How to Trailer Train Your Horse - Load Your Horse The Easy Way

When you are ready to load your horse to go up the hill, or to join friends for a nice ride, the last thing you want to have to worry about is whether or not it will willingly get in. Since it is almost a given that the horse is bigger than you are (unless you are Hoss Cartwright or the Hulk), the chances of you pushing, or pulling, it into where you want it are slim to non-existent.

One way to train a trail horse to get into a trailer is to walk in ahead of the animal holding some of its favorite food or treat. Something like a small bucket of oats, a handful of alfalfa, a lump of sugar, apple, or commercial horse treats should work well for this. This is a two person operation to start with. Make sure you have a door at the front end of the trailer, or some other opening, so you can safely get out of the trailer once the animal is in. Once you have gotten into the trailer turn around and face the animal, then show them the treat in your hand, or the bucket. Let them get a bit of a taste or smell so that they are interested, then slowly walk backwards until you have them all the way in the trailer. Remember to always remain calm, as they can smell or sense fear or nervousness. At this point you can have someone else close the door behind them so they do not back out. You can, if needed, secure the animal to a harness ring at this point. Once the animal has gotten used to this, and it will take a few times for that to happen, you can simply put the treat at the front end of the trailer before opening the doors to load the animal.

A second way, if you have a good bond with the horse, is to simply sit in the front end of the trailer and whistle, or use whatever signal your horse is used to, and then sit there and pet or nuzzle them to make them feel comfortable. Again always make sure you have a safe exit hole or door, just in case the animal gets spooked. This way may take a little longer, but it reduces the number of snacks your horse gets, and if weight is an issue this is a good thing. Be patient, in time they will be comfortable getting in the trailer.

View the original article here