Re: RC: horse and trailer

[Horsestwo@aol.com]

Pam; 

 Please see my response to Diane's (knaptyme @aol.com) message about trailer 
loading on ridecamp.  I have had such good responses from both of my horses 
because of the John Lyons' methods I used to teach them to get into the 
trailer and out of the trailer.  The tape that JL made called "Leading and 
Loading" is most useful because the cue to get into the trailer is just an 
extension of the cue when leading.  Leading exercises will teach your horse 
to have better ground manners (useful by itself) but will also help when your 
horse wants to blast past you stepping out of a slant or backing out of 
straight load trailer.  Even horses that were bad loaders/riders can learn to 
CALMLY load and ride.  That is the unspoken benefit to JL methods as when you 
are teaching this technique you never proceed unless and until the horse is 
calm at each step.  You don't rush the procedure but are adamant that the 
horse respond to the "go forward" cue.  Also, the horse loads each one of its 
feet many, many times and so unloads itself many, many times.  The problem 
with lots of other methods is that you get the horse in because it is tired 
of being tapped or it is seeking relief from ropes or prodding but once in, 
it panics and wants out.  This is where the horse rushes out or turns around 
in the slant and leaps out.  If the horse has gotten three quarters of the 
way in and back out dozens of times it won't be such a big deal when it gets 
in all the way.  You can then give it the cue to back out (usually just 
pressure on the lead) and praise the horse for a good job.  After a short 
break ask the horse to get in all the way again and back out with your cue.  
Then start asking the horse to stay in longer while you bang the door or the 
partition simulating the normal noise encountered when trailering.  If you 
are going to allow the horse to turn around in the trailer to step out and 
have worked with leading lessons you will be able ask the horse to stop its 
feet and wait for the cue to proceed or even back up in the slant load 
trailer.  

April Lee (adlee@bigfoot.com)  recommends the Feb. and March "Perfect Horse" 
as having the latest info from JL about trailer loading and I give that a 
hearty "amen"!  Good luck with whatever you do and stay safe.

Melanie in AZ


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