Trailer Loading, Lunging, Sending, and Alternative Training Methods

Two General Methods of Trailer Loading

- Leading

- Sending

"Sending Method"

- "Sending the horse on the obstacle."

- Lunge the horse near a trailer and cue them to get onto a trailer

- Some people use this method by "sending" the horse over the obstacle for ground poles, etc.

Lunging

- The practice of a person standing in the middle while the horse is on the outside and is cued to go around them in a circle

- [Not Done at MU Equine] due to the incorrect footing (not a deep sandy arena), so concussion is worse on their legs

What should a horse know before leading onto a trailer?

- Stepping up on something.

- Good ground manners (tight space)

- Walking through narrow spaces

- Basic Leading

- Backing (Back off trailer)

What should a horse know before sending onto a trailer?

- Lunging

- Step up

- Ground manners

- Narrow space

- Leading/Backing

Why does MU Equine teach by leading?

- They don't teach their horses lunging (due to incorrect footing at their facilities)

- Safety: Stand between the horse and a scary object

- Safety: When sending, a horse could turn around to where you are standing and leave that way.

Alternative Cues for "Go Forward"

- Pressure towards the middle of the body (Relatable to the rider)

- Behind the hip (Based on flight zones)

MU Equine's Variation of "Go Forward" Cues

- Prefers middle for go forward and hip to get them to stop.

- Hip, stop, and pivot away from you as a variation of the cue.

Lunge Whip Cues

- Teach it on the bridge so that they understand it when we use it to load them on a trailer

- Rhythmic tapping of the lunge whip behind them -> a consistent cue behind them means to move forward

- Can change intensity and noise of the cue very easily

Disadvantage to Leading (Method of teaching a horse to get onto a trailer)

- Should have a second person there so they can help you increase the pressure of the cues

- In comparison, "sending" is easier to do with one person because they can increase the pressure of their cues easier