I let mine graze with a lead rope and they step on it, lift up, and then get over it, but I worry in a horse trailer about the added impact of being in a trailer, so I don’t like a loose lead rope in a trailer -too many potential hazards, IMO.
[QUOTE=Holly Jeanne;8866465]
I put a lunge line in the trailer with the clip in at the ramp and the handle end on the outside. I’d get her to the trailer and clip the lunge line. Then I’d put pressure on it while standing beside the ramp until she would go in.[/QUOTE]
I’ve done this before too, not with my horses but when alone and loading an unfamiliar one who would rush off backwards before I could get from head to butt bar. It can also be useful for unloading, if you have one that needs a reminder to stand still while you undo the butt bar, or to not try to turn around.
[QUOTE=jherold;8864763]
Yes, all the horses I own and have owned are self loading. But they didn’t come that way! Take the time to teach them. I also use the John Lyons method.[/QUOTE]
He has a great way of teaching them. I used it when I had a straight load. If I can remember back that far, I loaded them and did up the bar and closed the door then tied them. Upon unloading I untied them, opened the door and then let the butt bar down and asked them to back out.
If you teach your horse to stay on until you ask them to back out it is pretty easy.
Another vote for teaching to self load/unload - i travel by myself mostly so my horses better get on and off any float i point them at and tie solid to the float if i need that too. All my friends are the same (with some exceptions on the tying solid). I had a mare years ago who was very stubborn re floats - knew her full history and she had no reason to be difficult. Ended up getting a pro in who after 4 hrs finally got her in fairly calmly and apologized to me that he thought i was exaggerating etc when i first called him and explained the situation. I just needed someone to outlast her and then the next day i tried again took 2 hrs, the next time took 30mins and then the next i think she was straight in immediately for ever more.
I just use what i call the “tap tap” method to teach them to go past me into the float and its all about the timing. Annoy them by taping with the whip while they stand still/go backwards and stop the instant they even think forward. If they are rude or dangerous pushy i will demand respect and space but i found that if i do ten or so minute sessions over several days with grass breaks etc within a week at most they will self load. I then just shut the bum bar and go tie them up.
To unload i do the reverse untie then open the bum bar etc. if they dont wait till i signal them to come out (usually tap their tail) or stop/go back up if i put pressure on their bum when half way out i have more training to do. I don’t tolerate rushing out (even if its for a reason ie previous smashing their head) and have been known to load/unload numerous times at new destinations until they are going calmly on and off.
