Howdy,
First and most important make sure you have tamed your equine dictionary states the word tamed is; (of animals) not fearful of human contact. All animals need to trust their human partner and know they are safe, I mean safe like we want to feel safe.
Do you remember the last time you were afraid of a person, dentist, surgery?
Our beloved equine are looking for the feeling of safety they felt when they were little with their moma. After surviving a semi truck accident while riding as a passenger with serious life threatening injuries I understand what fear is and how hard it is to trust the nurses and doctors. I believe it is vital that the human partner has empathy for their equine and continuously looks for ways to keep the equine safe and comfortable. Try looking in your own life and think how you would want to be treated if you were the equine. So many people today are in a hurry, work, family kids, shopping and I just want to go ride my equine or take them to an event or medical appointment. I promise if you take your time to tame your equine first learn the Parelli seven games, timing, pressure release all of your equine will walk right into their horse trailer.
This is the state equine can go into with different reactions; donkeys stand and don’t move when scared usually, but some can fight and move. My left brain extrovert horse when terrified will do everything she can to avoid death, try to look at the psychology of your equine first. Consider having empathy, taking the time it takes to help your equine learn that the horse trailer is safe and most important prove to your equine that you will always keep them safe never ever abuse them or authorize anyone to abuse them as the equine never forgets abuse. Parelli utilizes the carrot stick in training creating an extension of the human arm, a long tale and a way to stay safe but not abuse. Some people think love the equine and all will be well these people can end up dead as a thousand pound equine is no match physically for a human. Working with equine is dangerous always have a plan before stepping into the same space with the equine.
If you don’t think the horse trailer is safe in the back of your mind, body and soul you will convey this feeling to your horse! If you think your horse trailer is safe the equine will feel safe as they have the ability to sense every feeling their human partner has. Expectancy, visualization, believing and seeing the positive end result of whatever we want to do starts with our mind, trust GOD in all things and life is easier.
Staying safe with a thousand pound equine is the most important training lesson for you and your beloved horse, donkey or mule, accidents happen usually due to poor leadership as ignorance is not bliss, clearly poor planning. Horses who think they are going to die will do everything they can to avoid death such as jumping up, hitting their head in fear, spinning in the horse trailer to get out and more. Please take the time it takes to tame your equine and then create a plan where your beloved equine is wanting to get into the safest horse trailer you can afford to purchase utilizing resistance free training.
Every time we are with our equine we are teaching them something and feeding time is a really great opportunity to train on respect such as; OUT (of the barn), taking the grain or treat with manners, always having two eyes pointed at us. Safety is number one in working with equine.
Why is it important to feed our equine ourselves?
Trust, leadership, responsibility, and building a solid relationship as we must be the person who does the great stuff for the equine not just the riding and training. If all you do with your equine is ride pretty soon they will not be wanting to come to you and be your partner and most likely when you fall off they will not come back to you as prisoners are always looking for a way to escape. I highly suggest you take advantage of Parelli, get the rope halter, lead line and carrot stick and learn the seven games. I highly suggest looking into the free 30 days of training being offered from Parelli to become a partner with your equine.
Equine (horse, donkey or mule) are prey animals they look at the horse trailer and the human as predators and the trailer is going to trap them and possibly kill them. It is your job to help them learn the trailer is safe and comfortable before taking them for a trip in the horse trailer spend at least a week feeding lunch and letting them out of their trailer.
Thirty four years is a long time to have a dream and I should have bought an eighteen year old gelding but I was determined to have my own horse trained by me and so my journey in Parelli began as I needed tools to manage this young horse. Next we purchased our Mammoth donkey Left brain introvert afraid of everything and more WHOA than GO, now I was in a real pickle and having no experience with donkeys other than a ride down the grand canyon at nine years old I needed help yesterday. Donkeys push away from pressure so they are a challenge to train and when they are done they lay down. The best thing a human can do for their donkey is less training and never push them to the point they lay down, always go back to something they enjoy doing and have mastered when ending short training sessions of no more than 15 minutes.
The right way to trailer load our equine (horse, donkey, mule) is taking the time it takes for the equine to enjoy getting into the trailer and have no plan on going anywhere as every time we are in a hurry the equine picks up on this energy and they cannot tell if it is danger or what just high energy and the equine gets nervous. Next I send them into the trailer with hay in it no pressure just eat lunch! This is where they would eat their lunch a few days a week and then in the evening my husband Scott and I would take them for a ride in their trailer and have nowhere to go just a ride to get use to the noise of other cars, footing to stand in the trailer around forty minutes each time. I use the Parelli yo-yo game with just my finger to back them out of the trailer and this is much safer than bursting out of the trailer in a hurry.
If you are having a problem with trailer loading remember it has nothing to do with the trailer and everything to do with preparation, leadership and trust. As the equine leader and owner it is our job to be the best leader we can to provide the equine with preparation and relaxation techniques. Remember to treat the equine with respect and dignity the way we would want to be treated if we were placed in a situation we were afraid of the little things make the biggest difference in everything we do. Sadly most people do not have the time it takes to lead and train the equine to trailer load they wait until the day it is time to take them somewhere and this is a big mistake.
Thank GOD I had trained all of my equine utilizing the Parelli training techniques before this almost fatal motor vehicle accident in spring of 2010. All of my equine enjoy having their lunch in their trailer give it a try. Please remember that every time you are working with equine you are in a dangerous situation but with tools as Parelli states “savvy” you have a better chance of not getting hurt. Safety should be your number one concern for you and your equine.
Thank you Mr. & Mrs. Parelli!!!!
GOD bless you and your family two and four legs!
Melody
http://www.donkeywhisperer.com
