| Moving your horse from one place to another | | | | the trailer is key to getting them loaded. |
| is a must whether you show your horse or not. | | | | |
| Trips to the veterinarian hospital or to a | | | | When trailering to go out, start by walking |
| park are common place. Loading your horse can | | | | the animal around or near the trailer in a |
| be a stressful time for the horse as well as | | | | circle without actually going inside. Praise |
| the owner if the horse hasn't been taught | | | | him each time he completes the circle and |
| correctly from the start. Any mishaps can | | | | scratch behind his withers to relax him. Keep |
| scar the horse for life and it will be very | | | | approaching closer to the ramp of the trailer |
| difficult to change the unpleasant memory. It | | | | each time. If you have introduced him to the |
| is important to remain calm and to praise the | | | | trailer from a colt he will have no problems. |
| horse whenever possible, making entering the | | | | If not then keep familiarizing him with the |
| trailer a pleasant experience. | | | | trailer. Walk him up to the trailer or up the |
| | | | ramp over and over until he feels secure. |
| To begin with, make sure your trailer is in | | | | |
| good repair. Snug-fitting rubber mats provide | | | | Be firm but no pushy when you feel its time |
| the most secure footing for the horse and | | | | to proceed further in to the loading process. |
| also preserves the floorboards of the | | | | If you are too lax, they will just shy away |
| trailer. | | | | and not enter. You must make your intentions |
| | | | clear. Praise him by whispering in his ear |
| Trailers should be introduced to a horse from | | | | and scratching his withers when he makes |
| the time he is a young colt. Often times | | | | progress towards entering the trailer. Never |
| feeding them in a trailer that is parked and | | | | force him in, but a pat on the butt when he |
| not going anywhere at all. You can start with | | | | is close to entering gives him the |
| putting the feed on the floor at the back | | | | encourangement to move forward. |
| door and gradually as the days go by, put the | | | | |
| food farther and farther up in to the trailer | | | | Load the horse at several different times of |
| until it is fully inside and completely | | | | the day under all conditions to enforce the |
| confident inside. This can work with a fully | | | | behavior that he must comply each time he is |
| grown horse also. Making them familiar with | | | | asked no matter what's going on around him. |