Floating

[vyvyen]

Help,

Had a big problem with Lindy again (its always Lindy):( Floated her and Tonka home from PNH on Saturday, got in the float, untied the horses, undid the back ramp and Lindy started trying to back out even though the ramp wasn't down and the chain was still across her rump, she got in a real state and frightened Tonka who then flew out and managed to get under the back chain, my husband grabbed him, luckily he wasn't hurt, then managed to undo the chain to let Lindy out and she came flying out, we put her back on a couple of times and made her back out quietly, we also put Tonka back on incase he was frightened by the experience. She is such a claustrophobic loony. Now I'm really worried about floating them next Saturday to PNH. I'm considering leaving really early and walking them there (plus a ton of gear :( ). This was a borrowed float and I don't have access to another float. How am I going to stop her from trying to rush out of the float, the horses or us could have been seriously hurt. Any help would be much appreciated.

[Maci]

I can't be of much help here, sorry! Why not ask your PNH instructor, and see what they suggest? Good luck with Lindy! Poor Tonka! :(

Maci :)

[ros]

Difficult one, that, if you haven't got your own float. Sounds like you really need to borrow one for a week or so and just spend some quiet time putting her in and out by herself, with no pressure on either of you, maybe giving her a small feed in there now and then, letting her think about things and work them out for herself. If you could get hold of one it's never time wasted.

[lamprellsarah]

yep sounds a bit like my mare although she won't walk in really either, i borrowed one for a week and just had to practise feeding her on the ramp and working my way up and then giving a full feed inside doing this quiete a few times then, put the ramp up and leave her for a minute then take her out and go back in , in gradually steps!!
but it's going to be hard if you can't borrow one, sorry i can't help more!!

[larri]

Is there no one you can hire one from? As the others said it's something that needs repetative work on until the horse sees it as another everyday task.
I'd even go as far as loading them, driving them round the block and unloading them - quite often people will practise the in & out bits and wonder why the horses panicks when you drive off for the first time! To the horse the feeling that they are moving without going anywhere can really upset them.

Would it help to ask the people that you borrow the float from if they would let you have it for a couple days a week for a little while?

Let us know how you get on

larri

[vyvyen]

Hi,

Well I'm floating her and Tonka again this Saturday to the PNH Christmas party, but being a big chicken I'm getting the PNH instructor to come with me. I NEVER EVER have a problem with anything with little 5yo Tonka, he's perfect, but Lindy is just one problem after another with everything:mad: . I'm sure she will be sorted out yet again on Saturday. She was float trained a few months ago, but she always reverts quickly to trying to run out of the float - I'm afraid she is always going to be an uphill battle with everything, she's such an old bag:( . Thanks for all your help everyone, I'll let you know how she goes with this last of many problems!

[vyvyen]

I can't believe it but she floated really well:D . Was waiting at the side of the ramp when we put it down with the carrot stick and she didn't try to bolt off. PNH instructor said its because we put her back on twice when she rushed off last time. We even took Tonka off first to see if she would try it on. But there is always next time:( . I'ts made up my mind to get a 2 horse angle float (when I can afford one);)