With summer coming on, there are many opportunities to travel with your horse, as well as reasons you may need to travel with your horse.
I know that not everyone owns a horse trailer. But I would encourage you to find someone who does, and plan to have them help you if needed. The trailer needs to be at least 6 feet high for horses 15 hands and under. Otherwise you need one at least 7 feet high. I like stock trailers for young and/or inexperienced horses, as they don’t feel so claustrophobic. Make sure the trailer is well-maintained and safe.
You will need plenty of time. Training is best done in several sessions, depending on the age of the horse. You will also need:
- Treats to entice
- Long lead rope with no knot in the end
- Whip for encouragement
- Chain or a “be nice” halter
- Gloves
- Patience and confidence!
Introduce your horse to the trailer by letting him live with it in his corral. You can even set his hay on the floor, to let him get comfortable with his head inside.
Begin your training by approaching the trailer with all your tools in place. I believe training should continue until the horse is being good. For example, if the horse overpowers you, stopping at that point will make the horse think he is winning by being disobedient. When the horse is being good, you want to reward him immediately with pressure release and a treat. Having your tools in place will allow you to be ready for anything.
The perfect scenario is a trailer where you can load another horse in front. That will help your horse realize the box is not a horse-eating box! When he is used to the trailer, with you standing inside (or in the stall if it’s a two-horse trailer), let him get used to having his head inside. That’s your goal for the first lesson.
If he offers to put his foot up, praise him and then ask him to take it out, and praise again. Keep the upper hand by asking him to back out before he wants to. Remember, your horse has to know how to get in and out of the trailer. He will willingly try again if he knows that you will let him back out. If at all possible, keep the horse looking into the trailer through this whole process.
Most horses will climb right into the trailer once they offer to put their foot in. So it’s important to have a plan from start to finish, and know your escape route. Trust me—it’s not much fun being caught in a trailer with a nervous horse!
Make this experience a good one by allowing him to stand there for a few minutes, and then help him back out with firm pressure on the halter. I usually give a verbal warning before the horse steps down.
For more details on trailer training and fire evacuation preparation, visit my website, www.liverytraining.com. May God grant you round tires on your journeys!
Kathy G. O’Neal runs Livery Training Stables in Corrales, where she teaches English and Western riding, trains riders for competition, and trains and boards horses. Visit www.liverytraining.com.