How to Load a Horse On a Trailer

[@DavedeM96]

I've said this before in an email to you guys, but as a young rider I have never seen or worked with people quite so patient and "new-age." Your methods are kind and show the utter-most respect for the animal and is the best example of the way in which I wish to handle my own horses when I reach a professional level. Thanks for sharing and a real credit

[@addiewatson5372]

My older sister had an OTTB gelding and his previous owners kept saying he was impossible to load and the first time my older sister tried he walked right on in and his prior owners were so shocked they offered to hire my sister just for loading horses for them.

[@Hi-xc3xt]

what a cool opportunity!

[@crystalgangwish7263]

@@Hi-xc3xtm

[@0ptedgar]

Thanks for the tip. I liked that you showed the majority of the clip, (including the fast forward). It gave a real indication of just how patient you need to be when loading :)

[@Ginnnnnnnnnnn]

This video helped me and my horse so much! He used to be very difficult with loading, even when he was fully sedated. I took a few days, and we practiced repeatedly, but eventually he got on by himself! Thank you so much!

[@maggierasekhi5843]

i actually love this so much. he probably stood there for a long time and tapped the horse like 1000 times and his force never got stronger. bless him.

[@hannahdimeglio2994]

this literally has helped so much! my horse wont even go near a trailer no matter what. treats,feed,hay, nothing works! Got home today and tried your method and he was loading and unloading himself within 20-25 minutes 😭 thank yall so much 😭

[@bishpleeez]

this was really helpful, but not with loading. with lunging.... my horse never liked lunging much and there were days when i made a monkey out of myself, dancing around him with the whip, trying to encourage him to go forward. he had some really lazy days when he didn't want to move at all (he just stood there and didn't even care when i gave him a sharp tap on his hind end or put on a firmer tone of voice). then i found this video and tried annoying him long enough until he took a tiny step forward. when he did what i asked, i stopped immediately and he got the idea after a few tries. this technique fixed the problem and now we lunge without a whip, just with voice aids. thanks so much schrammo!

[@joeymcmahon]

Ikkko

[@Senapsdesign]

This is a lovely way of teaching loading. Pressure and release is a good way of "turning your idea your horses idea" and works on almost anything. But you have to get the timing absolutely right. That takes some time to learn. To those watching I just want to point out some small but relevant) mistakes that could explain why the horse was standing still for so long in the end. Around 3.50 when he starts the rope-swiring his posture is not indicating that the horse should go forward. If he just kept his left arm open towards the trailer and point his own body there, it might be easier for the horse to understand the message. And at 3.55 the horse walks forward and then he immediately stops it with the rope, which sort of ruins the release-phase(you should allow your horse some time to think about what happend in the release). Instead; let the horse go forward until he stops by himself, then start over again. 4.11; The horse walks forward and he does not stop swirling the rope. So when the horse finally gets it there is no reward. All in all a good video thogh, main point is very good, and it was fun to watch.

[@samanthabohlman9100]

I think this is a very good method. Their horses are beautifully trained, it's not always about whats the quickest method. Pressure and release is their method of training and its important that all areas of training follow those same fundamentals to help the horse understand how training works. This is reliable training!

[@bisswizz]

I'd love to see a video done of this with a pony that rears and shoots forward down the side of the trailer rather than stands calmly at the bottom of the ramp.

[@bikerhaustx4635]

look at raghlilinks one

[@cloverhoney6203]

I bet the pony has some anxiety that needs to be resolved befor trailer training.

[@onakwiatkowski2458]

Your method worked very well. Took about an hour but with pressure and release and praise. We got there.Thank you!

[@Futureshowjumper]

I like your technique for loading. It's not terrifying or stressful to the horse and seems to get the job accomplished a lot better than some harsh methods that I've seen some people try.

[@oddaud711]

If I had a nickel for every time I saw someone load a horse by getting on first, I be a freakin' BILLIONAIRE!!!

[@oddaud711]

+Sydney Eitelgeorge I know right?! Lol XD

[@oddaud711]

+Sydney Eitelgeorge Lol sounds like fun. It's the same way at my aunt's barn.

