Backing a horse out of the trailer?

[BabyMay]

How do you get a horse to back out of a trailer when he just doesn't want to? My friend has a horse that will jump right into the trailer, but he will not back out. They spent 3 hrs yesterday with their "trainer" and all it got them was a very upset horse and a crying teenager. The trainer got so mad at the horse, she was yelling and hitting the poor thing. The mom finally said this can't be the way to do it and made the trainer stop. This horse loves the girl and will do anything she asks, except back out of the trailer. She wants to show him in fun shows, but the trailer they have to use is a straight 2 horse and you can't take out the divider. There is tons of info on how to get horse to go into the trailer, but none that she could find on how to get them to back out. It is a step up trailer. She said that he will start to back up , but when his foot starts to step down, he gets scared and goes back in. I suggested borrowing a stock, or slant load so they could just turn him around, but I don't know if they know anyone . I also said maybe a trailer with a ramp. Anyone else have any ideas on how to let this horse know it is ok to come out of the trailer.

[Tardystepsaver1]

Have you tried whachin Clintion Anderson he does a real good job. I had a horse did want to go into the trailer all I had to do was work him behind the trailer a few a times and it worked great.

[AngelPA]

huh! Never heard of this one I'm looking forward to seeing opinions on solving this problem. It's obvious he's worried about his footing and insecure with not having solid ground when he backs. Is it possible to just make a simple ramp and to try that?

[XtendedTrot]

hmmm....noramlly they don't want to load so this is interesting. Could you possibly open the side door and put pressure gently on the horses chest to coax him/her backward? This is a two horse trailer right? You must reward the horse for any backward movement so keep some treats handy. Hitting the horse and getting upset will only make things worse as the horse will be traumatized and will never want to back out. If worse comes to worse and you aren't getting anywhere then pull the trailer into an open pasture that's fenced and leave it there with the back open. The horse will eventually back out on it's own when it's good and ready. It won't want to stay in the hot trailer all afternoon.

[scrapchick]

I had a ramp trailer and a two year old gelding. Loaded him up and took him to a horse show for a halter class and just looking around. Wouldnt come out. We pushed and pulled and nope. He stood in there all day. Show's over, lock the door, take him home, nope. Not coming out. We put the truck and the trailer in the pasture, opened the doors, undid the butt bar, and left him. Some time during the night he came out of the trailer on his own, and we never had that problem again. Not sure what his deal was, but it went away. There was no forcing him out, though.

[crit]

My daughter's pony is a nightmare to get on and off the trailer! They should try to back the trailer to a small hill or higher ground, so when the horses steps off the trailer there is not such a step down and more like level footing. That has worked for our pony(sometimes!!)

[BarnBum]

I would consider puttng the trailer in the area the horse is and feed it in the trailer and let the horse go in/out ats its leisure. It also sounds to me that a ramp trailer would benefit this horse.

I am glad the trainer was told to stop "yelling and hitting" the horse- to me, that is NO trainer.

[Sunlei]

PD built a deck and trains his colts to step on and back off it, outside of the trailer. I was worried about trailering my horse, I never lead or backed out a horse in a trailer in my life. Getting PDs attitude about trailering worked for my horse and me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fi4c7MNY46U


That little step back-down is scary for some horses. They like to know where their feet are going so they don't back off a cliff or something. I wouldn't leave that horse alone with that "trainer" if they would act like that in front of the owner, who knows what they do when noone is watching them.

[Gotta Love Duns]

I know this won't help for shows right now but do you have a curb that you can use at the barn and back him off of that. What I do with my horses and it is a BIG step down I ask them to back and then when they are getting close I say "Step" so they know that they are about to feel air. When they hear the word step they start to feel around for the edge to step down.

I would start with a curb if you have one it just gives you more room. Start with the back command and then when they get close give the "step" command. Once he is comfortable move onto the trailer.

If that doesn't work like others suggested put the trailer in the pasture and feed in there, that also works very well too.

[RideItLikeYouStoleIt]

I have hauled a good many horses for other people, and sometimes find out the HARD way that they don't know how to back out of a trailer. This is what I do... I hook two longe lines to the horse's halter, one in each of the side rings like you would put a horse in crossties. then I stand outside the trailer at the back and gently add even pressure on the lines until you get the slightest response. Even if the horses doesn't step backwards, he might lean back so reward that effort, too. Usually in just a few minutes you'll have the horse backed off the trailer. If the horse get crooked in the backward process, use the opposite line to straighten him up. Hope this helps you.

