Horse Trailer Loading Tips

Horses that refuse to load on trailers are a frustrating problem, and can create dangerous situations for both the horse and the owner. Horses usually refuse to load out of either willfulness or fear of the enclosed space. However, there are some steps you can take to correct these problems and make loading safer and easier for you and your horse.

  1. Make the Horse Comfortable With the Trailer

    • If your horse is afraid of the trailer, it's important to make the horse feel more comfortable about both the trailer and loading. You'll know if your horse is afraid by tenseness in its body when it approaches the trailer. Fearful horses may roll or show the whites of their eyes. Make your horse more comfortable by introducing the trailer slowly. Park the trailer in the horse's area and let the horse explore by itself. You can also place feed in the trailer, moving it farther into the trailer as the horse becomes more comfortable. This provides a tasty reward for calm behavior. A fearful horse that has become more comfortable with the trailer will load easily.

    Show the Horse Why It's Better to Load Quickly

    • If your horse is the willful sort, it may be refusing to load simply because it knows it can get away with it. Show your horse that it's easier and more comfortable to load quickly. When the horse refuses to load, back it away from the trailer. Then, ask it to perform some simple halter commands, such as backing up, turning or walking in a circle. Try loading the horse again after a few minutes. If the horse refuses, repeat the process, adding more or more difficult commands, such as lungeing. Eventually, the horse will realize it's easier to just get on the trailer; after each session, your horse will load more and more quickly.

    Keep the Horse's Attention on the Trailer

    • Keep your horse's attention on the trailer as you try to load, making the training quicker and more effective. Circle the horse around the trailer, getting it used to the trailer, before trying to load. Let the horse sniff the trailer and examine it. If your horse starts to lose focus, circle the trailer again. When loading, ask your horse to move into the trailer by kissing or clucking to it. Tap the horse's shoulder or rear with the end of a lead line to encourage it to stay focused and move forward.

    Never Force the Horse to Load

    • Be patient with your horse. When you're frustrated, it's hard not to yell or get upset at your horse, but this only makes the horse more fearful of the trailer. Keep the horse's attention and repeat the actions until your horse loads correctly. Never pull on the horse's head or neck, forcing it to load, as this may frighten the horse. After your horse has correctly loaded, reward the horse with food, or let the horse back out of the trailer. Always end the training session in a positive way, such as after a correct load, without the horse becoming overly tired. This leaves the horse with positive feelings about the trailer.