[@mayac218]

Audrey Elliott that's why I teach my horses direction by pointing high like Clinton Anderson does when lunging. They get on first and then I walk in beside them

[@MerlinxxLove]

I seriously love the opening sequence of these episodes, they're just so epic with that music :D

[@sophiagoetz1862]

"How 'bout I go whip your--" XD

[@hannahmariee4853]

To everyone who feels the need to critique him... his horse got right on the trailer after a couple times, so it clearly works.

[@rexeyhorsehorsesrule4088]

Cool

[@EventionTv]

I am well aware of the lunging technique and know that is very effective. I personally prefer to just use a lead rope for 2 reasons- 1 because as I deal with an awful lot of off track thorougbreds, sometimes the lunging can get them pretty jazzed up. 2 I don't always have a whip or an extra long long lead handy. I do always have a lead rope when I am loading a horse. Ultimately I don't much care for how long it takes, just as long as I have a calm horse at the end that wants to load himself!

[@__-pb2hh]

I really like this- first one of 3 that ive watched which is actually helpful!!! My dartmoor pony is a pain with loading!

[@Cheeversbeliever]

THANK YOU !!! THANK YOU !!! We had tried lunging our horse in front of trailer, Tried the corral technique of the trailer backed in it with doors open.. Nothing worked.. We used this.. and it WORKED... our horse goes in now.. Love you all... From the Hubert's of Concordia Kansas...

[@DQKotaK]

Loved the intro! I sure have seen that scene a thousand times at horse shows. Can't say this is my favorite method, but I can't see anything wrong with it, either, and I'm sure you can get great results with it. Great video as always.

[@sarahlanham3792]

Ooo, that 2nd extra helper!! ;) Haha, and loved this! My warmblood used to be really bad with loading! I taught him how with practically the same idea. He was rewarded by finding peanut hay in his manger. I'd sit by him where he could see me and clean tack for approx 10 minuets at a time while he relaxed in the trailer, munching on hay & looking at me the whole time. lol. After a few calm sessions of this...He loads no problem & I think he rather enjoys it! ;)

[@mackg1551]

This is so helpful! I have a mini that r fuses to get in the trailer

[@stevestenger617]

I'm one of those people that goes against the grain.I found my horse goes in on his own when I put a small amount of alfalfa cubes in a grain pan.He has always been a sucker for treats. Right or wrong it works for me and my horse.

[@0ptedgar]

I can't wait to try this method and let you know how I go!

[@daisukichococat04]

Patience of a saint!

[@ellensands8938]

Love this video! So cute with the fast forward!!

[@OptimusZeusPrime]

Oh my gosh! That intro brightened my day!

[@cocowon900]

Love the intro!

[@jennyrichard5290]

I wish I had this help 15years ago, had a little THB who was terrified, we literally picked her up & put her in and then was a perfect traveller once inside. It was such a stress that we never went anywhere until years later that I realized it was her fear of the ramp that caused her stress. It was by chance that one day we came in at 90 degrees to get 'close and calm' and she stepped up and into the box like a pro! Many professionals tried their 'methods' but in the end mommy got it right :D

[@Manda22Sue]

Wow. Thank you so much for posting!!! This was perfect for us!

[@tanzitidswell8430]

Great job! Absolutely love these videos! Well done to you guys, informative and very entertaining! Nice to see a fellow Aussie too!!

[@pixelfurnace]

"How to teach your horse to ignore your poor direction, and eventually get on the box out of sheer boredom."

[@evienotebaert3473]

great method, never used that one before, thanks for the video!

[@CaesarInVa]

Herndon, VA! That's my old neighborhood...well, kinda...I lived out in Aldie but its close enough!

[@TheYoghurt42]

The pressure and then release shown in this video is how you would sack out a horse to an object. Apply pressure with it and when the horse doesn't respond, release. This release from pressure is confirming to the horse, "yes, that is what I wanted you to do" when the horse is doing the wrong thing (standing still). The absolute basics of pressure and release are that you apply soft pressure, gradually escalating until the horse responds, even a little bit. Then you release to reward.

