This is a common difficulty in the horse world, and one that is given very little thought to, until its to late or you are in a rush...
You must take time, always set aside a day for float training, always take as much of that day as you need. AND DON'T RUSH!!!!
I'm all for self loading horses, they should all learn this way as its safe for the horse and for the human and if you are alone as I am most of the time then issues are easily resolve by oneself. By learning this way they also feel they have a semblance of control and that its their choice.
Tools;
Rope halter
12ft natural horsemanship rope
Dressage whip
NO FOOD!!!!!
NO BUM ROPES!!!!!
NO ANGER!!!!!
NO IMPATIENCE!!!!!
NO PULLING ON THE HEAD!!!!!
NO FENCE BARRIERS!!!!!
First thing to teach your horse is to move forward to light tapping of the whip on the butt. Stand at the horses shoulder when doing this, the whip is an extension of your hand NOT A BASHER..... only time horse gets a whack from the whip is IF he kicks out!!!! and then only one hit no more...
Make sure you teach the horse both sides not just the one, so that if your horse sways his butt away from you, it can be corrected by just reaching over with the whip and tapping on the hip and the horse will realign.
Tap = horse moves = stop tapping
The reward is removing 'the tapping' and a rub between the forehead or a scratch at the wither and relax, for forward movement the movement can be as little as leaning forward or just shifting one foot a cm. Make sure that 'Whoa' factors in here and is rewarded as well, this part will come into play when you are loading and need to keep your horse at a point to relax and stay at 'your' designated point. There will be a point in time while loading that you can actually say to your horse no I don't just want leaning, I want a foot moved then I will stop....
Okay once horse has this part down smoothly, time to look at the float, YES LOOK DON'T JUST LOAD, sit on the ramp let the horse smell, feel, look at the float, walk him all around, don't let him be afraid of it teach him to look at what he is afraid of and touch it, this will lessen spooking at insignificant objects as well.
Next step is to set up the loading.
You will be standing at the shoulder, the only time you will end up further back is when the horse actually goes on the float.
1. Position Set Up
Whip towards rump to create forward movement from the rear
Hand in front of eye to keep the front end aligned for loading
2. Realigning rear
By teaching the horse these cues before attempting to load you
Can then create a way to control the horse from all directions
PRAISE GOOD MOMENTS THIS IS PART OF FEEL AND GIVING
Don't expect it to be smooth sailing as all horses will test and resist.
Set a point in your mind of how far you will allow this horse to go back, for me its no further than a metre from the ramp. They must never go back further than this point if they do, then firmer tapping till they get to that spot and then stand, relax, rub them, then start tapping again.
3. Reward
CRITICAL, a horse must have a release of pressure and reward for any forward
positive movement.
Reward can be release of pressure, rub the forehead or scratch the wither.
As the horse gets brave, take the time when you release the tapping to just relax them by a rub on the forehead, scratch the wither or even light rub with the whip on the rump. This will keep relaxation and the horse thinking. You will see the horse chew and lick its lips. Our brain is working and is relaxed enough to think. Once you push to far you you develop tenseness in the horse you are setting your horse up for failure.
Patience will reap the human reward, when you have a relaxed horse, you have a thinking horse. Once you create a tense horse, you then have a horse that will fight and be defensive
Once you have the horse loading right up into the float, just keep their head forward, its as simple as pointing and the head to face the head forward and just relaxing scratch on the bum.
Horse loaded
Unload the horse. ONE STEP AT A TIME LITERALLY. By going one step at a time, the horse is being cautious and you are also able to keep the horse lined up with the ramp, the faster they go off the more likely they are to stray off the ramp and rip a leg open.
Put them away at this stage.
Set another day about 2 days away and set yourself up and start again. Don't just expect it to be there, set it up properly time, tools and all.
Same process all over again, judge your horses confidence as to if you are ready to shut your horse in. Tie your horse solid once shut in. Horses can and have turned in a float and jumped out. MAKE SURE YOUR HORSE UNDERSTANDS PRESSURE AND RELEASING PRESSURE IF YOU TIE SOLID.
If your horse is calm, untie, drop ramp and unload, same process.
Do it again.......
Put the horse away....
Next lesson another 2 days......
Load this time we are going for a drive, so you need a driver, someone who knows how to pull a float and will go SUPER SUPER QUIETLY. They must come literally to a stop at a corner and let the car idle around it. Forget speed limits you go as quiet as you need to the first time. Choose your route before you leave. You ride with your horse. Don't touch just be there. Tell driver to keep an eye out for you as if the horse is calm enough you will leave the float and hop in the car. DO NOT FLOAT IN COMPANY THE FIRST FEW TIMES.... you will set your horse up to only ride in a float in company.. the must develop independence and confidence on their own first. Same with first show....
Go no where but AROUND THE BLOCK.. a horse must know its going to come home.
If you don't do a ride or two around the block the horse has no idea its coming home. Ive seen and assisted with more than I can poke a stick at. They have hauled the horse on the float taken it to a show with about 200 horses, horse has gone OMG. Had a brain freeze and said no way not getting back on there as I have no idea where I'm going to end up next........
and most of all HAPPY SHOWING OR DRAFTING ETC LOL
Will be making a video as soon as possible.
Author: Liesl Purser of Shai Arabians
Photo credit to
Reena Harwood