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Loading in a trailer Problems

2K views 12 replies 10 participants last post by  Chevaux 
#1 ·
I have a beautiful brand new 2 horse slant load trailer and I can load one horse just fine .......................... but I don't seem to know how to load the second horse. I have to load and unload alone so I have to figure this out. I lead the first horse in and pull the partition closed. then I tie him and slip out under the partition. Now the problem comes in when I load the second horse he doesn't move to the side and stand there he swings his butt around and backs out straight. I don't have time to get out and close the door. If I tie him he will pull back on the tie or back far enough that he can get his hind legs out of the trailer and I can't close the door. It doesn't matter which horse I load last they both do this. I keep thinking there should be something that prevents the horse from swinging his butt around other than the door. If I had another person helping me they could close the door and then open it just enough for me to get out after he is tied but as I am alone I cant do that. Any suggestions? Do you think I should weld loops onto the back sides of the trailer and run a chain across or something? I don't even know how I would do that to be honest. I checked youtube but couldn't find any videos showing how to properly load in a slant.
 
#2 ·
Sounds like they load perfectly fine. It also sounds like the horses don't tie very well.

I'd go back to the basics of tying without anything holding them there. If that definitely isn't the problem, the trailer may just be too small for two horses to fit comfortably.

I think welding loops and hanging a chain is a band-aid for the real problem. I, personally, wouldn't spend my time on that when I could use the time to fix the root of the problem.
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#3 ·
I don't think the trailer is too small it is 6.8 ft wide and 7 ft tall (its a 2014 titan avalanche II The horses still do this if I load just one of them but load in the rear section of the trailer. They tie beautifully outside the trailer and never pull back it just seems to be inside the trailer . I could put a rope halter on them and tie them very short and securely but I am afraid if they panic and pitch a fit they will hurt themselves or me. I think the problem is me I think I am just not doing it right.
 
#4 ·
By leading them in and squeezing out you are putting yourself in a very dangerous situation. Go back to basics as stated above and teach the horses to stand in the trailer regardless if they are tied. Send the first on in, go around on the outside of the trailer tie him. Send the second one in close the door then go around the outside and tie him.

I have a two horse straight load there is no possible way for me to safely be in the trailer with two horses. I send them in and they know not to get out until they are told. I don't have to slam the door closed or put up chains, they just know because I have taught them to wait. I can load two at the same time and then go to front and hook the trailer ties. It is a matter teaching them to stand in the trailer.
 
#5 ·
Give the horse a good workout with lots of turn backs but he's allowed to rest if he looks in the trailer. The moment he looks away, back to work. As he gets pooped the trailer will begin to have some appeal. Even if he goes in, wait and see if he stays or starts backing out. Back to work. He'll learn to associate the trailer as a place to rest. Don't ever tie with a rope halter. If he pulls back hard enough he can break his poll/game over.
 
#7 ·
If I were you, I would invest in hiring a welder or metal fabricator to install rings for a butt chain. I have read a couple of stories about trailer doors opening in transit, and without a butt chain, those tales go from being "scary" to be "tragedies."

Go ahead and work on tying, but I'd call a metal fabricator, too.
 
#9 ·
We haul in both a stock trailer with up to 10 horses tied to the left side. They all stand at the same angle as a slant trailer. And we have a Sooner 6 horse aluminum slant with dividers (used very seldom any more).

We handle horses and ropes the same for both trailers.

1) Every horse loads with or without being led in.

2) Every horse is tied in the stall or horse spot behind it.

3) Every horse in the Sooner trailers has its lead-rope just run through the tying ring and then put into the stall behind it above the hinge. The divider is closed. After the horse is secured with the divider, the rope is tied with a quick release knot in the stall behind it. If you ever have a horse get down in a trailer, you would quickly realize the value of being able to release a horse but still have a lead-rope on it.

This way, every horse can be untied with its divider still closed. I have seen one and known of several horses that backed part way out of a trailer while still tied. They set back, their hind legs slid under the trailer and a leg was broken when they tried to jump forward. This was with two-horse straight load trailers without rubber bumpers on the bottom, but the same thing could happen with a new slant if the horse had its hind feet under the trailer.
 
#10 ·
Sounds like you need to train them to stand in the trailer with out backing up. Ask for 2 seconds of standing, praise, then 5 seconds.... working your way up in time. Start with you standing there. Now on my slant load, I have a full size exit door at their head that has a bar across to keep horses from going out. I loop my rope around that bar until I get the divider closed so they can't exit. Make sure to give a specific cue when you do want them to back out.
 
#11 ·
You are getting some great advice, however some pictures of the trailer could help.
Train your horses to load with you standing outside and side them into the trailer.
Train your horses to stay in the trailer until you ask them to exit.
If you need help on how to train your horse to load there should be a few to many old threads about trailer loading.
 
#13 ·
I also have a 2 horse slant - my favourite trailer. The two most important things for your horses to learn to be successful at this are 1) move hindquarters when asked (this moves the horse into slant position once they've walked in and 2) stand after being put into slant position (this will let you tie the head, then close the gate/partition without having to scrunch underneath it after the fact).

Moving the hindquarters is a basic exercise that you can perfect and practice on the ground before moving onto the trailer; one thing to do is set up a learning situation with corral panels, jumps, oil drums or whatever you have that has you lead the horse to a spot, stop it and move the hindquarters into position. Ask for increasing lengths of standing once you have the hindquarters where they should be. Once you've got this down pat on the ground, you can move to the trailer and start practicing it there.

With regard to tieing, I have permanent (light weight to break in an emergency) ties in the trailer where one end has a standard snap to hook to the halter and the other end has a panic strap attached to the trailer that can be reached through the window. That way I don't have to mess around doing a knot and can quickly tie the horse and put the gate/partition in place. The other thing I have in my trailer is a padded, chain butt strap (with panic snaps) that can either be set up parallel to the horse in slant position or left hooked to the back of the trailer going from one side to other - I use slant position when two horses are in it and back position if there's one horse loose in it. This works very well for a bit of added control/safety and if your trailer doesn't have the rings already installed, I'm sure they can be put in by the dealership for minimum cost.
 
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