Takin the Woe out of Loading

Having a horse refuse to load can be a one of the most stressful and demoralizing incidents a person can experience in the normal course of day to day horse ownership. It can be irritating and disappointing when a horse refuses to load at home, but it is a worrying and distressing episode for all concerned when a horse refuses to load at a show or event.

When teaching a horse to load my technique is to apply a simple method of reverse psychology. The most important aspect of this is for the horse to learn that the trailer or lorry is a comfortable and stress free space. Therefore I strive to do very little to a horse when standing within or directly in front of a trailer. In fact I only try to create pressure through movement and work whenever the horse is not in proximity of the trailer and ramp.

The typical mistake we all make is that we apply pressure to our horses when trying to get them to move towards the trailer. We then indirectly (and accidentally) offer our horses release of pressure when they avoid or evade moving towards the trailer. A few repetitions of this behaviour teaches a horse to actively evade loading. The most regularly seen example of this is witnessing someone having a hard time trying to pull a horse into a trailer, only for the horse to fight the pressure on the ramp, and step off the side of the ramp achieving a release of pressure. In this context the horse is feeling physical and emotional pressure in the proximity of the trailer, and gaining release and comfort by stepping off the side of the ramp. It only takes a few seconds of release from pressure for a horse to learn that this is the best course of action in a repeatable circumstance (this release of pressure is a core principle of all horse riding and training). What I am looking to do when teaching a horse to load is to offer them comfort and relaxation when in front or moving towards the trailer, or to put them to exercise should the horse decide to move away from the trailer.

What I mean by “working” or “exercising” a horse is that I should be able to direct and move a horse around, creating an area of effort or exertion without causing fear or distress. This can be trotting small circles, disengaging the hind of the horse, or backing a horse up.

So the area in front of a trailer including the ramp and the trailer itself is the relaxation area - anywhere else is the exercise area.

For a horse to understand what I am defining as the exercise area, it is necessary to teach them a rudimentary amount of groundwork and in-hand work. It is an important principle of all horse riding and training that the horse is familiar with (and is able to comprehend) the various types of pressure being applied. When I ask a horse to follow me into the trailer I do not pull or cajole the horse in any way - I simply and patiently ask for small steps forward.

When a horse is becoming curious and comfortable about the ramp, trailer or just the space in front of the ramp I will then actively take the horse away from this area and initiate work to either side of the trailer. Whenever we return to the area in front or on the ramp I allow the horse to relax for a period of time.

Eventually a horse will be comfortable to follow me (at least part of the way) into the trailer. At this point it is important that I apply reverse psychology and ask the horse to back out of the trailer and move to the exercise area for work. It can be quite confusing for people watching to see the horse almost loading and for me to be actively preventing this from happening, but it is a very important part of the process. I want the horse to desire the comfort of the trailer, and to begrudge being taken away from it for work.

The final piece of the puzzle is that when the horse is happy standing in the trailer I leave them alone with a hay or haylage net, and usually a plastic bucket clipped onto the net with some grass/chaff or treats. The positive reinforcement of the forage in the trailer is the cherry on top of the cake for the horse. Not only is the trailer a place of rest and respite, but there is a unique food source present as well. Horses that have had previous loading issues will not load from the enticement of feed or treats (as anyone who has tried this can attest), but a treat after finding the comfort of loading helps cement the idea of the trailer being a good place in the horses mind.

We need to remember that no horse refuses to load due to spite. Small confined spaces like trailers (and even Lorries) are unnatural environments for horses. Horses evolved on plains of vast land, with the primary survival method being flight. The wild horses of eras long past did not enter caves for shelter as our ancestors did, and therefore it is not in even in the nature of the domesticated modern horse to voluntarily enter a confined space without first being habituated.

Horses refuse to load initially due to concern and trepidation. The best practice is to control the environment and overcome the horses’ natural distrust through a training regime. Without training we simply leave our success and safety to chance, hoping that the demeanour and confidence of the individual horse will tolerate the act of being loaded- I find this second approach to be less than ideal. As a result I make sure every livery horse on my yard is able to load well. As when it comes to loading it can literally be the difference between life and death if unfortunately a horse needs transported to an equine hospital.

The good news is that with the right approach (and some professional help) any horse can be a great loader. I highly recommend training and practicing loading many times when there is no stress or need to travel. That way on the day you can be stress free as well as manage travel time more easily and confidently.

*First published in Scottish Endurance Magazine - May 2023