horse rearing in trailer

[awaldron]

Hi my name is Amy and my daughter has a 11 year old connemara x pony that has been trailered in a stock trailer before, he didn't like it but we didn't own him at the time so we didn't think anything of it. Well now we own him and trailered him home with another horse he was a nervous rider but he seemed ok when we took him out of the trailer. We wanted to take him to my daughters show barn for a lesson last week so I hooked up the trailer and put him in it took a few minutes to get him it but then he justed walked in. Well, my friend shut the ramp and the pony reared and had his front feet over the chest bar. I never saw anything like this before he was trying to jump into the small area in the front where I was standing. She quickly lowered the ramp and I unhooked the pony he then threw himself over the divider and got himself turned around in the trailer..He then reared and had him front feet over the butt bar. we quickly pulled the pin on the butt bar and he just walked out like nothing happened. Any suggestions on how to get this pony to trailer? We want to show him. Thanks for any ideas anyone out there may have. Amy

[4jpainthorses]

At some time he has probably had a bad experience with a trailer. I would either have the trailer hooked up or blocked up well and feed him in it. To start with have all the bars down and do not close the door or ramp. Let him be able to go in and out of it. After a few times or however long it takes then put the front bar up and continue feeding him in it.
Next try letting him in to eat and close the door or ramp on him. He may act up for a few minutes but should settle down and eat. Do this until he is not acting up when you put him in to eat. Also put in a hay bag with hay. He should get to where it does not bother him for the door to be closed on him. (I had one horse that as long as she had a bag of hay in front of her she was fine hauling but if you didn't have hay in the trailer she was the worst hauler in the world. She would win when you got to a show, so I always kept hay in front of her.)
Next step will be to actually haul him a short distance after he is comfortable with being in the trailer. He will learn that the trailer is a good experience not bad.

[awaldron]

thanks for your help I will start feeding him in it and see how that goes. Amy

[horserandi]

4jpainthorses advice is really great, its really good to feed him keeping the door closed or ramp on him

[allvira]

Why don't you go for a long ride along with the horsy?? LOL.

Anyways, thanks 4jpainthorses for your wonderful suggestion. Follow it & get all the needful task done.

Thanks,
Allvira