I hope someone here can help me with this.
For 1,5 year ago I got my current horse. He is a very sensitive horse both to sound and movement and is responsive to everything. Normally he is very calm and I never feel scared when I'm with him. I trust him fully on the ground and when I'm riding.
But when it comes to offloading from a trailer, he panics, his eyes turn and he breathes heavily. He can both try to sit down and in that way jump out backwards. Or on one or two occasions he has hit his head up against the ceiling before jumping out. I'm so scared that he will hurt himself or others, so for now we are not going anywhere with a trailer.
When onloading and when cloasing the doors he is calm and goes willingly into the trailer. Even when we are driving he is calm.
The panic kicks in as soon as we open the doors. I got told, that a few years ago, he was inside a trailer while the trailer dismounted of the car. The trailer rolled down the road with him inside and stopped when it crashed into a fence. The horse didn't get hurt, but ofcourse he got the worst shock in his life I imagine. And I think that this is the reason for his panic to get out, when the doors open.
How can I train him to get rid of his fear? To get him to offload without panic. So that he and evryone around him can be safe.
I don't own a trailer on my own, so is there any way I can train him without a trailer?
← back
Horse Behavior and Training
While offloading, my horse panics when I open the backdoor of the trailer.
Rewards
Subscribe to Equus Online University and become a part of Monty's worldwide mission to leave the world a better place for horses and for people too.
Students automatically gain access to special rewards, such as exclusive discounts at the Monty Roberts Online Shop. Visit Monty Roberts Online Shop.
Not sure if I can help out here as he has had a serious tromour. Hitting his head on the way out certainly makes it more scary for him. Some trailers, angle trailers are made so that the horse can walk out without backing out it would be great if you could try him in one of these first or otherwise a truck type trailer like the one Monty uses where your horse can turn around inside the truck. Have you watched Monty' s recent videos on loading? Do watch these if you haven't already. If you are unable to use one of these types of trailers to retrain him with then persevere with the conventional trailer. He needs a lot of re-assurance but as he loads easily you task will be easier. As he mounts the ramp then gently back him off again. Keep on doing this allowing him to move up the ramp further each time until he finally steps into the trailer. Continue moving him forwards and backing him off until you have him in place. Now back him out and then try walking him all the way in and then back him out again - do this until he appears totally relaxed. Remember to give him lots of rewards by rubbing him in his favourite places when he is responding. Keep your hand gently rubbing his head as you back him off if you can. Plus talk to him gently all the time - this will help you to relax too. I always have to load and unload by myself and if a horse is inclined to come out a bit quickly I tend to stand on the side of the ramp where I am safe and gently hold my hand just below their tail on the leg closest to me to restrain them gently and keep them from stepping off the side of the trailer too. They enjoy a bit of a rub there too as it is a difficult spot for them to reach. If your horse is tolerate to ropes around him and behind him then holding a rope gently around him restraining him as he backs out may make him feel more secure. My mare fell backwards out of my float once when I was stupid enough to accidentally open the tail gate prior to untying her. She panicked when she went to back out broke the bail twine then fellout backwards. She had always been perfect to load and unload prior to this but was terrified by this experience. As she was excellent with ropes - quiet and responsive to their pressure I simply used a long lead rope which I looped behind her then gently encouraged her in and out with the rope - one hand holding the end of the looped long along with the end attached to the halter and the other hand gently on her chest - she is very responsive to any pressure. I had to do this for a few months until she regained her confidence. She is excellent again now. Good luck with it. It will take time and patience - perhaps you could hire a float for a day as a starting point. I would do it alone or with just one helper as your horse knows and trusts you and you need to minimizes the distractions for your horse and any danger to others.
Dear Stjarnir, As for horses, they associate mind, situations and "pictures" and pain. It might start with a horse that starts to have a problem with the SI joint and moving faster out of a trailer due to pain, this might get them to raise their head and accidently hit the head. Next time they are to be unloaded they associate the mind setting adrenaline level and the movement, and it escalates. It is very common this scenario. In Montys book From my hands to Yours you find a chapter on a horse that has hit his head and need a lot of physiologic training putting "new pictures" in and to be able to associate in a different way.
So to solve your horses problem this is how you can work:
1, Make sure he is 100% okey in SI joint and neck,
2. Protect his head so not to associate with pain, and practise to back out of for example the stable doors. You can also put on something so he cant hear so much, the sounds often get the horses to escalate faster.
3. Make sure he is NOT TIED in the trailer before you make any move behind the trailer
4. Dually and a Long Line when unloading and to not bump the line when he is in a hurry out
5. Ask him to go into the trailer again and practise till he have new pictures and associate the situation in a different way.
You will pick up many good thoughts in both the chapter with the non loader and the tied up horse so it will be easier for you to understand what your horse goes through mentally. Good Luck, Stay safe and keep us updated.
Warmest CI Ann Lindberg
Thank you so much. I will try my very best to train him the way You have adviced me.
with grditute from Ruth
this is called scrambling. My mare used to scramble and when we first picked her up she was fine to get on and to travel but when offloading she would "scramble" and rear, carry on because she was interested in getting off so bad that she reared and hit her head on the top of the edge of the float and could have killed herself. Get yourself a dually halter and school her with this for a few sessions until she respects it. Get him/her out of the paddock as much as you can, probably 2-3 times a week is a good idea to do this, and just load and unload her onto the float until shes mildly relaxed with getting off or better than she was when she started that day, then just repeat this. i would say the best thing to do the first session is to not let her out and just sit her in the float with the but bars behind her and just pat her, scratch her, give her some hay to eat and then let her walk down the float ramp. after each session, give her her feed or a bag of carrots or her favourite treat. hope this helps thanks!
I have a thought going through my mind but I wont ramble on until I know the answer to a question :-) Is it a trailer with a ramp at the back (as most are in UK) or is like many US trailes with a step up/down?