Getting a horse OUT of the trailer

[Linda Y]

Last weekend when I hauled Cita for a ride, I put her in the back stall of my slantload. After arriving, I found that she wouldn't back out. At all. I ended up dismantling the tack compartment so she could turn around.
Yesterday, we used a straight load 2 horse. Same thing...she wouldn't back out. Had to move the center divider so she could turn around. Good thing she is a small horse! :roll:
What do you think is the best thing to get her to back out of these trailers. I am going to start working from the ground on a cue to back, but as soon as she realizes there is no ground behind her, she freezes. Not sure a back up cue will help that.
I thought I taught her to back out of a trailer, but she must have forgotten.

[CarolU]

This is a common problem now with all the slant load trailers, people don't teach their horses how to back out. She needs to learn to back out.

Start by leading her in, but stop her when she has one or two feet in. Relax her and back her out. Do this several times until she's relaxed with it. Then lead her a hair farther, so she has three feet in, back her out. Once she is comfortable with three feet, then go for the four feet.

It also helps to have the trailer wheels in a bit of a ditch at first, so the step down is not so far. Once she is going in/out fine, then gradually pull the trailer to level ground so she has a full step.

[CarolU]

BTW - you were lucky you had her in trailers where you could make it where she could turn around. On the old BB someone related a story from an Endurance ride where people had borrowed a straight load and their horses didn't know how to back out. They forcefully pulled the horses out of the trailer and I believe they seriously hurt one of the horses to the point it had to be euthanized. I don't remember the full story, if it broke it's leg or neck or something.

[motorgypsy]

You can either back up to a ditch or curb or dig under the wheels if you're in sand or pile up dirt or shavings behind the trailer. We did all three with one mare who was trailer phobic loading and unloading. Be sure the mat slightly overhangs the sill of the trailer so they don't bump their legs when they unload and we actually put grippy stuff under the mats so they wouldn't slip for loading or unloading. It helps to have really good light when unloading and let them look behind them as they unload so they can see where to put their feet.

[cowboy ed]

linda, you are on the right track. go back to your groundwork and get her backing really well with a firm and easily discernable cue. i prefer to use my stick, wave it in front of the horse's nose and ask him to back. if he doesnt, then i tap the leadline near the halter. if he still doesnt back, i tap more vigorously. settle for just a couple of steps back initially, then ask for more. another good cue is to stand in front of the horse, hold your stick like a ski pole and tap the chest as you ask the horse to back. spend some time backing her past objects and if you have a concrete walkway or barn floor that you could make her step on and back off, then that would be a great place to practice. then go back to the trailer and work on it there.
like others have mentioned, it is a good idea to park the trailer where it is as low to the ground as possible, just to make things a bit easier.

[GeorgeGuns]

You can make a 4 x 8 foot raised platform or "bridge" - about 6 inches high - and start her on that to prep her for the trailer. Its a lot less threatening to back off those because the horse is not confined and can see ground all around. After she is backing off that smooth and relaxed, put it in front of the rear of the trailer and use it as a transition.

Also, you didn't mention if this is a step up trailer or a ramp. Encantador really hates step ups, but backed off a ramp first time no problem.

[Tami Pinell]

I agree with Coreen - Cita is terribly afraid of unsure footing, she is scared she will fall. If she were here, I would walk her onto something raised (a very solid structure) starting with only the front feet, step on back off.... you could do this on the ground first but also make her do this mounted.... Linda, she has a strong will when she is scared - MAKE HER DO IT!
I made her get in the water with the rocky footing, once there, she slipped and fell, she got up and found out she would not drown or die, we went slowly so she could see where to put her feet, she had to TRUST ME or she would get in really deep; after the second water crossing she trusted what I was telling her and when right in. The trailer thing is a matter of her being scared and her NOT trusting YOUR judgement. You will have to prove to her she will not fall or die when backing off of something. You will have to be persistant and stronger willed than she is.

[Linda Y]

You can make a 4 x 8 foot raised platform or "bridge" - about 6 inches high - and start her on that to prep her for the trailer. Its a lot less threatening to back off those because the horse is not confined and can see ground all around. After she is backing off that smooth and relaxed, put it in front of the rear of the trailer and use it as a transition.

Also, you didn't mention if this is a step up trailer or a ramp. Encantador really hates step ups, but backed off a ramp first time no problem.

Both the trailers we have here are step up.
That is a really good idea about the platform. I will have to see what I can find around here to build one.
Tami, you are right about her being scared of unsure footing. She fell with me that time, too, and ever since has been really mindful of dippy ground. She really watches where she puts her feet.
Thanks, Ed. I agree with you and Tami that it has got to be an issue of her trusting me she won't fall off the earth. And a backup cue she will listen to! :lol:

[GeorgeGuns]

Ya know, she might just have eyesight issues?? TTEAM exerecises teach a horse to get down and really look where they are going. Well ya can't do that very well with a trailer, but I wonder if consistent use of a sounding stick would help her?? Maybe she can learn to hear where the taps are and judge distance when backing off? Okay, so that's far-fetched, but i'm half nuts anyway..

[stella]

Its a very common problem with a step up. I have one big one that's ramp, and my stock is a step up, but I was careful not to buy one with a HIGH stepup....maybe its not for a 16h, but for 14 it is, there's quite a difference in the canon lengths, and they ARE afraid in getting off, as well as on, of bucking a shin, bumping that canon...remember, its just skin on bone, no padding!
I think Coreen's suggestion of practicing on smaller steps is good too, and also, I always am careful where I park, to help make that step as small as possible, so its to higher ground. Find a good place on your own property you can use for training, and wherever you go, try looking for s spot you can have the rear of the trailer at that's high behind it.
No question that horses that have fallen down(a horse's WORST fear, innately it usually means they're someone's meal immediately after)are usually more fearful of changes in footing than others.

[motorgypsy]

If you can't get your mat to overhang the sill you can put shipping boots or some other wrap on them so they don't bump their shins. They do hate that!

[cowboy ed]

give us an update, linda. have you had a chance to work with the mare any on backing out of the trailer?

[Linda Y]

Nope, not yet. I think I have to teach her a backup cue from the ground first.

[CarolU]

Linda, one of the things I have found that helps is also a verbal command "Back". I've found this helps in two different areas. You teach the back with 9with your back-up cue) and the verbal command "back" from the ground. When you switch to the saddle, I find it helps the horse make the connection that "Back" is what you want.

I've also had it help me when horses get themselves in tight situations where I can't get to them. I've had this happen several times, but I'll describe a few uses of it...my husband put the tractor away without backing it all the way to the wall. Rosie got all the way around it and the only way out frontwards was to step through the box blade...i'm sure she would have gotten banged up really bad doing that. So, I gave her a verbal "back" to back her far enough I could get there with her, and back her out all the way. She did this very calmly.

Another time Zar was up against a gate I wanted to open. It was in the spring and she was on the high ground next to one of those disgusting manure/water puddles. The only way for me to get to the gate and let her out without stepping in the puddle, was if she backed away from the gate. I commanded her "back" and she did. I could then take the high ground to open the gate without getting wet.

Any way...it's a useful cue. I know many trainers don't recommend verbal cues, but I like and use them all the time.

Good luck.