Unloading from a trailer

[wranglinbmcr@yahoo.com]

Hi,
I have never encountered this problem but does anyone have any ideas on how to get a horse to unload from a trailer.
Thanks

[4jpainthorses]

We had a problem with a horse backing out of our slant load. What we did was put long ropes on each side of his halter like plow lines and made him back out. A couple of times of doing this and he backed out fine after that.

[mart]

What kind of trailer ???

[My Ladyhawke]

We bought a mare that did not want to back out of a trailer, straight load, no divider. My daughter took hold of clip on lead rope, started jerking down on it lightly and continued to add pressure until she backed out. You just have to be consistent with the pressure and reward every little step they take by releasing the pressure. Always reward the slightest try. It took awhile to get the message across and have never had a problem since. Sometimes I just think they are not certain what is back there other than a step down and they think that is stepping off the Grand Canyon until they do it a few times.

[Larry]

I would just go back to the groundwork and get her to back up on the ground. When unloading just go slow and be patient, use the same commands you use with the groundwork. It just takes practice. Some are just unsure of what's behind them. Now I have the opposite problem. My horse backs up in the trailer until his hindfoot touches the ramp, then he raises his head, rears and bolts off the trailer, almost falls down each time. We practice and practice, he backs very well and easily on the ground but something about the ramp makes him panic. He used to bolt off backwards before we could even put the butt bar up but now that problem is corrected and he loads well and stands quietly on the trailer while we put the butt bar up. I have a straight load, walk-thru warmblood sized trailer. I've tried to hold him and put some gentle pressure on the halter, telling him to go slow, but he ends up dragging me off the trailer. I've had one trainer say that he's telling me he doesn't like being on the trailer and to practice loading him part way and backing him off. If I do this, I'm afraid that he will stop loading. Oh, did I mention that he's a Thoroughbred? Any other suggestions?

[mart]

Originally Posted by Larry

I would just go back to the groundwork and get her to back up on the ground. When unloading just go slow and be patient, use the same commands you use with the groundwork. It just takes practice. Some are just unsure of what's behind them. Now I have the opposite problem. My horse backs up in the trailer until his hindfoot touches the ramp, then he raises his head, rears and bolts off the trailer, almost falls down each time. We practice and practice, he backs very well and easily on the ground but something about the ramp makes him panic. He used to bolt off backwards before we could even put the butt bar up but now that problem is corrected and he loads well and stands quietly on the trailer while we put the butt bar up. I have a straight load, walk-thru warmblood sized trailer. I've tried to hold him and put some gentle pressure on the halter, telling him to go slow, but he ends up dragging me off the trailer. I've had one trainer say that he's telling me he doesn't like being on the trailer and to practice loading him part way and backing him off. If I do this, I'm afraid that he will stop loading. Oh, did I mention that he's a Thoroughbred? Any other suggestions?

All of mine love a trailer and will literally follow a truck down the road if they have a trailer hooked up !! Not always our trailer !! And lord help anyone that pulls in our pasture with one hooked up !! In your case I would take the ramp off and find a low spot that you can back up to so there is a small step to the ground and lay the ramp in front of the door so he cannot feel it till his back feet are on the ground then keep on backing him over the ramp !! If the ramp is laying flat on the ground it will not move nor will it make much noise so he shouldn`t have as much of a problem with it !! I would try that every day till he is used to it then put the ramp back on and try to back him off but with a smaller incline !! Work your way up to a regular step with the ramp on as normal !! You can try to lay the ramp on the ground and just have him stand a while on it !! I use range cubes to treat mine with while trailer trailer training and believe me, all you have to do is open the door and mine are in before you can even think about it !! And to answer your next question,,, No !! You do not have to continue to treat them after that !! But some horses equate food with security and you want them to feel secure while in a trailer !! Thats half the battle !!!

[westmar]

Depends on what type of unloading you are talking about.

Is it backing?

Does the horse bolt backward?

Does the horse turn around?

I would need more specifics to answer.

[wranglinbmcr@yahoo.com]

Originally Posted by mart

What kind of trailer ???

We have a Titan Gooseneck, stock trailer and then a bumper pull stock trailer. He wont back out but backs great on the ground and then if I turn him around he won't step out he jumps but when he jumps he is not close enough to the edge so he catches his feet and he trips coming out.

[mart]

What does he catch his feet on ?? Sounds like he has a bad unloading experience at one time or another and in order to avoid another one he is just jumping over it !! Like I said above I would get the trailer to a place that would give the shortest step possible between it and the ground !! And see if he will step out if he knows the ground is there !! I have seen many that jump out instead of walk out and in my opinion, I think its something about their depth perception !! Its hard for them to know the depth between trailer and ground when looking at it backwards !! At least for some horses !! I think that once he knows the distance by starting small and gradually building up to the correct step he may do fine !!

[My Ladyhawke]

Like I said before, they think they are stepping off the Grand Canyon and how many times do you do that? Just once. Like Mart says it's a depth perception unloading back or forward.