[@allislater3614]

I understand that patience is key, but I have taught my horse that when someone asks her to do something she does. No questions asked. And I have also figured out that having a mare doesn't help either:)

[@gabrielagibbs]

SO helpful THANKYOU!

[@mayaraza1713]

start was hilarious and soooo true

[@alimason3863]

The beginning made me laugh so hard😂😂

[@adriani5879]

I had been struggling to load a palomino into the trailer. I tried several methods and this one works out for me. She loaded right up within 10 minutes the first time. About a minute the second, after that she went right in. In fact, now I have to tug for her to step out.

[@cant.stopthehustle9573]

This worked so good for me! My mare needs 7 people to get her in a trailer but when I did this she went in only after 10 mins the 1st time!

[@TheBeejammer]

Imagine how amazing it would be to livery on this yard omg

[@makaylagracy]

Lol, your basically just desensitizing your horse to you tapping him on his rump! Although it did work!! Thanks for the videos! :D

[@Horsesandcheerlife]

**of the video it looked like the horse was not paying attention to u or didnt seem the care or what u were doing but I get where u are coming from!! Thankyou for the tip!!

[@jessicadomanski1920]

Thanks Domm and Jimmie! You guys are so helpful :)

[@missbackyardcamper332]

Great video! I laughed when it was sped up, It was cute and funny! 😄

[@pseudo2257]

Just noticed that Doms left knee patch has bit the dust at the bottom 😂😂😂

[@jazminemitts4207]

i remember when my mom and I had a mare that refused to trailer. she wasn't calm like this horse. she reared and jumped the whole time. so we tied her to the outside of the trailer and made her walk/run the whole way to the arena we were going to. she loads perfectly every time now!

[@mollyanna5004]

is it bad i found it funny just seeing a horse on the m1

[@lowelo5469]

I cant breath I cant breath the opening hahahq😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@TheCamprodon]

The beginning was really funny! Very original :) En this looks like a really good method, I'm going to keep it in mind!

[@SarahAndBee]

I love how your introducing the trailer slowly and then say that a smack may be necessary. My mare would not take kindly to that and too much pressure will definitely result in the horse trying to fight it. If you have basic trust you don't need to introduce it as slowly as that. You also didn't actually say how you would get a horse into the trailer you just explained an introduction. How many horses have you trained to load?

[@jordanequastrian6741]

Question: you said not to tie the horse without the back bit being close, but then how do you get out? We don't have a horse trailer we have a cow trailer (we cant afford a real one) any suggestions about that The intro is SOOOOOO true!!!!!!😂😂😂

[@equestriankmh3146]

Never use a cow trailer for a horse

[@maggiepolk6458]

Have someone hold the door shut and as soon as you get your horse tied. Ease out of the trailer past your horse!

[@tgza1331]

it's very nice man I like it

[@georgiaschenkel8995]

This seems like a REALLY long process

[@MiniGrimmie]

I loved the intro!!

[@asrotties]

Couple of times I thought I heard Kenny say "HEE HAWWWW!" Kenny has a bit of a stubborn streak but look how well he did with nice patient handling. Wish I saw more of that out there Vs. the old "go at em with a broom and whip" treatment that I witness regularly. How long until you got Kenny loading with the divider in the trailer and not allowing him to turn around?

[@thebestskigirl]

When you tap them you want to tap them where the stirrup, is because then they move usually because they are used to that... I mean that's how I learned it

[@polara1se]

would appriciate tip on unload a horse safely when you are on your own.

[@rileypowell737]

I love when the girl gets mad and when horse says the something as the girl

[@Equestrian2001]

The 'girls' name is Jimmy

[@TheYoghurt42]

What I would do is take the trailer out of the mix to begin with and get this horse moving in a circle around me. I'd teach the horse to 'send' if you've heard of that concept. With sending, the horse should move to just you raising the rope in the direction you want them to go and standing behind their driveline. If the horse doesn't move to just the rope being held out (which I suspect this horse wouldn't), then you begin swinging the rope, increasing the pressure steadily.

