Improve your chances of success when loading your horse or pony with these useful tips and exercises from Sue Palmer.
With spring and the show season well on the way, riders will be hoping to get out and about with their horses, to explore new areas and bridle ways or go to shows.
However, this may not be possible if your horse is difficult to load.
Loading problems are common and many riders will have got ready for a show, then been unable to leave the yard because their horse refused to walk up the ramp. Others may have travelled to a show or training session, but the horse wouldn’t load when it was time to go home.
Having problems loading can be traumatic, stressful and at times even dangerous.
The good news is that it is possible to overcome these issues and get yourself and your horse on the road.
As an Intelligent Horsemanship recommended associate (IHRA), I have toured the UK with Monty Roberts and Kelly Roberts and watched them work with difficult loaders.
I have seen the amazement in the faces of people in the audience when a horse that’s renowned for refusing to load – and may have been hacked to the demonstration – trot up the ramp on his own.
While help is out there and you can book an experienced equine behaviourist to work with you and your horse at your yard, there are some things you can try yourself.
Practice is essential, to ensure your horse is happy to load and make short journeys. Do not just attempt to load your horse on the day of a show or when you want to box up for a lesson.
Here are some useful tips and exercises to help get you on the move....
1 Put in the right preparation
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