Hello,
Previously to the barn I am at now I rode horses that were there, but now I want to bring my horse. My pony (rosie) though is terrified of the trailer. (common problem I know ) So the first time she walked in no problem we put her in the trailer drove there and when we came out she was sweating buckets and shaking.
I assumed by how well she walked in she would be fine, but I had never seen her so scared. Obviously we didn't ride that lesson. So when it was time to go I walked her to the trailer...Ears forward, feet ready to bolt, tail up, muscles tense, and head high...delightful.
So I stood next to her stroked her talked to her trying to calm her so then I took a step forward and she took about 5 backwards. I went with her to releases the tension. So then I went in front of her trying to get her to come and finally she did! So my trainer said to attach the bungee cord so I did and she actually ripped the bungee cord in half!!!!! my little pony broke the bungee cord! (I was shocked at the strength)
After ages of this basically we got her in and tied her lead rope to binder twine. I felt so bad for her but we got home and she was sweaty and shaky again. I have been working with her and now she will walk in the trailer no problem stand in there for a minute look around, stomp on the ground, but the SECOND she thinks she is stuck in there its full speed backwards. We are getting a new trailer because ours is too small for one of our horses now, but I will attach a link to a pic of the current one just for size) 2 Horse Trailer
My pony is 12.3 so she is really little, but does that trailer look scary from her point of view do you think? As in should I just wait til we get the new trailer to try and take her to lessons? If not should I just continue what I am doing? Any suggestions? I don't understand because she walks in fine and she will stand in there for ages, but I am obviously not going to tie her quick run out and trap her in I just don't quite understand. It bugs me when I don't understand my horse lol.
Thanks
Previously to the barn I am at now I rode horses that were there, but now I want to bring my horse. My pony (rosie) though is terrified of the trailer. (common problem I know ) So the first time she walked in no problem we put her in the trailer drove there and when we came out she was sweating buckets and shaking.
I assumed by how well she walked in she would be fine, but I had never seen her so scared. Obviously we didn't ride that lesson. So when it was time to go I walked her to the trailer...Ears forward, feet ready to bolt, tail up, muscles tense, and head high...delightful.
So I stood next to her stroked her talked to her trying to calm her so then I took a step forward and she took about 5 backwards. I went with her to releases the tension. So then I went in front of her trying to get her to come and finally she did! So my trainer said to attach the bungee cord so I did and she actually ripped the bungee cord in half!!!!! my little pony broke the bungee cord! (I was shocked at the strength)
After ages of this basically we got her in and tied her lead rope to binder twine. I felt so bad for her but we got home and she was sweaty and shaky again. I have been working with her and now she will walk in the trailer no problem stand in there for a minute look around, stomp on the ground, but the SECOND she thinks she is stuck in there its full speed backwards. We are getting a new trailer because ours is too small for one of our horses now, but I will attach a link to a pic of the current one just for size) 2 Horse Trailer
My pony is 12.3 so she is really little, but does that trailer look scary from her point of view do you think? As in should I just wait til we get the new trailer to try and take her to lessons? If not should I just continue what I am doing? Any suggestions? I don't understand because she walks in fine and she will stand in there for ages, but I am obviously not going to tie her quick run out and trap her in I just don't quite understand. It bugs me when I don't understand my horse lol.
Thanks