[@FairyWingsStudios]

except Yoghurt does make excellent points. Just flicking the horse with the lead rope really isn't enough pressure for certain horses. Many horses at my farm when learning to load needed the pressure to escalate when they didn't respond and now they are self loaders. Other horses just needed some positive encouragement and patience like this horse in this video. Every horse and trainer is different.

[@Bridgefinn310]

Can u do a video for how to deal with an excited and distracted horse like on trails or in ring

[@TheYoghurt42]

I think constant pressure is great because you do it about twice and then your horse realises it's much easier to just listen as soon as you ask. My trainer explained it as having levels, let's say 1-4. 1 is very very soft, 4 is very big and high-pressure. Your horse will listen you at level 1, but only if he knows you'll go to level 4. So if you can lunge a horse etc, then he knows to move from your pressure at level 1 and you shouldn't have to make trailer loading unpleasant. :)

[@Novocentonickel]

Timing is so important for this kind of teaching loading. And the right timing is missing here time and time again. I taught hundreds of horses (read “people”) to load. This really is not a movie you should be watching if you want to learn it the right way!

[@horseydreamsxx525]

Great tip

[@FlissFelix]

Could you do tips on training young horses

[@MrZoltack]

Love the vids!!! Keep them coming!

[@rldeakin1]

practice loading him halfway in then and before he panicks ask him to back off nicely and repeat again and again till he goes all the way in comfortably, takes some of the pressure off of having to go in completely :)

[@rileypowell737]

I love the effect of a guy say something that the person wants the horse too do

[@TheYoghurt42]

Also, I was not meaning to attack your method and I think my tone came across harsher than intended. There is nothing wrong with this method - You're not hurting the horse so it's all good. My comment was things I saw that I thought could be improved upon (application of pressure and where you are standing) to make the task clearer - really only tweaks to what you are teaching in the video. I didn't mean my comment to be offensive so I apologize if it was. :)

[@thetalented7377]

I will try thanks

[@emmar2675]

Switch foot I love those guys cool!!!

[@TheYoghurt42]

I would also desensitize the horse to the trailer by grooming him beside it, feeding him by it, mounting him from the ramp, that kind of thing. If the trailer is only gotten out when I want him to get into it, it's much more scary than if it's a regular fixture in the horse's life. Obviously I don't know this horse so there's a chance this plan wouldn't work, but I think it's a better foundation than what's shown in this video.

[@naomisgray]

.. If you've ruled out pain being the cause, it's likely she's just excited. Make sure she gets plenty of exercise, as I said lunge before riding if necessary and in the end, learn to sit her bucks so she cannot unseat you no matter how hard she tries! Expect her to buck so you're prepared and can stay on throughout her bucks. Eventually, she will probably start to do it less and eventually stop all together. My 4 year old gelding did this for a while but hasn't bucked in almost a year now :)

[@daniellemuller5953]

thats a very good video

[@JustJessie0303]

Do you have any tips for horses that get anxious once they're in the trailer? My mare loads fairly easily, but once she's one, she dances in place and paws at the side of the trailer.

[@isabelmilenkovic4408]

shes scrambling as us aussies like to call it, she's probably trying to "climb the walls" which is anatural scrambler problem! If your float/trailer is a straight load you may want to invest in an angle load as it may help with this problem goodluck with your horse xx

[@TheKatSpaz]

I had a pony that would not get on the trailer no matter the method so we did what we do with the cows we parked the trailer in her pasture and fed her in there she got hungry enough that she would go in and eat and after about a month of her eating in there she now self loads!

[@faithsasser5679]

That's genious!

[@naomisgray]

How old is she? My old horse used to do this a lot. First, get her back checked and make sure her saddle fits properly so you know for sure she isn't in pain when she canters, which is likely, especially if she's young she may have changed shape a little since she got her saddle fitted and it's possible that the way she moves in canter causes the saddle to be uncomfortable etc. Other than that, try lungeing before you ride to get the energy out a little and..

