How to Get a Colt in a Horse Trailer

Horses that are difficult to load into horse trailers create interesting scenarios. Some people bribe their horses into the trailer with food or use ropes to try to push the horse from behind while another person pulls the horse in by the lead rope. Trying to force an unwilling horse into a trailer can prove futile as well as dangerous. Training your colt to enter a trailer willingly is the safest solution for both the horse and its owner.

Things You'll Need

  • Halter
  • Lead rope or longe line
  • Trailer
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Instructions

    • 1

      Make sure your colt responds appropriately to ground commands such as "walk" and "whoa" and respects your space on the ground.

    • 2

      Allow your curious colt to inspect the trailer. Open the trailer doors. Let the colt look at and sniff the trailer. Reward your colt with praise or treats. Let it investigate the trailer as long as it remains interested. Repeat until the colt is calm around the trailer.

    • 3

      Longe your colt at a walk in a circle at the door of the trailer. Use a long lead rope or a longe line. Make the colt back up, change direction and stop. Continuously reward the colt. Make this experience as pleasant as possible. Continue until the colt is calm.

    • 4

      Use the end of the lead rope or longe line to drive your colt at a walk at the door of the trailer, then halt. Reward your colt. Drive the colt past the door in a circle and then halt again. Reward your colt. Repeat this exercise until the colt stands calmly at the trailer door.

    • 5

      Drive your colt into the trailer and have it stand in place. Don't worry if your colt stops with one or two feet in the trailer. Reward your colt for standing calmly. Avoid allowing the colt to crowd your space.

    • 6

      Back your colt out of the trailer. Don't allow it to turn and exit the trailer head first. Even if you're using a slant-load trailer with plenty of room for it to turn around, at some point your colt could be hauled in a straight-load trailer, which doesn't provide enough room for such an action.

    • 7

      Repeat the previous steps until the colt loads completely into the trailer, stands calmly and then backs out of the trailer. Reward the colt each time it demonstrates the appropriate behavior.

    • 8

      Have your colt stand in the trailer for five seconds. Reward your colt. Increase the length of time in the trailer by five-second increments until the colt stands calmly for 30 seconds. Have your colt back out of the trailer.

    • 9

      Drive your colt into the trailer, tie the lead rope and have the colt stand calmly for 10 seconds before having it back out. Reward your colt. Repeat this exercise, increasing the time to one minute. Continue the exercise in one-minute increments until your colt stands calmly for 10 minutes. Have your colt back out of the trailer.

    • 10

      Load your colt into the trailer, tie the lead rope and shut the trailer door. Allow the colt to remain in the closed trailer for 10 seconds. Reward your colt. Repeat this exercise, increasing the time to one minute. Continue the exercise in one-minute increments until your colt stands calmly for 15 minutes. Once your colt stands quietly and calmly in the closed trailer for 15 minutes, it's ready for short rides in the moving trailer.