I can offer assessment, advice and support to help you figure out how to help your horse cope with loading and travelling. Please read this page carefully before you contact me about loading so you can make sure we're the right fit for each other.

 

More often than not, loading issues are not just behavioural issues, there are other factors at play.

Lets look at loading and travelling from a horse’s point of view. You’re going to walk into this tiny box, I’m going to shut you in, you have no idea when it will stop or turn so you have to constantly rebalance yourself and you have no idea where you are going to end up or when you’ll be let out again. Doesn’t sound very appealing does it? Sounds quite scary and stressful right?

So without even considering any of the other factors, we can see that travelling by itself is a huge ask of a horse both mentally and physically, and reason enough to not want to load. There is no horse on the planet who is refusing to load because they’re stubborn/rude/disrespectful/lazy/vindictive/obstinate etc.

Travelling is physically taxing on any horse, take a horse that is already compromised in their body, which many are, and they are going to find travelling uncomfortable. Many loading issues are actually underlying pain issues. This is why it is so common to hear that horses will load to go out but won’t load again to go home, they are tired, it hurt on the way there and they don’t want to do it again. They have learned that if they load it results in an unpleasant experience.

Another thing to consider is what you are travelling your horse in. Does he have enough room? Is it safe? Is it ventilated and airy enough? Would he prefer to travel in a different position? Does he have access to forage? Does he have company? Does he have enough rope to use his neck to balance?

Sometimes it can be a case of negative association, does your horse end up at the vets every time they load? Or going somewhere they find stressful or really hard work? Has he experienced a lot of yard moves?

Often the loading attempts themselves can cause horses to be more fearful, if they have been forced on or put under high-stress in an attempt to make them load they are going to develop negative associations.

Travelling is such a huge ask of any horse, we need to figure out what it is that is bothering them so we can support them effectively.

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To approach loading issues ethically and safely we need to focus on the horse's emotional state rather than what we can get them to do. Just because a horse goes into the box doesn't mean they're okay with it and this is when accidents can happen.

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When dealing with any sort of anxious or fear-based behaviour (which all loading issues are) I try not to use pressure. I find the point where the horse starts to become uncomfortable and work there until they’re okay with it.

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I heavily utilise positive reinforcement (food rewards) to build positive associations with what we’re doing and we slowly and carefully shape the steps we need to get the horse confidently loading, standing, being shut in and doing everything that requires.

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This looks like short, calm sessions that you continue working away at by yourself at your horse's pace. There is no pulling and no drama and I do not offer quick fixes at the expense of the horse. If you're just looking for someone to make your horse load I am not the right professional for you.

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I can offer phone consultations or in person sessions. The sessions will start with an initial assessment then move onto some training as appropriate.

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If you'd like to learn more please contact me here:

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