I learned how to load my horses into a trailer because my "helper" always rushed the horse. The rush caused anxiety in the horse which tarnished their view of trailering forever. The first experience is the most important. Rushing doesn't help.
Here are the steps I take when loading my horses for the first time or subsequent times.
1. Park the trailer on level ground. You don't want a step-up trailer with the back higher than the front. With a ramp, you want the ramp level. A moving ramp doesn't inspire confidence. Would you go up something that sagged under your weight?
2. Move the centre partition over. tie it to one side. No, you don't have to open the escape door at the front.
Slant load trailers should have the partitions locked to the side.
3. Bring the horse towards the trailer in a straight line. Do. not come at an angle. It gives the horse an option to not go forward.
Where the horse stops to look at the trailer is where you start training. Hopefully, it won't be 50 feet away (I have had that). Stop the horse, reward. food works. Food the horse prefers is better. I use alfalfa pellets or cubes, but as a friend said, her horse won't piaffe for alfalfa. But they will for carrots or apple bits. Keep the treats small. 1" by 1". frequency is important. Waiting for the horse to chew and swallow a carrot takes forever.
Ask for 1 step towards the trailer. The horse is facing the trailer, not allowed to look away. Focus on the job on hand. Reward the one step. Repeat until you are at the trailer.
If the horse is backing away or thinking of running away, circle away. You have gone too fast to get to this point.
4. At the trailer allow the horse to sniff. Hopefully, the trailer will have Eau du Cheval. If not add manure to the trailer. Eau du sheep won't help. or goat or pig. Reward the horse for sniffing.
5. Ask for 1 step. Reward. When asking for the step forward release the pressure on the lead rope. Slack but not lots of slack as you want the horse to face the trailer. Take your time.
6. Ask for another step. Stop reward. If the horse offers more steps go for it.
7. Ask for another step. Stop reward. If the horse offers more steps go for it.
8. If your horse decides that has been enough and wants to leave you can give the unload command. I sue "unload" and circle around and start over again. If you can stop the backward motion (ideal), stop it.
9. Once you have the horse into the trailer, but not all the way in: do NOT ask faster. Continue the ask, reward when the horse responds.
10. Do up the bum bar if all went smoothly and your horse has hauled previously with a good experience. If not unload the horse. I pull on the tail and say "unload". Repeat the loading process again. You should be able to do the bum bar up with a horse new to loading this first session. If the horse is young wait until the next time you have a loading session. The entire session should take 5 minutes. If your horse has manners, accepts being told what to do, trusts you, and you have not rushed the process. Quit now. If time is important you can repeat in an hour or so. Or the next day or the day after.
The secret is I use a rope looped through the tie ring or chest bar at the front of the trailer. I use a stick or dressage whip that is about 3' long to tap the horse. Teach the horse to respond to the tap on the side and croup before you use the trailer. Teach your horse to step forward to a pull on the halter before you have the trailer ready for loading. Most horses that are trained will respond to the touches and pull on the lead rope. The release of the pull on the halter is the reward. Stop pulling when the horse steps, or even thinks of stepping. If you cannot do this don't even think of loading your horse into a trailer or anything.
Tap for 1 step, or pull lightly on the lead rope. release only when the horse thinks or does steps forward. This is most important. If you do not release your horse will resist.
Gather up the rope as your horse steps forward. If your horse has an issue with the rope touching legs then stop the loading and train your horse to accept being touched on the legs.
Once your horse is in the trailer, do up the bum bar. take off the long rope. You can use the long rope for unloading if your horse zips off. You will still have the horse in "control". Don't slow the horse down if rushing off the trailer. You will only cause a panic attack.
To unload. Pull on the tail and say "unload". Reward for each step back. If your horse will not unload, then wait. Pushing, pounding etc won't get your horse off any faster. reward the horse once off the trailer.
That's it. It won't matter if you train in a straight load or angle haul. Your horse will load willingly into either trailer.
You can use just the stick and throw the lead line over the neck of the horse. Have a second lead line for control.
If you train with the long rope, you will have to use it until your horse loads without it. It might take a while even if you haul weekly. The good news is that your horse will step into the trailer as soon as you put it on.
Rearing, backing up, kicking, refusing: do happen. Just wait. the horse will settle down. Reward what you want, ignore what you don't want. If your horse has a long history or even a short one of not doing as asked the sessions will increase and be more dramatic. That is a handler issue.
Benefits of teaching a horse to load this way
It is fast.
It is without drama.
The horse doesn't object and will be more willing the next session.
You don't need a helper. If you do have a helper that person can offer the food reward when the horse is in the trailer through the escape door.
Safe. Walking in with the horse can leave you injured or bruised. Maybe not this horse or this time. being in an enclosed, small space with an unhappy horse is not fun.
Previous Skills the horse needs prior to Loading in Trailer Session
A. Touch Aids
1. Stepping forward to a pull on the halter. No vocal command.
2. Move when touched at the side and croup. No vocal command.
3. Move sideways when touched on the hindquarter for doing up the partition.
4. Teach the horse to do one step. It makes doing the bum are up easier. The command is "one step"
B. Voice Aids for Loading
1. Good boy/girl, or a cluck when the horse responds.
2. Load up
3. One step
4. Unload
Reward
1. Food in the beginning sessions. Food the horse particularly likes eg carrots for a faster response.
3. Release the pressure on the lead rope
4. Stop tapping. (this means you keep tapping until the horse moves. You can change the frequency or the intensity of the taps to elicit a response. You might want to go back and school the horse on responding to taps.)
5. Scatches at the withers, tail head.
Warning
1. Do not stand directly in front or behind the horse. Always stand to one side.
2. It is best not to have a helper.
When driving off
Wait until the horse has been in the trailer for a few or 5 minutes. Finish loading up with whatever you are bringing once the horse is loaded. Do up the bum bar. Wait for a few minutes then close the door.
When you get where you are going. Let the horse stand for as long as possible before opening the back door. And again before unloading. It is safer if your horse waits in the trailer than tied to the outside or worse holding the horse. All the time. Every time. Guess how horses that dance around in the trailer were trained to do this?
If your horse kicks, scrambles, doesn't want to load. Change your driving. You are too rough. Put sand on the mats first, then sawdust/shavings on top. Every time you haul.
Dry out under the mats after every trip. Replacing floorboards is not fun or cheap.
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