The power of Positive thinking!

[amarche]

I finally bit the bullet and decided to move my boy to my friends yard (been having trouble with the know-it-alls and he'd dropped LOTS of weight, farmer point blank refusing to rotate the fields) anyway being of a nervous disposition (me and the horse lol!) when it somes to travelling I'd asked my friend to bring her lorry (we'd had a couple of good travel experiences with him in that so felt confident)

imagine my horror when she pulls up with the trailer ;D

she obviously saw me turn into that nervous nellie as I sheepishly said I didn't think he'd load (he's 16.3hh and big built so even tho it was a large box, still a squash)she calmly and confidently said '"Yes, he will", took the lead rein off me, worked a bit of Parelli magic with him and bingo on he went!

I stood there like a lemon, trembling and biting my nails but you know when she said he would go on, I absolutely believed her and I think she took William by surprise too!

So yay - have learnt a lesson in the power of positive thinking - how to squish a trembling orange giraffe into a tin can in less than 20 mins! ;D lol

thought I'd share - I've piccies somewhere of the move, will load them up later

[Casper]

Well done to you, your friend and to William. The power of intent is very very powerful indeed - and also as your friend wasn't nervous she could deal with the situation easier. You would naturally have been apprehensive what with the forthcoming move etc in any event. But you all did it anyway, and I hope that William is settling in well at his new place.

One of my friend's has moved her horse a couple of times and had had a bit of a problem loading him previously - think it was something approaching 3 hours. The first time we got him on in less than 20 mins without any problems, stress etc at all, and the next time he pretty much walked straight on with his mum. And that was in a trailer every time.

Look forward to seeing the piccies later.

[fee]

This is so true. Had a very similar situation and had fabulous RA help with loading Tigg.

Still took us 30 - 40 mins and some rearing, but he'd load eventually.

When we moved yards just before Christmas, my non-riding OH was holding him whilst I sorted the partition, walked him towards the ramp and kept going - and Tigg walked straight on beside him.

Needless to say, he's very pleased with himself....... but at least I know it's me not Tigg, so that will make things easier for me to load in future.

[giftgirl]

well done!!
there is power in positive thinking, but sometimes it is hard when things dont go as expected lol
we are moving our horses a distance of around 12miles soon, and all of our 4 will box apart from my mums arabxTB, so she is having to ride her!!
The power of positive thinking certainly would not work there because the first time she went in a box at the age of 3 (i think) she broke the roof, the suspension and cut herself, my mum and my second aunt lol
she is now 18 so the habit probably can not be broken.
well done to you guys though!!
giftgirl xx

[kya]

I bought a yearling some years ago largely because of the conditions he was living in.. in darkness alone for six months since weaning. I had asked a friend for the use of a box and he came along with it. He took the yearling out of the box, told us to stand back and whistled to him softly. He walked straight in. I was stunned. Some people just have the touch.

[em&ed]

My horse has been very difficult to load in the past (hours) and last time I loaded him we were moving yards and only had a small timeslot when the YO was out. I hadn't told her we were leaving, in my opinion she didn't deserve it. So the dreaded ramp came down and there we were faced with the trailer once more - I said to him "look, we've not got much time, please don't mess about - we need to get away" I felt nervous but very determined. He put one foot on then backed off and I walked him round and headed back to the ramp and he pretty much went straight on! ..and we made good our escape - lol ;D - so now I try to visualise other things going well, like leading to and from the field - without tanking off - and it seems to work, somehow