Well according to the thermometer it has, but it's that damp kind of cold that seems to get into your bones!! Is that a legitimate excuse for not riding?
Before I put the horses out I lowered the ramp on the trailer. After yesterdays success I was feeling positive, and after putting Corky in the field I took Bonbon over for another look.I stood at the top of the ramp whilst she sniffed the bottom of the ramp, I asked her to walk towards me, but as she raised her foot, she caught it on the ramp so I asked her to back up a few steps and then asked again. She put one foot on the ramp and hesitated, then put the other foot on and took a step towards me, peering into the trailer. We stood for a few seconds, she remained calm and then I asked her to back up off the ramp. No problem, Mum! No back legs on yet, but I'll happen.
As I was putting her into the field, Corky was waiting and had a little yahoo moment, legging it to the bottom of the field, Bonbon was brilliant, waited until I unclipped her and then cantered over to join Corky. I was intending to have a little trailer session with Remy, but didn't want him distracted by playtime in the field so left it.
When I brought her in tonight I did the same thing. I stood at the top of the ramp and she just walked up the ramp to me, spent a little time searching my pockets for a sweetie and then when asked, backed down the ramp. What a little star!
Remy is much more suspicious, he's fine sniffing the bottom of the ramp and quite happy to peer inside, neck like a giraffe, but he's not yet willing to put his foot on the ramp. Petit à petit, he'll get there.
I've always had a horse box and never had a trailer before, so I'm not sure of the best way to proceed. Do I open the front ramp so that when I ask them to walk into the trailer, we can then walk straight through, or leave it closed and ask them to back out (this may not be a problem as Bonbon seems ok backing down at the moment). We've taken the partition out to start and I don't want to risk them trying to turn round once they're in there. I also don't want them to panic once they're in there and rush backwards down the ramp. Should we put the partition back in and just open it to one side? I suppose we could leave the front ramp closed, but be ready to open it in case there's a problem. Lots of thoughts,any advice welcome.
4 comments:
No advice but some experiences; Moo likes the partition out and even travels better without it, unsurprisingly it's the ramp that really freaks him though, not the actually trailer. Fidge got that he wouldn't load after a series of 'helpful' people who didn't have much patience, he too had a 'ramp' problem. So I would imagine that taking the early steps slowly will pay off for you.
I believe this is one of those questions that you will get as many opinions as answers on!
My five cents: Keep the partition out, and if you have a front unloading ramp, walk them through in the beginning.
Most horses travel better if they have plenty of room, so if you only transport one horse I would keep the partition out when driving too (if you have that possibility).
Thanks guys, I think it sounds like a good idea to travel without the partition, but if I need to travel 2 they're going to have to get used to having the partition in. I agree about opening the front ramp and that's what I did today. We're taking it very easy - small steps (hehe, hopefully into the trailer)and hopefully we'll get there with no unnecessary upset.
agree with teh walk through; also progress to tea in the trailer and then shutting bars and so on, all slowly slowly
I once had a trailer that wasn't quite full double width .. molly's mum, who i had at the time, much preferred travelling on her own in the middle (had a full width bar for it!); even when i got a wider trailer, she would lean ...
depends on the horse!
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