Training a horse to load in a trailer

How to load your horse in a trailer:

If you've ever had the experience of being unable to load a horse into a trailer, you know the true meaning of frustration. I think of all horse related experiences, loading balky horses in trailers is the truest test of patience. The worst comes out in the horse as well as the horse handler.

And in training horses to load in trailers, patience is key. If you lose it, they will lose it.

To train a horse to load in a trailer, plan well in advance of an occasion where you need to take your horse somewhere. Time is needed--days, possibly weeks of months even, for horses that have had bad trailering experiences.

1. Start by leading your horse slowly around the trailer, letting him sniff and examine it as much as he desires. Better yet, park the trailer in the paddock, or round pen with the horse for a few days. Leave the doors open and let him get used to seeing it. Probably you should remove any halter from your horse so he doesn't accidentally catch himself on the trailer. Check to make sure there are no sharp edges, or anything that could cause an injury. Tie the doors open, so they won't slam on him if the wind blows. Horses are naturally curious and if you are lucky, the horse will get in and out of the trailer to experiment.

2. Halter the horse and lead him up to the trailer matter of factly. Some horses will hop right in. Don't get in with him. I would recommend shutting the door behind him, if the horse does load into the trailer. Snap his halter to the trailer ties and let him stand. Praise the horse and pet him, letting him have time to calm down and contemplate his new situation, at least 15 or 20 minutes. If he kicks, paws and acts up, speak to him in a soothing voice.

3. More likely, your horse did not load into the trailer. Instead, he braced his front legs, and pulled back when you tried to urge him forward into the horse trailer with the lead rope. In that case, circle him around and try again. Don't be rough or angry--just patiently try again. If he still won't load into the horse trailer, put him on a lunge line and with a lunge whip have him walk in circles around you behind the trailer. Keep him moving, and try to drive him toward the trailer. Be very careful to keep your distance, as many horses will kick out at you, or lunge forward if they are agitated. Stay out of range of the hind legs, and don't get run over either.

4. If the horse extends his head into the horse trailer, or starts to load, let him do so. If he still refuses, keep him going. You want him to learn that the most comfortable, easy place for him is pointing his head toward the trailer and moving forward. Every place else should be full of hard work and motion. When he starts to do what is right, make it comfortable. When he refuses, make him do other things that take exertion. But do it patiently and don't lose your cool, though you're probably steaming inside, if your horse is as balky as mine.

5. What's key here is to praise and encourage him and let up the pressure with the lead and the whip when he takes a step in the right direction. Otherwise, keep him moving and exercising. You are trying to teach him that doing the wrong things (not loading into the trailer) take a lot more energy and work than doing the right things (loading into the horse trailer). If he plants his feet and won't budge, don't try to have a tug-of-war. The horse will win. Instead, turn his head and make him do a 360 on the forehand or hindquarters. Or else back him up and make him back in a circle, and see how he likes that.

6. This may take several days or weeks even, but eventually, your horse might get the right idea. If not, I will tell you about sterner measures later.