Trailer Training: Step 1

The method I use to train horses to trailer willingly and without fear is not new.  You may have read about similar methods in horse training books and it has been used by a few horse trainers that I have known.  This method is successful with horses that are fearful of trailers because it progresses slowly and makes them feel safe around the trailer.  Horses that do not have trailer anxiety can still benefit from Step 1.

I back my trailer up to the gate of my 60' round pen.  It gives me plenty of room to work with the horse, but keeps them contained enough that I can keep them close to the trailer.  I like to keep my trailer on the outside of the enclosure to give the horse less surface area for chewing and damaging my trailer.

What you need:

•          Trailer
•          Enclosed Area

The trailer can be parked inside the enclosed area or backed up to a gate.  The trailer’s tires should be blocked so that the horse can go in and out of the trailer without it rolling around.  I have backed the trailer up to the gate of a paddock or have created a fence around it.  This step works best in an area that does not have vegetation (a dirt lot).

The Goal:  The horse associates the trailer with something “good” (food).  The horse accepts your presence in the trailer with him.

Once the trailer is secured, the back door of the trailer should be left open.  If it is a slant load trailer, the partitions should be removed or secured open so that the horse has as much room as possible.  All of the horse’s food should be placed inside the trailer.  For some horses that are especially wary of the trailer, the food may have to be placed closer to the opening for the first few days.  The horse should be allowed to go in and out of the trailer as he pleases.  Do not offer any food except what is inside the trailer.  It is normal in the beginning for the horse to grab a bite of hay and quickly exit the trailer and eat it outside.  Eventually he should relax and be able to eat his food inside the trailer.  Continue to feed the horse in the trailer until the horse seems relaxed.

Training Plan Example:

Day 1: Place the food inside the trailer where the horse can just barely reach it by stretching out his neck.

Day 2: Place the food where the horse must put both front feet into the trailer.

Day 3: Place the food where the horse must put all four feet into the trailer.

Day 4: Place the food at the very front of the trailer.

Next, the horse must learn to accept your presence in the trailer with him.  Using grain at this step can be helpful.  The grain should only be available when you are standing in the trailer.  For some horses, you may have to start back at Day 1 with placing the grain so the horse can just barely reach it without stepping in the trailer.  Each day, move the grain farther into the trailer until you can stand next to your horse all the way inside the trailer while he eats his grain.

Once your horse is relaxed with you in the trailer and willingly stands inside the trailer for extended periods of time, you can move to Step 2!

Case Study: Zeke

I began Step 1 with Zeke last fall.   The first day, Zeke spent very little time in the trailer, especially when I was close enough where I could have shut the door.  He went in, grabbed a bit of hay, and jumped out to chew the hay.  Over the next several days, he spent more time in the trailer and was less concerned when I was nearby.  By the end of the week, I was able to stand in the trailer with him. I ended up having to use the trailer about a week later and never got around to parking it back in his pen.

When I got the trailer back out this spring, I started back at Step 1.  As soon as I opened the round pen gate, Zeke jumped into the trailer.  This was a really great sign that he remembered the food reward from last fall and was not concerned about the trailer being there.  He readily accepted my presence with him in the trailer and we moved on to Step 2.