unloading horses

Question
QUESTION: I have just read your answer to a lady having problems unloading a young mare. i am in the exact same position, i have a 4 year old mare and 2 others. Both my other horses load and unload perfectly. the only difference is that this mare has been in a nasty floating accident recently and although I can now get her back onto a float she refuses to unload backwards. The accident was approx 2 months ago and she went back on first time of asking 1 week later. She is a really gently mare, please help

ANSWER: Stephanie,

You have one major difference from the previous answer, your horse has had a tremendous traumatic experience.  This is going to take a lot of patience and time.  Put yourself in her shoes.  Only differnce being you're a lot smarter so can realize that conquering your fear is your task.  In her case, she's not that smart and will have to learn to overcome her fears.  I'm not exactly sure what you are refering to when you say "float".  The closest I can come is a trailer accident.  I would suggest the same approach as in a trailer problem.  The Parelli techniques will work, I'm sure, in this case too.  The object of Parelli's work is to get the horse to thinking about what is going on, not just reacting instinctively.  I was in a nasty accident with a friend of mine in 1992 while driving my pony, Spice, in her new, cob-size Meadowbrook cart.  We we hit by an elderly man in a pick-up truck; I took out his right headlight with my head.  I was shaking when I got back into my cart, with Spice, and drove him again.  And it was a very long time before I was able to drive on the road without having to force myself not to watch over my shoulder every time I heard a car coming behind me.  I knew I had to work my way through it but it was very hard.  Your mare has to do the same thing.  She'll come around but it's going to take patience, love and time on your part.  

Lyn

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Lyn
You mention the Parelli techniques in your answer.
Could you explain a bit more about this please.
What sort of thing should I be doing? Would this be working from the ground first outside the trailer?
Or is there something I can do inside the trailer?
Thanks
Stephanie

Answer
Stephanie,

Best thing I can tell you is to get a copy of Pat Parelli's video on handling trailer issues.  It's far better for you to watch it being done than for me to try to explain it to you.  It demonstrates beautifully how to work a horse on getting on and off the trailer and standing quietly on the trailer.  I like the Parelli videos because it's so much better to watch the work being done vs reading about it.  They are available on-line through a number of different sources so you shouldn't find it hard to get.  

Parelli does natural horsemanship and round pen work.  There are a lot of natural horsemanship trainers out there and the philosophy is the same in every case.  Connect with the horse, get it to thinking rather than just reacting in an uncomfortable situation.  I know you will find the video helpful and it will give you the technique to use to help your girl through her issues with the trailer.

Lyn