trailering issue

Question
I have purchased a thoroughbred 4yo last year.  When we when to pick her up the owner told us that we will need to be ACED in order to get her on the trailer.  She told us that she is not a great loader and that when she got her from the track that is what they told her to do.  We decided not to ACE her and spent 5 hours trying to load and were successful.

I have since been working on training her to be an eventer and have had enormous success.  She is ready to go.  That is if we could infact secure her in the trailer.

After much training on loading onto the trailer, she gets on.  I must add that she has excellent ground manners. but the last time we tried to this time put the butt bar up on the trailer and she freaked out. she flew back into the but bar, thrashed around and if you can believe this actually ducked down and crawled out backwards under the butt bar.

I have trained many difficult horses myself to trailer and for three day eventing with success and I have never seen this.  I can say that this is a first, and I am in need of some advice.

My horse is ready to clean up in the eventing world her dressage is awesome, she loves to jump everything.  I m sure that she would love it if we could get her anywhere.

After our our horrific time backing under the but bar she immediately got on the trailer.  I t is a closing up issue.  I honestly can say I am afraid to try again.

Answer
Hi Kristen!

I can see why you are afraid to try again...what you described is not only bad for their training but can be so very dangerous to all involved.

There is no quick fix in training.  Nothing is going to work on this mare but time, consistency and pressure....kinda like making a diamond out of coal!  LOL!!

You will need to re-introduce her to the trailer slowly but firmly.  Do it when she is in the proper frame of mind (tired and relaxed) and you are not in a hurry.  It is far superior to do many, short lessons in a week than 1 long one.  You want to over-familerize her to the trailer so that it means nothing to her.  It needs to cease meaning fear to her and come to mean nothing.

Of course, this should have been done when she was under 2 yrs. old and then no one would have to fix this terrible problem but, that's spilled milk.

If you have a helper, a bucket of treats and patience, you should focus on one small goal every training lesson and attempt to accomplish it in under 30 min.  Going too long will only exasperate her and ruin the mood.  4-5 times a week is good and start with the littlest thing.  Walk her around the trailer and let her sniff it, if she will get that close.  "Good Girl!" and that is it.  You are building a foundation of trust and the first few stones are important even if boring.

In the end when she is actually going to go on the trailer.... I suggest you be in an enclosed outdoor arena.  This way she cannot bolt off of the property....and once she is inside, just leave her.  DO NOT attempt to restrain her in any way or put up the butt bar or ramp.  Just walk her on and stand in front of her.  You must be calm and nonchalant as if you all do this everyday and it's perfectly normal.  If she runs out the back, simply catch her, walk her back around to sniff the trailer, show her it's not full of lions and try again or put her home....whatever you feel is the right thing for her.

Go from there at her speed.  If you get the vibe that she will stand quietly and calmly try closing the ramp.  You should be able to feel her mood and what she is capable of handling.

This can only be solved through training techniques that will stick forever and when you need them the most...like at a future show.  Beatings and drugs are temporary fixes for emergencies only.  You want a mare that truly is not fazed by the trailer and has solid training to fall back on when she gets nervous.

Good luck and remember to always wear an ASTM/SEI approved helmet!

Solange