March 2013 - Good news, Charlie is now loading and calmly accepting the ramp going up. Owners are delighted and will be off to some shows with the children once the weather improves! It took time, but the approach means that Charlie no longer has an issue with loading; it's not been done under duress, but with patience turning the experience into a positive one for him.
Original Post:
Still working with Charlie the pony who used to go over backwards in his efforts not to step on board a trailer. He loads nicely now - even on his own as this video shows (do I look pleased with myself?), but it is the closing of the ramp that is holding us up now. It's like he's claustrophobic. Overcoming his fear of being enclosed will take longer. What is needed is a new behaviour for him to focus on. With patience and positive reinforcement he will learn that there is nothing to worry about.
http://youtu.be/RZekGc0cCFE
Last weekend, I was asked to look at a fine 12.2hh pony who would not be loaded into a trailer. After an hour and a half - they had tried lunge lines, smacking, chain over the nose, luring with feed .... He was just being "stubborn".
I led the pony around and he didn't seem "stubborn". He followed me round and stopped started, and backed up pretty much on cue. He would walk on to the ramp, with a bit of persuasion and a promise of treats, but would refuse to budge. Moving his feet would not get him to move any further on to the trailer.
Funnily enough, when I crouched down he was more willing to put his front feet on the trailer because his head lowered - head lowering reduces the adrenaline - a horse has to be calm to put his head down to eat so can't have his body systems in two places, alert and calm, at one time. OK so that might help. Then I remembered some wise words about not looking at why a horse won't do something but look at what will enable him to do something. Looking at the trailer, I thought about the pony and what may be concerning him, perhaps the narrow space, perhaps the dark figure standing in the way of the light, maybe he had bashed himself turning to go down the exit ramp - perhaps the exit was the problem? So I opened up the compartment at the front of the trailer as well, crouched down, asked with a light cue down the lead rope for him to come forward, and blow me he walked through! All with no pressure on the lead rope at all - it was slack!
Just to prove it wasn't a fluke we did it again.
Now I've left the owners practicing, and slowing it all down, so that he will stop and eat his tea in the trailer.
Touch wood he will start associating the trailer with nicer memories and will be able to accompany the children to some lovely places.
After 3 years I've finished the FdSc in Applied Animal Behvaioural Science and Welfare. The last year was the best, but it was hard work and so I decided not to go on to do the top up year to gain the BSc quite yet. This would be a full-time year and I have too many other things going on.
I will however be developing my skills as a horse trainer - I want to work with rescue horses in particular, but any 'problems' would be welcome. I have enrolled on an Introductory course on Clicker Training with Amanda Martin of Smaart Horses. I used to be sceptical, but it all is beginning to fall into place.
Obviously it's not just training that is important with rehabilitation, but looking at what will enable a horse to respond in a better way; you need to look at history, routine, environment, and people involved as well.
I have taken on a new pony to keep Henry company when we move fields later this year. He's called Thunder (!), and is 14hh, possibly cob x arab, and two years old. In the picture he's the one further away. Thunder will also be my guinea pig as I learn more and more about clicker training. I'm not saying Henry is a lost cause, he's taken to the clicker very well, but Thunder is an almost blank canvas.