[maplelawnstables]

I have that doesn't like to back out of a trailer also (only been trailered twice). She hasn't been handled much so right now were still working on basic ground work. When I go back to loading her I will introduce it like she's never seen it before. One foot in, rest, then one foot out (I also give the "step" command to prepare them for the drop.). When she gets comfortable with that I will go to two feet in, rest, then out. The drop of the back feet is a big challenge to some horses (the world just disappeared!), see if you can load three feet on, rest, then back down. By this time they should realize that the world is still there and then you can load all four feet (just step on, don't walk farther in) rest, then step off. Once they walk all the way in, they sometimes don't remember where the drop off is and startle themselves with it (this is where "step" comes in handy). Hope this helps.

[SunnyKS]

I have had the best luck by getting a horse very good at backing and moving forward in a pen or open area away from the trailer. Also stepping over poles helps with entering the trailer. By very good I mean they have practiced it enough that they will back several relaxed steps with just a light touch and voice command. I have also seen that backing too much will tick a horse off so it needs mixed in with other ground work.

Next step is to put them in front of the trailer and get one foot in then back out. Praise repeat until mastered. Then put two feet just in. Back out. Praise repeat until mastered. Then 1/2 in and back out so on until your at three feet in. Here you have to quick with one that loads easy. You have to stop them quick so you still have one back foot out.

This may need to be split into several sessions so that you can end on a positive note. Like one night its two front feet and the next night 1/2 in. Always starting each session from the beginning one foot starting point.

Good luck!

[Slim Pikkens]

People often focus on training the horse to load but not unload. Some horses charge out backwards with no regard for what they might strike either in the trailer or outside. Ask the horse to step up into the trailer front hooves only. Encourage it to relax and not enter further. A little brushing is good now. When ready to unload, give the tail a light tug and ask for a "back". You may need to give a light tug on the lead. I'd walk the horse in a small circle and repeat the exercise. When you feel the horse is doing this well ask for it to move in further maybe including a hind. Again grooming, again the tail tug and back. By now your horse is learning to back calmly. It's biggest reward right now is to put it away. The next day do a rehearsal of the different steps and when going well, load all the way. At no time can you be in a hurry. Taking the time now will pay off in the long run.

[Trailrider Jo]

We do just like RideItLikeYouStoleIt said except for right before they step off the trailer floor, we say "Step". We always give that verbal command to all the horse we own, don't know if it helps or not. Sometimes they have to take a big step off the trailer and think it helps for them to know their stepping off.

She could load her horse part of the way in, like maybe just the front feet and they back him out. Reward him by petting & rubbing him, doesn't hurt to call him a good boy. Do this a few times, letting him go in and out before he gets completely in the trailer. If he goes to get off the trailer and comes back in be patient and talk calmly and try it again.

[redboy]

My horse had a lot of anxiety about backing off my trailer, he would always want to turn around and walk straight off, so I taught him to back out of the trailer by REPEATEDLY practicing backing on the ground.
I would walk him forward btween 2 posts, my cross tie area, and then I would use my crop, "as an extention of my arm" and help guide his body backward, as if we were backing off the trailer. I would touch him in various places with my crop to get those body parts to move, AND, PRACTICE saying WHOA, or OVER when I needed his feet or body, to change direction, or to stop moving, so he wouldn't fly off the trailer and fall.
And, so I could TIME his steps, and control his movement.
I practiced the same "Cues" every time and when it came time for him to back off the trailer, he just did what we had done btween the cross ties.
I also incorporated the word "Step" when he would have to step off the back, so when he hears that "Cue" he knows the next step is downward onto the grass.
I also always try to position my trailer on to nice level ground so as to make the step down easier, not some Big Terrifying step off into the "Great Abyss".
I just make it as easy as possible for him.
Since he's a quick learner, he understands that it's ok.
He is still sometimes anxious, but I ALWAYS praise him and reassure him when we finish that last step onto the ground.
Plus I reward him with a hug and a pat and treat, thereby turning his negative into a positive experience.
It took practice, but he is so AWESOME and TRUSTING about it now, and he trusts that I won't put him in a dangerous position.
Worked well for me, give it a try. Redboy

PS. As John Lyons says, "Horses are "Condition Response" animals.
If you repeatedly set up the SAME CONDITION, you will get the SAME RESPONSE every time".
Good Luck, RB

[BabyMay]

Thanks everyone. I will call her tomarrow and let her knw what you have all suggested. She lives a few hours away from me or I would go and help her. Maybe I could have her haul him here and help her. We will have to see what she wants to do. I know she was very upset with the whole situation when she called me today.

[SunnyKS]

I'm not sure hauling him to your place would be a good idea. After all the main problem here is that he won't get out of a trailer!

[cook1745]

My mare is the EXACT same way she was shaking in all her muscles from fear and I'm a VERY gentle trainer. She was just plain scared for I finally let her out the escape door and told my husband we MUST have a ramp our a trailer she can turn around in. My old trailer I just sold and the one I had when I bought her had a ramp so I didn't relize this was even an issue till I rented a trailer that was a good size step up and she wanted nothing to do with backing out.