How to Load a Troubled Trailer Loader

 frustrated because this stupid, stubborn horse won’t get in the #$#@%%#! trailer. The horse is scared to the point of fighting for his life because the #$#@%%#! handler won’t leave him alone and doesn’t understand how scared he is. The biggest problem with this scenario is how emotionally charged the whole episode has become. It has turned into a personal attack from both ends of the lead rope.

Many of these horses know how far they need to go to back the handler down. They are often prepared to go further than we are. From his point of view, the horse has accepted that there is no easy way out. He is literally fighting for his life. Put yourself in his shoes for a moment: if you were cornered and you feared for your life you would fight. It is in all of us, the instinct to survive; if the options were fight or die you would not just lie down.

By the time the horse gets to this point there is no easy way to resolve the issue.

What has to happen is the horse has to become more involved in the process. The handler shouldn’t have to change techniques but he may need to take a different philosophical approach. There should often be more preparation. That means things like authority need to be resolved before you ever look at a trailer. The technique you are going to use should be practiced away from the trailer. If your horse has been hurt or traumatized by or in a trailer, emotional healing may need to be addressed before there is success. If this is the case, I have clients get their horse a Reiki treatment before I even think about trying to load their horse.

When these things are done the process around the trailer itself must take on a new dynamic. Our attitude must be more positive. We must have lots of time but also not turn it into a marathon session. We MUST NOT be emotional during the actual loading and we have to let the horse work through whatever he feels he needs to before he can think about getting in the trailer. It all comes down to changing the horse’s perception of what the trailer means to him. We may also need to change our idea of what success is. It could take several sessions to rebuild the confidence necessary for the horse to become consistent.
This all takes time, so don’t be in a hurry. If you expect it to all get better after you have a trainer out you could be disappointed. Or maybe, more importantly, your horse may be disappointed. Many trainers have had great success but any trainer that tells you he has never failed to get a horse to load is either lying to you or has not had much experience. I still remember the first time I couldn’t get a horse loaded. It was a blow to my ego. As a horse owner it is important that you don’t let any handler take advantage of your horse because their ego won’t let them quit.

The next time you attempt to load your horse, try to see it from the horse’s point of view. Success is achievable no matter how bad the horse has become; just remember there are more factors at play than we may think.