Trouble loading on the trailer

Question
Hi,
I have a 13-year-old TB, she was a rescue. She was born/raised where she was rescued from but has been out of there for about a year and half. The old owner said she was put on a trailer twice and blind folded to get on. When we got her she gave us some problems but they got better. Then her old owner came to a show a month ago and was standing near by when we were loading to go home.  She was running us into the trailer and rearing up(which she has NEVER done). Finally after an hour she loaded. But now we're still having some problems again getting her on. Once she's on shes fine and she backs off good its just getting on. She ducks out on a side, pops up, or jus locks herself in front. We've tried coaxing her on with grain, treats, hay etc(she'll do just about anything for food but load). When she gets close we've given her some time to relax then try for a few more steps. Do you have any suggestions about how to practice getting her to load better? Thanks.
Kate

Answer
Hi Kate

This is going to take time.  You cannot hurry this up, and there is no 'quick fix'.  No shortcuts, nothing.

She has had a bad time in the trailer, it's small, dark, and confined, and she is displaying the usual reluctance of a horse to go into a small, dark, (to her) smelly, box, and be shut in for a time, and then be taken out of the box at a different location away from her friends and familiar surroundings.  It's understandable that she is scared.

One way is to get a front unloading trailer, and park it in the field/yard, and walk her through it, taking time and patience, let her set her own pace, and have both ramps down, the rear loading ramp and front unloading ramp. When she is doing this happily, and easily, then take her in, leave the front ramp down, but shut the rear ramp.  praise her, give her a feed, and then walk her quietly out.  

Carry on doing this until she is happy, and then close both ramps, and so on until she is settled and happy to satnd quiet;ly in the trailer.  

Another way is to take two lunge lines with you to shows, when you are loading to come home, clip one to either side of the trailer, and get one person on each line.  As she walks forwards, close the lines at the back of her...most horses, feeling something up their bottoms will walk forwards, into trailer, and away you go.  Simple, stress free loading.  

Hope this has helped, and if you have any other problems, please feel free to contact me.

Emma xx