Backing up

Arlight so I posted before about this but my computer wont let me find it sooo here we go. My mare loads amazingly but backing up is a whole different story. She will ram you into the wall and plant her feet. Well we have a bridge and I figured I would start teaching her to back off that as she backs on the ground already. Well she will back off its jsut her front feet on the bridge with little to no contact but as soon as she gets all 4 on she will NOT move its like she forgets how to move them. So I am looking for some advice on how to get her to back off this bridge before I worry about the trailer as it seems to just be a backing off a raised surface issue in general. So does anybody have an suggestions???

Help????

Nothing of what you are saying makes any sense.

Why are you putting your horse on a bridge and asking it to back up ?

Surely there are safer places to back up a horse.

She is unsafe to back out of a trailer she rams you against the wall and braces and will not back up. We have a trail bridge its maybe 3-5 inches off the ground so not like she can hurt herself on it. Im asking her to back off the bridge to get her used to backing off something she has to step down from. I do not see this as unsafe as its better then putting us both in danger in an area she cannot escape from.

I think she is trying to train her horse to back off the trailer. Is that right?

Correct except without the trailer

Can you use a trailer you can turn her around in? I use a stock trailer and my gelding loves it because he has so much more freedom.

Momo-yes we have a slant load actually 2 but that's not the point I want her to be able to back out of a trailer not bash somebody trying to get her to back and then drag them out when they turn her around.Its more of a training thing that I want to bite in the butt now so she doesnt become accostumed(sp?) to being turned around.She will hop right in no issues stands quietly in the trailer even next to a moody straight b**chy mare next to her. Its just backing out is her only issue

Sounds like a fear behavior. Sounds like you have the right idea practicing on the bridge.
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My BO's daughter's horse was use to turning around in a larger trailer and walking off straight. He was loaded into a smaller trailer one day. After arriving at his destination, his head was untied... And he turned right around to walk out, only this time there wasn't enough room. He got struck, struggled, and fell. It took two years to get him over the trailer issues this incident instilled on him. Moral of the story: if your horse always walks off a trailer after turning, he will not be use to backing off a trailer. Some trailers you must back out of. It's am important skill to learn.

My mare had the exact same problem with the bridge. She walked forwards fine, stood there, but wouldn't back. I back through everything I can, so naturally I ask for a back and find a horse rooted to the spot.

My horse's back on the ground was great. I could back her with no halter pressure; I just stepped forward her and said "back". I assume your mare's back on the ground is very good...

I got a dressage whip, stood in front of her (but slightly to the side; never know when a horse decides it's going to go forwards), and tapped her between the frong legs (not hard; just enough to be annoying) while asking normally for a back. I kept this up until I got a single, shaking step back. JACKPOT, reward! Repeat until satisfied, praising each step back and pausing after each backward step to allow "thinking" and calming down time.