| The ideal situation in trailer training a horse is | | | | work such as working in the round pen to help |
| starting them at a very young age so they think | | | | establish that status. Once you have gained that |
| that loading up to go somewhere is a normal | | | | trust and respect it will be much easier to ask the |
| everyday event. Unfortunately not everyone has | | | | horse to do what he is fearful of. Trailer training a |
| that luxury and usually gets a horse that has | | | | horse will definitely challenge your patience. |
| already had a bad experience with a trailer. It | | | | This is also true with the disobedient horse that |
| usually means they have been forced into a trailer | | | | just refuses to get into the trailer. If you have |
| with an impatient owner or maybe tossed around | | | | set basic ground rules for the horse to follow, |
| during the drive and had to scramble to keep | | | | trailer training will be less stressful. When asking |
| standing which made them fearful. There are | | | | this horse to load and he begins to fight by |
| some horses that just simply refuse to get in | | | | refusing, DO NOT fight back. Try to stay calm |
| because they can. Whatever their past | | | | but forceful in what you are asking him to do. |
| experience is, it does not change the fact that | | | | The horse will feed off of the energy you put |
| they won't get in. | | | | forth if you fight with him. This will only make him |
| If you have that fearful horse, patience is the | | | | stronger and more willing to refuse what you are |
| key to success. First you must earn the respect | | | | asking of him. Instead, keep his mind off of what |
| and trust of the horse. Horses are naturally herd | | | | the task at hand is, loading in the trailer, and ask |
| animals and have a definite pecking order. | | | | him to back, halt, walk forward, halt, etc. Then |
| Establishing alpha status is important in order for | | | | walk him around to give him a chance to calm |
| them to learn to respect you. Do a lot of ground | | | | down then start over. |