horsecrazychick
4th Feb 2006, 07:30 PM
Jazzy's always loaded fairly well, as long as someone stood behind her to swing a rope, but she's never really liked the trailer much and she's never been able to back out(we have a 3 horse slant). She also paces back and forth and paws when tied to the trailer, while down at the barn I can tack up w/o even a halter.
So I decided to use Clinton Anderson's technique to get them 'craving to go in th trailer'. Basically you make it uncomfortable outside by lunging and turning a lot and making them work, and only let them rest if in the trailer, so it becomes a safe place that they want to be. well it worked- she started immediately jumping in either leading or even just lunging her in, then she would turn around and stand at the edge and sometimes I almost couldn't get her to come out.
The next day we worked on backing out, first away from the trailer with tarps and poles and cardboard, then in the trailer after she'd turned around(so facing the wrong way) and then finally in the trailer, taking babay steps, walking forward, and eventually backing all the way out perefctly, w/o even rushing. Unfortunately, then she didn't want to get back in the trailer. Her resting spot was at the opening of the trailer where she could look around and relax- standing all the way in the trailer in back makes her nervous, and then backing out is doing work, so she didn't want to go back in and I had to work w/ her for atleast another half hour to get her back in so we could end on a good note.
What am I doing wrong? Clinton anderson never said how to teach the back up w/o a 2 horse straight load, or how to teach them to walk straight to the back and then stay there w/o turning around in a 3 horse slant. She wants to be in the trailer, but only if she can turn around and stand at the opening(then she'll stand there all day).
Also, will the anxiety while being tied to the trailer outside go away once I solve the anxiety about being in the trailer? I've taught her to stand next to the trailer relaxed, but once I tie her up and leave she paces around and digs holes. :o
So I decided to use Clinton Anderson's technique to get them 'craving to go in th trailer'. Basically you make it uncomfortable outside by lunging and turning a lot and making them work, and only let them rest if in the trailer, so it becomes a safe place that they want to be. well it worked- she started immediately jumping in either leading or even just lunging her in, then she would turn around and stand at the edge and sometimes I almost couldn't get her to come out.
The next day we worked on backing out, first away from the trailer with tarps and poles and cardboard, then in the trailer after she'd turned around(so facing the wrong way) and then finally in the trailer, taking babay steps, walking forward, and eventually backing all the way out perefctly, w/o even rushing. Unfortunately, then she didn't want to get back in the trailer. Her resting spot was at the opening of the trailer where she could look around and relax- standing all the way in the trailer in back makes her nervous, and then backing out is doing work, so she didn't want to go back in and I had to work w/ her for atleast another half hour to get her back in so we could end on a good note.
What am I doing wrong? Clinton anderson never said how to teach the back up w/o a 2 horse straight load, or how to teach them to walk straight to the back and then stay there w/o turning around in a 3 horse slant. She wants to be in the trailer, but only if she can turn around and stand at the opening(then she'll stand there all day).
Also, will the anxiety while being tied to the trailer outside go away once I solve the anxiety about being in the trailer? I've taught her to stand next to the trailer relaxed, but once I tie her up and leave she paces around and digs holes. :o