How to Trailer a Horse Safely

Learning to trailer your horse safely is important for when you're attending shows or going on trail rides.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 8-foot Lead Rope
• Halter

1. Use a vehicle that has sufficient power to tow a loaded horse trailer safely.

2. Check all lights and turn signals to make sure they are working correctly.

3. Refer to the trailer manufacturer to learn how to hook up the trailer properly. All trailers should have a chain hookup in addition to the trailer hitch for additional safety.

4. Open the door and secure it so it doesn't hit the horse when entering.

5. Walk the horse up to the open trailer and allow her to look inside, then stand on the near side of the horse and cluck to the horse.

6. Tap the horse on the top of the left hip lightly with a crop to entice her to move forward. Ask again by clucking and lightly tapping the horse on the hip.

7. Do not force the horse. The horse is much bigger and much stronger than you and will always win.

8. Walk the horse away and try again if she refuses.

9. Allow the horse to walk inside. She will usually walk straight to the feed.

10. Tie the horse with enough slack that if she falls during transport she will not hang herself or break her neck.

Tips & Warnings

• Open windows or turn on lights inside to illuminate the trailer. Horses do not like to load in the dark.
• Lightly tap the horse repeatedly on her left hip to get her to move forward.
• Try putting small amounts of food on the floor inside the trailer to entice her inside.
• Make your first trailer ride a short one, even around the block.
• Stop every couple of hours if on a long trailer ride to give your horse a rest. You don't have to let her out to rest.
• Always be patient. It may take dozens of tries to get your horse to load. Reward your horse for every step in the right direction, even if it's only one step.
• Any mishap or scare to the horse while loading or in transit could create a negative and lasting experience that will prevent the horse from ever trailering again. Be careful, you have precious cargo.
• Never hit or beat the horse to get her inside; this will only scare her more, a fear she will associate with a trailer.

[tugboat]

on 11/12/2006 When Trailering Across State lines, even Private horse trailers must stop at all Agricultual inspection stations and have up to date health papers or you will get an expensive ticket at the very least.
Check the Ag dept. web sites of each state you will pass through for requirements as they vary.

on 8/8/2006 I once had a horse that did not want to go into a trailer. He wasn't scared, he just did not like the ride or getting into them. We tried tons of things to get him to load. Hopefully some of my tips can help.

Horses are smart animals, they will only fall for tricks once or twice. They will also learn ways to get out of a situation but still get their reward. But be careful, I have seen people being dragged out of trailers because they tried to hold on when their horse wanted to get away.

Now, when you try to get your horse to load don't give him the chance to refuse. Don't let him decide when he will get into to trailer on what days and so on. This does not mean that you use force, reward is what is required.

When you begin to load your horse, carry a lunge whip with you. Stand beside your horse and very lightly start tapping your horse with the whip and give him a cluck. If the horse moves forward stop tapping, stop clucking and give him a reward with patting. If he starts to back away from the tapping, get a little firmer with your tapping as he backs up, never snap the whip at him though. As soon as he moves forward, stop. I have had to back away over 150+ feet before my horse stopped backing up.

Then if he stops after taking a step forward, let him think about his reward for about 20 seconds before once again asking him to move forward. Continue this until he gets up to the trailer. Once he gets to the trailer let him stop and sniff around the trailer. When he does that, you should step into the trailer, but do not ask your horse to come forward, keep the lead loose.

Once again come out and ask him to move forward, if he steps with his front feet into the trailer, stop do not get more persistent, this is where you need to become even more patient. Once he steps in with his front feet if he wants to step out let him. Putting his feet into the trailer is a big step. Then take him away from the trailer, walk around for a bit around the trailer, let him relax. This means that when he was ready to explore the trailer you took him away from it making it so he wants to figure out more about it. He hasn't satisfied his curiosity.

Then keep repeating until he steps all the way into the trailer. Do not close the door on him, let him see it open and if he gets fearful he can back out. This will let him get confidence of not being boxed in. Only after a couple of times of him fully loading do you close the door, close him in for a while and let him back out before going anywhere so he gets used to that as well.

Remember that you want to keep a loose lead at all times and never try to pull him into the trailer, this will make him pull back and he is stronger than you. Be careful and give yourself a lot of time to do this.

on 3/22/2006 Often when loading a horse into a trailer they get stressed and start to breathe heavily and move around. To calm your horse, rub gently just above their eyes for a 1-5 minute period. This will calm them down and make it easier for both you and the horse traveling.

on 3/10/2006 I once had a horse that did not want to go into a trailer. He wasn't scared, he just did not like the ride or getting into the trailer. We tried tons of things to get him to load. Hopefully some of my tips can help you in this situation.

Horses are smart animals, they will only fall for tricks once or twice. They will also learn ways to get out of a situation but still get their reward. But be careful, I have seen people being dragged out of trailers because they tried to hold on when their horse wanted to get away.

Now, when you try to get your horse to load, don't give him the chance to refuse. Don't let him decide when he will get into a trailer, on what days and so on. This does not mean that you use force! Reward is what is required.

When you begin to load your horse, carry a lunge whip with you. Stand beside your horse and very lightly start tapping your horse with the whip and give him a cluck. If the horse moves forward, stop tapping, stop clucking and give him a reward with patting. If he starts to back away from the tapping, get a little firmer with your tapping as he backs up, never snap the whip at him. As soon as he moves forward, stop (I have had to back away over 150+ feet before my horse stopped backing up). Then, if he stops after taking a step forward, let him think about his reward for about 20 seconds before once again asking him to move forward. Continue this until he gets up to the trailer. Once he gets to the trailer let him stop and sniff around the trailer. When he does that, you should step into the trailer, but do not ask your horse to come forward, keep the lead loose. Once again, come out and ask him to move forward, if he steps with his front feet into the trailer, stop. Do not get more persistent, this is where you need to become even more patient. Once he steps in with his front feet, if he wants to step out - let him. Putting his feet into the trailer is a big step. Then take him away from the trailer, walk around the trailer for a bit, let him relax. This means that when he was ready to explore the trailer, you took him away from it, making it so he wants to figure out more about it. He hasn't satisfied his curiosity.

Keep repeating these actions until he steps all the way into the trailer. Do not close the door on him, let him see it open. If he gets fearful he can back out. This will give him confidence and he won't fell he is being boxed in. Only after a couple of times of him fully loading do you close the door. Close him in for a while and let him back out before going anywhere.

Remember that you want to keep a loose lead at all times. Never try to pull him into the trailer, this will make him pull back (and he is stronger than you). Be careful, and give yourself a lot of time to do this.

on 11/22/2005 Food and treats are just a quick fix and a very temporary solution. Instead, praise your horse with petting and rubbing every time he takes a step forward. Eventually he will get 2 feet in, let him stand there with two feet in and his muscles will start to get tired from standing like this. If he backs out it's OK, but only praise him when he steps toward the trailer again. It takes a lot of time and patience, but if you do it right, it's worth it. And don't start something you can't finish. Always end on a high note.