Stress-free loading
Your relationship with your horse could be the reason he’s not willing to load. Here, horsemanship expert Patrick Gracey explains how to improve your bond — before you step near a horsebox
PArT ONE: Why you must improve your bond on the ground before asking your horse to enter a horsebox
AFTER WEEKS AND months of training for your competition, the big day is finally here. Your show kit is freshly ironed, tack is gleaming, the haynets and water are all on board, along with your grooming kit for any last-minute sprucing — and all that’s left to do is load your horse. But an hour of pushing, pulling, cursing and snorting later, you’re still at your yard, with a defiant horse at the bottom of the ramp, hooves planted firmly. Sound familiar?
Why won’t he load?
While it’s frustrating when your horse doesn’t load, you’re going to need a lot of patience and understanding to tackle the problem. “An important thing to think about is what happened the first time your horse was loaded,” says natural horsemanship trainer Patrick Gracey. “It could have been when he was weaned from his mother and that was quite traumatic for him. “In human terms, it’s like being arrested by the police and shut in a prison cell for a few hours, with no idea what’s happening or when you’ll be free. You’re later released, but how are you going to feel every time you see that police car again? Pretty nervous, I’d imagine.” To overcome this fear, the best thing to do is build your horse’s confidence and one of the foundations of his confidence will be his relationship with you. “Many people struggle with leadership of their horse,” adds Patrick. “A lot of problems stem from this, and the best place to start is with your handling and leading. Get this right and you’ll be able to work on loading.”