How to Train Your Horse to Go Into a Horse Trailer
Getting a horse into a trailer can take a lot of you if he is not in the mood. There is a fair amount of risk involved in forcing the horse in there against his will, which is why you should avoid taking the aggressive approach unless it cannot be helped.
Training your horse to go into the trailer is a more appropriate approach. This would require a bit of effort and a lot of patience on your part, but once you have successfully trained him, it would be worth it.
Instructions
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1
Begin training your horse to go into the trailer by parking the trailer in his pasture for some time. A week should be enough, though you can choose to keep it parked there for longer in order to make the horse even more comfortable with it.
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2
After the first park the trailer in the horse’s pasture, give the horse some time to get used to its sight. This is important because just as humans feel intrigued by something new that they come across, horses tend to become a bit anxious with something new in their surroundings as well.
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3
Once the horse appears to have gotten used to the sight of the trailer and no longer cares about it being there in the pasture, start putting the bucket of feed just inside the trailer, i.e. at the entrance. Be sure to keep the ramp down and the doors open. The horse will be compelled to stick his head inside the trailer to get to the bucket. It would be a good idea to secure the bucket so that the horse does not end up dumping it while eating from it.
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4
After you have fed the horse at the entrance of the trailer for a few days, move the bucket further into the trailer. This will compel the horse to move even further inside in order to get to the feed in the bucket.
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5
Once the horse is comfortably with eating inside the trailer and starts to move in and out on his own after he has done eating, begin closing the ramp while he is inside eating.
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6
Make the stay of the horse inside the trailer rewarding by placing a bag of hay inside.
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7
After the horse has become comfortable with going inside the trailer and staying in there, you will only need to lead him to the entrance of the trailer and just give him a slight cut to move in.
