Loading problems

Loading is probably the most common issue that people seek professional help for. There are so many tutorials and videos on how to fix loading issues, from using positive reinforcement or gentle pressure and release to pretty horrific abusive methods to scare a horse on. But, 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 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 whether we realise it or not, 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 cause horrendous negative associations and at times serious injury. One of my client’s horses was blindfolded, lead in a chifney and smacked until he fell over up the ramp, and this was by a vet practice! While he was hesitant to load before this incident, he was impossible to load afterwards to the point he would sweat and try to pull away at the sight of the trailer.

Travelling is such a huge ask of any horse, try to figure out what your horse is telling you when they refuse and how you could support them better. These days my loading training looks a lot quieter, slower and less exciting than it used to.