Walking on a trailer can experience very frightening for horses. Fortunately, most horses are enough to accept many of the strange things that throw them, but even the calmest horse can sometimes dig in their hooves as the voice of a horse trailer. Learn how to load a horse on a trailer safely and quickly is a crucial lesson for all horse owners.
First, we need to understand for a minute, because horses are sometimes afraid or reluctant to take to get into a trailer. If you think about it, is a truck horse trailer or an enclosed space, usually with a single entry or exit point.
For a horse, entering a confined space is a very dangerous, risky thing to do. Once in there, they're unable to flee from any kind of danger.
Flight is one of the horses natural responses to a frightening or dangerous situation, so by asking them to enter a horse trailer, we're asking them to go against their natural instincts. It's little surprise then that some horses will baulk at the trailer ramp!
So what's the best way to load a horse on a trailer?
There's no one best way for all horses - what works best for your horse is the best way - but here are some suggestions to help make life a little easier for all:
- Park the trailer in a confined space if possible so if the horse takes off he can't go very far.
- Also make sure the horse trailer is parked in a safe place - not on the edge of a road, next to a large ditch, wire fence or any other kind of hazard.
- Depending on your horse, it might be best to open the float and have it ready for them to enter before you go and catch them.
- Place some hay in a hay bag or rack in the front of the trailer to help tempt them in. There's much debate on whether or not you should let a horse eat while travelling. Personally, I let my horses eat if they want to, but if you'd rather they didn't, just remove the feed once the horse is loaded.
- When possible, remove the centre divider completely or move to one side. Obviously if there's another horse already in (& it's a double trailer) you won't be able to do this, but 90% of horses will load much better when the divider has been moved across.
- Don't rush the horse. Give them time to smell the ramp & check the float out before you try to lead them in.
- Walk confidently up to the trailer. If you walk onto the trailer with the attitude that the horse will go straight, it is likely that they will. If you're waiting to see, they will make ends meet and therefore we believe it is something not right in the trailer, and not to go in
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