Getting a horse on a trailor

Question
I have been working with my school's horsebarn, and I came upon a horse with a very stubborn attiude. While working there this summer my task was to load him in to a trailor because that is one thing that he has a problem with. I tried loading another horse on the trailor, using food, blindfolding, trying to make him go in backwards, and we did try with the rope with people behind him. We have a ramp on our trailor and he will stick his front feet on but refuses to stick his back feet on. Do you have any suggestions? Thank you,
Kayla

Answer
Hi Kayla,
         If this horse is in a pasture that you can put the round pen in then I would put his hay and grain into it. Each day move it future and future back so that he/she has to go into the trailer to eat.  If you do not have access to a pasture where you can put it in then I would first teach him to lead walk forward and stop on command. Use a lunge line with a chain that is over the nose and carry a lunge whip in your other hand. While holding the lead loosely tell him to walk up. at the same time give him a tap on the rump. After he takes a few steps say whoa or stop and pull on the lead with enough pressure to bring him to a stop. When he starts to walk again verbally praise him. Once you have him doing this with no trouble then lead him to the trailer. Make him walk forward to the trailer. Keep doing the walk and whoa steps and if he stops and does not want to move then back him up and walk him forward again. You want to do this until he walks into the trailer on your command.  Do this in a period of steps over a couple of days. Another thing you can do is lead your horse up to the trailer using the walk, whoa commands. When you are at the trailer offer him a bite of grain, then walk him so that his front feet on standing on the ramp. Let him take a moment or two standing on the ramp. If he will not go forward into the trailer  then just reward him and back him down and try again the next day. You can add a butt rope at this time to provide extra pressure.  Whatever method you do use you want the horse t realize that going forward is the way he wants to go as he will get lots of praise. Don't rush it and let him tak e his time.

Lisa