Want to see how I keep my horses being happy loaders and travellers? This video shows you a loading practice session with 2 of my horses after NOT travelling for 3 years.
As with many behaviours, use it or lose it. It’s really beneficial to keep practicing and playing with loading to maintain positive emotions around the horsebox, especially if your horse has had anxiety about loading or travelling. You can see how I keep it light and fun to prepare them for their first short trip in several years.
Teaching your horse to load and be willing going into the horse box is just ONE step in the process of helping your horse become a happy traveller. I also spend a lot of time teaching them:
- to be comfortable being closed in
- standing inside for long duration
- getting comfortable with the sounds and feeling of moving
- And having a positive experience at the destination.
This last one is also super important! So many people focus so much on getting their horse INTO the box that they neglect thinking about the consequences of that for their horse. But, if travelling always leads to stressful experiences like being overwhelmed at a competition or going to the vets, of course that’s going to influence your horse against travelling.
So, part of the loading practice is to go on short journeys and have a calm, fun and positive experience at the other end so your horse looks forward to their next adventure with you.
Anyway, you can see it all in action in the video 🎦
Hope it helps and happy horse training!
➣ If you’d like to find out more about my positive reinforcement horse training approach and learn how to clicker train your horse this way, please check out the Connection Training Club. The CT Club is an online membership site where you can get access to hundreds of step-by-step training videos on training your horse using positive reinforcement.
There, I have a whole step-by-step home study course showing all the steps I use to train happy loaders and travellers.
You can learn and see exactly how I train my horses and how to train yours using rewards, from starting off with a fantastic foundation to effective and practical techniques for despooking, loading, riding and more.
You can find out more and sign up here. We look forward to seeing you there 🙂
➤ You can also find out more in the #1 bestselling Connection Training BOOK 📖 Get it on Amazon (search for ‘Connection Training’) or download Chapter 1 free here for a preview 👀
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