Many horses have problems with trailers. Whether they don’t load, don’t stand, don’t unload or will only load in certain trailers, these issues make moving a horse a nightmare.
Trailering issues can keep you from moving the horse to a new stable, going on trail rides or going to shows. They even can be a matter of life and death if the horse needs to get to a veterinarian.
Many people think in the short term -- "How do I get my horse in the trailer right now?" -- but fixing trailering issues is a long-term project which is only made more difficult by many short-term fixes.
Ideally a horse will be trained in how to load and trailer properly when young, and future issues will be prevented by making trailering a good experience for the horse and making the horse trailer a safe place for it. If your horse was not lucky enough to have a good trainer when learning how to trailer, it will need your patience and understanding to become a good traveler.
In the short term: How to load your horse:
- Plan ahead.
- Have all of the supplies you will need ready.
- Lunge line
- Whip
- Rope halter
- Multiple people
- Hay, grain or treats
- Have trailer attached to the truck and ready for horses.
- Trailer does not have to be cleaned.
- The smell of other horses may comfort your horse and make the loading process easier.
- If your horse is used to a hay bag, having that ready in the front may also make loading more appealing.
- Make the trailer as open and inviting as possible.
- Open windows so the horses have light and air.
- Open all doors.
- Walk, facing forward, with your horse.
- Walk with purpose.
- Don’t expect problems, but be prepared for the horse to not enter the trailer.
- Stay calm, trying to keep the horse quiet.
- Loading should not be stressful for you or the horse.
- The person leading the horse should keep forward pressure on the halter if the horse is not walking forward.
- When the horse is moving forward, pressure should be released as a reward.
- Rope halters provide a sharper pressure to move forward and can be that extra incentive for the horse to listen to you.
- Know your horse.
- Know what sort of stimulus will help the horse and what will be detrimental to the situation.
- If the horse responds well to whips, use that to encourage it to step into the trailer.
- If the horse does not like whips and tends to get excited or scared, do not bring out the whip; use the lunge line.
- Make sure experienced horse people are there to help you
- Plan for this process to take a while.
Once you have your horse loaded, reward it. Give hay, grain, treats, praise or to whatever your horse responds best so that getting on the trailer is a good experience.
In the long term: How to have a horse that loads and trailers consistently:
Having a long-term strategy means you won’t have to have a fight every time you take your horse someplace. Taking several steps can get this accomplished.
- First: Make the trailer a safe place for the horse.
- Load the horse at home.
- Don’t drive anywhere.
- Unload after a short period.
- Have the horse eat its dinner or grain in the trailer.
- Load and unload several times.
- Second: After the horse loads at home consistently:
- Go for short rides.
- Only unload at home.
- The horse will realize it always comes home.
- Make the rides pleasant for the animal.
- Third: Short excursions.
- Go to trails or shows that are close to home.
- Make the experience short and pleasant.
- Avoid difficult rides or stressful shows.
- Fourth: Preventing problems.
- Keeping a hay bag in the trailer will make the horse much happier about being there.
- Drive quietly, brake early and turn slowly, giving the horse time to brace for maneuvers.
- Trailer often.
- The more that trailering is part of a horse’s routine, the less likely you are to have problems.
Stay patient. Good luck!
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