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FireLight
Gold Member
620 Posts |
 Posted - 05 May 2016 : 10:42:44 AM
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I have a 6 year old that has developed a strange loading issue. I traveled him about a year ago with his friend and he was fine, a bit sticky to load on the way home but traveled well. He has had splints so I haven't loaded him since then. Went to load him to practice last week, he went up the ramp then once in the box he lowered himself in a crouching position and then started to canter on the spot before launching himself out of the box. Tried him in a front and rear trailer with the ramps down and he does the same. He will go into the box/trailer happily even without his head collar on but then seems to have this panic attack. Some people have said just shut him in and go but this doesn't sit right with me as I want him to be confident and also I don't want him to go down in the box. I am not wanting to travel a lot but just want to have a nice experience if we do. Any advice appreciated. Thanks
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glo
Gold Member
England
1297 Posts |
Posted - 05 May 2016 : 12:13:46 PM
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| Practice then more practice! Have both front and back doors open, try to relax and just walk through. Take your time and he will soon settle. The key it to load like you don't care what he dose, just walk in and walk out, keep out of his way in case he jumps on you. |
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Nichola
New Member
Wales
14 Posts |
Posted - 05 May 2016 : 12:18:49 PM
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Hello I don't know if this will help you or not but thought I would make a suggestion. Years ago a had a pony that didn't like the box and this is what I did.
I started off by loading him on the back ramp but also opened the side ramp so he could see out breast bar was up. Once on board I shut all ramps and fed him his dinner and left him on the box for about 15 mins after whilst checking him through the jockey door. From then on I did this daily always feeding dinner and increasing the time. By the end of it the pony use to run to the box and loaded himself!
I can only assume he associated the box with dinner either way it worked for me and I never looked back.
I have a horse now that doesn't like the box and I will be doing the same routine with her next year after she has had the foal. I appreciate this must be scary and not nice when these panic attacks occur so it may be wise to stay on board talking to the horse and hand feeding for a while first until horse settles down a bit. Keep yourself in a safe position and good luck xx please let me know how you get on even if you use a different technique. |
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Nichola
New Member
Wales
14 Posts |
Posted - 05 May 2016 : 12:21:18 PM
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| Sorry I forgot to mention the partion in the trailer I also moved to make the space pony was entering bigger to x |
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debs
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
3218 Posts |
Posted - 05 May 2016 : 1:37:27 PM
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| Ah poor pony! As above, lots of practice and dinner on board! Hopefully he's a foodi! Good luck |
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Goldenmane
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
4964 Posts |
Posted - 05 May 2016 : 2:46:44 PM
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Was once told, when I was travelling with my horse, they can be like us, claustrophobic, (which I am and I was the one banging on the door to get out!)Agree with all the above suggestions.
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FireLight
Gold Member
620 Posts |
Posted - 05 May 2016 : 3:43:18 PM
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| Thanks for the suggestions. We have removed the partitions so it is one big area so I am safe in the trailer/box with him. I will try to feed him in it and stay with him but he seems to be quite irrational in his approach but will keep practicing. |
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DianaSC
Bronze Member
Spain
184 Posts |
Posted - 05 May 2016 : 6:27:39 PM
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Firelight, here's my five eggsworth.
He's telling you that there is something wrong (in his eyes) with the box. Go in it yourself, try to think like a horse, are there visible moving shadows or something like that which could scare a horse? Is it on uneven ground? Perhaps move the box to a different place to load?
What a star he is to go in the box in the first place. I would NOT shut him in at this stage. It might work but if it doesn't you could have an injured horse with a justified reason not to go in at all.
You know your horse, is he very motivated by food? If you put a bowl of food on the floor inside the trailer will he show interest in it? If he loves his food and isn't interested, it's a guide to his level of fear.
I would do what you're doing. Lead him through without pausing at all again and again. And again.
If he's OK with that, pause in the trailer for one second, then move on through. Do it over several days and increase the pause time gradually. At the start of each lesson, go back to stage one (no pause) each time. Always be ahead of his thought process, move him before he "crouches".
Once he's relaxed and will stand quietly, start feeding him in there. Stay with him. More days. Then gently put the rear ramp up, leave the front open. More days. Then swap, front ramp shut, back open. Then, if he's OK with that, shut both ramps. Stay with him on a lead rein and have someone, preferably two people, outside to get the ramp down fast if necessary.
It'll take as long as it takes but you should get there in the end. Good luck.
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Edited by - DianaSC on 05 May 2016 6:34:00 PM |
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FireLight
Gold Member
620 Posts |
Posted - 05 May 2016 : 8:43:25 PM
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| Thanks DianaSC, that was the way I am thinking. He will happily go in with me but can only stand about 5 minutes in it with me giving him bits of carrots. I try to walk him out before he crouches but sometimes he does it suddenly. I will try to extend his time stood in it, I am not in any rush as I need him accepting of each stage before we progress. |
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BeckyBoodle
Gold Member
Australia
795 Posts |
Posted - 05 May 2016 : 9:43:49 PM
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| That crouching and running thing is exactly what Eba used to do. We did the same as everyone recommends. Started feeding on the ramp of the trailer and just standing there plus walking through then in the trailer, slowly got it so we would close the front door then back. Now she can't wait to get in the box and go places, which given how badly she panicked I never thought she would. Time and patience and you will get there. And if you feel you need help ask for it. Not for loading - although he does a great job around it - I had Richard Maxwell out. He is great with tense horses. |
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FireLight
Gold Member
620 Posts |
Posted - 06 May 2016 : 12:39:44 PM
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| Funnily enough I used Richard Maxwell about 15 years ago to help my crabbet boy. He sorted his loading issues brilliantly but then his stress carried over into the travelling and he used to unload drenched in sweat, but loaded every time. I stopped travelling after about 3 years as he never improved and it was upsetting to see him so anxious. But agree Richard is excellent, quite like Michael Peace too. |
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Kharidian
Platinum Member
England
4297 Posts |
Posted - 06 May 2016 : 3:39:36 PM
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I think DianaSC has summed it up perfectly; but what a good little horse to still load even though he really doesn't like it.
Caryn |
Kharidian (Prince Sadik x Khiri)........ Alkara Cassino (H Tobago x Rose Aboud)
aka "Roger".................................... aka "Chips"
     
The first image is from an original painting by Pat Shorto.
South-East Essex |
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FireLight
Gold Member
620 Posts |
Posted - 06 May 2016 : 5:20:39 PM
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| Yes Kharidian he is a little star. I am very proud of him for what he tries to achieve. I want to take things slowly with him as he has led a very sheltered life and I don't want to abuse the trust he has in me, he always tries to please. |
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Loading problem