[@bethanyjennings6365]

I like this video mainly because of the intro x'D

[@CathyGoes]

Do - If at all possible load a difficult horse in a fenced in area. That way if they throw the mother of all freak outs at you a loose horse isn't a disaster.

[@hikori3941]

I disagree with just using the same pressure always. Up the pressure if they won't load from a few soft taps. More pressure doesn't mean getting upset/angry. Same pressure always and you are just teaching the horse to ignore you (as this horse did forever!). Think about aids under saddle (light first, then firm, then hard until you get a response). It's the same here. I also use a whip to tap so I'm not accidentally applying backwards pressure with the lead when they go forward.

[@aoife9448]

great vid

[@britney-leedreydel8382]

I just realized.... The horse pooped TWICE during the video XD

[@Emmaatjuh28]

This tip is very useful, but when you have a concours or something you dont gave that much time I guess. I love your vids btw :)

[@holotjs]

I hear what you are saying however are you implying that horses only respond to constant pressure? Are we supposed to ride them without there ever being a pause in pressure? I don't know about your horses but mine would get sick of that pretty quick. I don't agree that the horse didn't understand as he consistently got better until he did precisely what was asked. It works for us with every horse we train. You can pick it apart but at the end of the day the horse was calmly trained to self load

[@stankozlowski3084]

Good video

[@CowboysCowgirl440]

love it!!

[@tillsx3620]

My horse likes to buck a lot! Mainly on hacks (trail rides) when we canter she just goes mental if you could maybe help me? Please x

[@phreedm1]

Switchfoot...!!!! Kool

[@mckaylahenson9006]

I had a mare that wouldn't get in the trailer and I made the outside of the trailer work and the inside a place to rest and within a hour she was getting in and out of the trailer by herself!!

[@horsesimin]

can u plz do a video on taking your horses to the beach!!!

[@hestjenta95]

We have asked several people for help but no one have any solutions on how to make him load or why he doesn`t want to load because when he is tied up in the trailer he stands still and is relaxed all the way and walk of the trailer slow and controled. When we are loading him we do exactly how you do it but halfway on the trailer it`s like he a kind of panic and rush backwards a few steps and then rear up and turn away from the trailer and then it`s the same all over again. Any tip?

[@loredelore7286]

I am still seeing famous horsemen standing on the threshold of the trailer. Would you stand in the stable door entrance when you wanted the horse to go in the stable.

[@naomisgray]

If it isn't pain then it's most likely that she's just over excited about cantering in open spaces outside the confinement of the school. 10 is a really good age, she's in her prime :) As long as she's sound and healthy, a 10 year old (I'm assuming she's the 14.2 cob on your channel?) is fine to do 20-30 minutes of of work a day, in fact she can probably do about an hour a day, 6 days a week, with a day off or a light day. Think about upping it to 45 minutes a day maybe? You're very welcome xx

[@hollypalmer95]

I wonder if Dom had a dead arm at the end of all that rope swinging..

[@Abs0lut3Cyner]

Better tip, walk your horse around then allow it to sniff the trailer a bit then keep walking them near and around it, when it gets it's hooves in the trailer reward it and start again till it loads fine.

[@TheYoghurt42]

I firmly believe in being as soft as we can with horses - But we need to be doing it in the right ways and it has to be clear what we want. I think this was not a case of a stubborn or scared horse, but just of a horse that did not understand the task.

[@sunee333w3]

I agree that it would probably be a faster process if the horse had to work when outside the trailer making the trailer much more attractive. Patience is a virtue!

[@SarahAndBee]

Yeah and we were talking about the horse in this video. And it obviously works for this horse. This would be far too much pressure for my mare. If a horse does not respond to pressure, then you are not applying it correctly or need to use a different method for that horse it doesn't necessarily mean you should increase the pressure. I'm more than aware every horse and trainer is different but there's no need to smack a horse because you don't understand.

[@xKeepYourHeartStrong]

I hear what you mean, but at the same time, you don't want the horse to have a pleasant experience in loading so it won't be such a big deal next time, and putting constant pressure on a horse is going to make it an unpleasant experience. It's forcing your horse into something instead of asking.