I am trying your trailer loading advice and it seemed to be working well for a while. When I tap my horse on the hip he would go forward. The problem is that he just stopped and he wouldn’t go forward into the trailer. It was like he was just frozen in place.

The answer to this questions assumes that you have read my previous article on trailer loading. If you have not read this and would like a copy just drop me an e-mail and I will forward you a copy. I am glad you asked that question because that happens a lot. Whenever a horse just locks up like that it is a warning sign. Sometimes they will just explode after a period of being locked up.

Remember that when your horse does move forward leave him alone and maybe give him a rub and a kind word. Also remember that even moving the head forward is forward motion that should be rewarded by leaving your horse alone. I even consider pawing a forward motion. If your horse simply will not make any attempt to go forward ask him to back up. Do what ever you have to without upsetting your horse to get those feet to move. While the feet are moving back ask for the forward motion by using the go forward cue. As soon as you get some forward motion stop tapping the horse on the hip and give him the reward he deserves.

Keep up this forward and backward motion and look for your horse to gradually get closer and closer to the chest bar. Of course, keep this up until your horse will stand quietly in the trailer with commotion going on outside the trailer. Only when he will stand quietly should you attempt to put up the butt bar. Make sure that your horse won’t panic when he hits the butt bar. Make sure you have a quick release for the butt bar so that if your horse does panic you can ask him to go forward, release the bar and then allow him to back out.

I hope this helps. Remember to be safe and don’t do anything where you think that you or your horse will get hurt. Stay safe and have fun.