hit her, but just make it annoying"")  if this
works, have the front person reward her , pass the rope toward the back,
and try to control her so she gets out more slowly.  All of these will
take many hours if she is really afraid.  If any of them work, the next
thing to do is shut the door quietly.  Don't tie her fast yet.  Do this
many times before you take her for a ride, and then make it just a short
"schooling" one.  If it is safe, another quiet horse might go along to
make her calmer.  

If All else FAILS, ask the vet for a tranquilizer and proceed with the
above techniques.  I had a mare who was beaten in a  trailer, and her
heart rate would go up 30 beats just approaching one!  the tranquilizer
did the trick so she could settle down and learn.  Hope some of this
helps..be careful!
Maureen

Momma244@aol.com wrote:
> 
> I have a new 5 year old mare that I am having trouble loading. She has been
> with me for three weeks and today I got her to go in my 3 horse slant  after
> a lot of coaxing.   Coming out she nearly ran me over and bolted out.  This
> is the first time I have had these problems and I am flumoxed.  My two other
> horses have never given me any trouble.  I must be losing it.  Any
> suggestions. Don't have the money for a trainer right now because need the
> extra cash for gasoline!
> Thanks in advance.
> Pam
> 
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=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.    
Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/RideCamp   
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=