[QUOTE=SuckerForHorses;8946881]
I have actually found that turning them around and walking them off has resulted in calmer horses for trailering/unloading. Horses that have rushed off backwards now are much more comfortable unloading, even if I do have to let them back off once in a while now.[/QUOTE]
This^
If there is room to turn around, WHY NOT. He’s 22, and he’s telling you what feels comfortable and safe. I have an open stock step up and they all turn around…less chance for injury.
Adding: when I walk my mare on, I say “HUP!” when she steps up into the trailer.
For unloading, just as she steps down, I say “STEP!” and she’s gotten much more deliberate with her steps down - she seems to step away from the rubber bumper and actually places her foot, where before it seemed like she was just blinding reaching for footing (which she was).
So if I do back off, that’s my method.
Thanks everyone for your replies!
I’m glad to see the majority thinks I should lead him off frontways.
That’s my Thanksgiving project - take the divider out and see how to make this work for us. :yes:
He does know how to back out, and will do it. But he’s an anxious loader and unloader and tries to turn around with the divider in. I’ve thwarted this by running a long lead rope out the side of the stock trailer to keep him facing forward.
But my nightmare scenario is him taking a bad step and getting hurt. He trips over the doorsill of his stall sometimes. I’ve tried doing cavaletti with him - on the lowest and next-to-lowest heights - both in-hand and under saddle to see if I could make him a little more aware of where his feet are. Some days it’s great. Other days it’s trippy. And still other days we bunny-hop them, which is a little startling.
I’d never willingly get rid of this little guy. He’s the “horse in the plain brown wrapper” type, but he is just perfect for me! He’s been a working horse most of his life and he’s always been part of a string. He’s been very well-taken care of and treated kindly, but as the lady who sold him to me said “He’s never had his very own person before.” He loves all the individual attention he gets now. No matter where I go on the farm, he never takes his eyes off me. I adore him right back.:love-struck:
I’ve had him nearly five months now. I used to just insist he do everything my way. And he would, eventually. Most things he’s delighted to do, but some things he will only do reluctantly. Of course, one way to look at this is “Well, you just have to make him do it!” But now that I know he really won’t take advantage of me, I’m more inclined to think “Is there a way I can make this situation a little better for him?”
So thanks again y’all. 
He must be more comfortable facing the rear. If you can do that for him, he might not be so anxious about hauling.
Getting a nice big open straight load with a ramp totally changed my boys attitude about hauling. There’s never a discussion anymore and he always hops right on and backs off calmly now.
Both my horses will unload either way, but they are infinitely more comfortable unloading after I’ve turned them around - especially if the ground is slick or wet. Neither of mine are huge by any standards - the Quarter Horse is 15hh and the Standardbred is about 16hh. They can turn themselves without incident and at the end of the day, I’d rather them unload the way they’re most comfortable rather than forcing them to unload backwards and risk them falling. They’re also 20+ years old and they’ve earned the right to choose how they unload.
I have my 3H slant stock trailer set up as 2 boxes. Horses ride loose and generally ride backwards. While all of them know how to back off and will do it with no problem (trailered with a friend in her straight load last weekend- my mare needed to back off, no problem at all) I prefer if at all possible to walk off forwards.
Dont remove the divider! It helps them balance, so if someone pulled out in front of you, well it wouldn’t be a fun ride for him.
[QUOTE=apha_at_heart;8951611]
Dont remove the divider! It helps them balance, so if someone pulled out in front of you, well it wouldn’t be a fun ride for him.[/QUOTE]
Removing the divider basically makes it a stock trailer with a chest bar, and since horses haul in an open trailer with no divider every day and do just fine.
[QUOTE=apha_at_heart;8951611]
Dont remove the divider! It helps them balance, so if someone pulled out in front of you, well it wouldn’t be a fun ride for him.[/QUOTE]
This is very horse specific. Some horses ride better in a tight stall where they can lean on the walls, some horses ride better in an open trailer where they can stand with their legs spread out a little more.
Is it a straight load? If so I would put him in backwards.
We do front-first unloading. No ramp but we would even if we had one.
The only thing we insist on is that they wait before getting off. They wait until we invite them so that we are balanced and ready to jump down. In my case, I have to get down first and then let them come.
Well trained horses can do either - the old man maybe more comfortable doing it his way. I couldn’t even think of it as my 17 hh horse could probably not turn in the space and then there may be a wreck - can’t imagine.
Do what pleases your horse.
I don’t like making them back up out of a stock, personally. I’ve had one too many slip off the back, whack themselves in the cannon/shear their leg with a hoof in the process, balk, etc. It’s hard on them. Even the good loaders/unloaders would occasionally slip off the rim (they can’t see it) when backing up and whack themselves. We used to have a stock and would back one up and turn around the other when they were loaded in tandem. Seems the best way to do it.
I personally see no problem with having them step down face first- some will jump the first time but eventually they plop/step down without a problem.
I’ve never seen a problem with it. I have 5 horses and only 5 will back off a trailer. so I just let them turn around. It isn’t often I haul more than 1 anyway.
I unload front first on a tall trailer and the horse injured his shoulder jarring on the ground so I don’t do it that way. When backing out of a trailer you have to tell them when they are about to step down so it isn’t a surprise.
Oddly enough, I’ve never seen or had a horse hurt himself backing off a step trailer - I’ve heard people express concern, but on decent footing, they learn to feel, or see in their peripheral vision where the back of the trailer is, and carefully unload.
I suppose one could scoot off backwards at speed onto smooth asphalt in a rush
and slip under…
I do add “Down” at the appropriate moment, but that’s more for me than her.
Oddly enough, I’ve never seen or had a horse hurt himself backing off a step trailer - I’ve heard people express concern, but on decent footing, they learn to feel, or see in their peripheral vision where the back of the trailer is, and carefully unload.
I’ve never had a horse get hurt either, backing off a step-down trailer. I haul A LOT (mostly rodeo) and sometimes do have to unload onto asphault or concrete. My horses are experienced haulers and do just fine.
Horses can (and have) get hurt with ANY type of trailer. They can slip off the side of a ramp (backing off or walking off). They can scrape themselves backing off a step-off. They can trip walking off a step off (or hit their head if they are too eager to lurch off). They can get hurt doing anything!!
By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You may also receive promotional emails from The Chronicle of the Horse. You can opt out at any time.
For Customers
Company
Terms of Use
