BUILDING CONFIDENCE WITH THE TRAILER

Don’t Load Your Horse

Wait... What?!

This advice might be the last thing you would have thought you would read but there is true magic that happens when your intention is to not load your horse

If your horse has been forced into a trailer in the past or is nervous about getting in, he probably expects that every time you head toward the trailer, you’re going to make him get in, but what if you didn’t?

Just as you’ve learned to prepare your horse with all kinds of simulations, you can use the trailer as one of those… an obstacle to play with! Taking away the expectation to load will blow your horse’s mind, and will make the trailer more fun and interesting for both of you

Here is an example of how you can play with your trailer as a confidencebuilding obstacle.

Ask your horse to…

Pass between you and the trailer, typically the sides and back door, as the hitch may cause injury should your horse get scared here.

Go around you and park perpendicular to the trailer

Back up towards the side of the trailer or the back of the trailer.

Touch the inside of the trailer, or the ramp, with his nose

Touch the ramp with his front feet and come out.

Touch the ramp with his hind feet and come out

Touch the divider with his nose and come out

Touch the manger or front wall with his nose and come out.