I loaded a horse today!

[newimage]

A young girl who lives across the road to where my horses are was having problems yesterday loading her mare. They put their other one in in the end to get her in. I asked how they got on and I had said in the past that I'd have a play if they were struggling at any time. They know I'm an IH student and appreciate I'm no expert!
So, this morning, yep, would I see what I could do? Would I?!! Off I went armed with dually and long lead rope. The mare did the typical try to escape to one side, rear and wait for handler to get off and walk round and try again, and again, and again..........!
She did try to plant as well on the ramp, but she was sideways so was quite easy to move her round.
In the end she found that walking across the ramp from right to left was a little tedious and it was more comfortable to follow me up the ramp, granted at an angle but up the ramp, bit by bit with lots of fuss and well dones!
I let the girl load her herself, in, stop and fuss, out and fuss, 3 or 4 times and end on a good note with beaming smile (the girl not the mare!) and turn-out with her buddy for the mare!
All those times watching Garry have been invaluable, I think he'd have been proud of me ;D

[julz]

Brilliant, well done...

I get so fed up of watching people getting the trailer "ready" with various pieces of equipment they think thier horse will need in order to get it into this small enclosed dark place.... not to mention having an audiece....

why cant they see that long lines attached to the side of the trailer cant act as a supporting side, when they are so flimsy... also one person actually parked thier trailer so close to my car, the pony reared up, twisted round and nearly got my car on the way down.....

There are better ways of doing this, so why not seek it our, rather use brute force... there can only be one "winner" when strength is involved!

[Jenny A and Jigsaw]

Hey sis ;D!
Well done that's brilliant!

I wish I had a trailer so I could do some more practice with Jigsaw.

It's invaluable having practice / schooling time with a trailer instead of expecting the pony to load at 6am when you are off to a show and haven't loaded him/her for a year! Not that I've done that in my past before IH was in my life...hmmm! Lol!
Well done you - keep up the good work!

[laura]

well done ..... another small step that in reality is much more

[june]

I loaded one at the local polo club the other day. A guy was whacking it up the bum with a plank of wood. I went over with my Dually and offered to help on the condition he went nowhere near it while I was working with it. Poor horse just needed a couple of minutes to calm down and start breathing again and then walked in happily.

[rj]

Well done newimage; leading by example.

June does not exaggerate - it takes quite a bit for her to lose her cool, and she still managed to be tactful and polite. Impressive!

[newimage]

Thanks all!

It really does feel good to help in the IH way and show how it can work. Long way to go yet I know, but I just felt so proud and ready to rise to the challenge that I had to tell you all ;D

Gosh June, a plank of wood ........ Bet you were tempted to hit man with it!!

[june]

Aug 28, 2008 13:48:36 GMT 1 newimage said:

Gosh June, a plank of wood ........ Bet you were tempted to hit man with it!!

That thought did cross my mind!

[Garry]

Well done. Glad to hear that coming along with me to watch, when working with a clients horse, have been useful.