Loading an Unwilling Draft

[hossluva]

I have a percheron, 18H, 10yrs. old. Very little training. About all he knows is:

1. how to run you over 2. how to plant his feet 3. how big and strong he is.

I'm trying to load him onto a trailer and I simply can not. In all my years with horses I have, seriously, never not been able to get a horse on. I have trailered him twice before. The first time he was injured, drugged, lame and weak. The second time (home from the vet hospital) he was stubborn but eventually followed an apple that was "rolled on" past him.

Now... Nothing... No apples, carrots, sugar, grain, peppermint, hay, water, or cookies will get him in. I've had his two front feet on several times then he quickly backs out. The trailer I'm using is a step up stock (it's the same one that I've used before) but I've also tried backing up to the barn door which eliminates the step entirely.

I've tried tiring him out and starting fresh. I've tried the "John Lyons" tap ad nauseum, he either fights back or shuts down completely. I've blind folded him. I've walked him in circles. I've been nice and I've been nasty and clearly get further with nice.

I do not have very much experience with drafts. If I can get him onto the trailer he will be out my life, moving on to a fabulous new home. Please let me know if you can think of something else I should try. My little frame can not move a mountain unless the mountain wishes to be moved... Thanks!

:)

[crickett14502]

Hey there, I know how frustrating it can be. We have percheron, and I have to say, ours all load great. However!! My lipi mare, used to load great until her previous owner bought a brand new brenderup, and then she decided trailering was terrifying. Not to mention we've had some tbs that just didn't like to load or were frightened of the whole thing.

Perchies can be dead stubborn sometimes. They're the "thinkingest" of all the drafts, which can sometimes work against them. Things I've tried that worked loading any unwilling horse are as follows....

1. You can try the 'walking them on, one foot at at time, physically.' However, somebody who has not had the joy of picking up a draft's foot when it doesn't want it picked up, hasn't lived. This technique did work on a ramp load for my lipi, after 45 minutes of the crud.

2. A butt rope can do wonders, especially if he's used to harness with a rear strap. You'd run a rope from one side of the trailer to a handler on the other side, and then he can't get away from the trailer and just pull you back. Because yeah, theyr'e strong and when they know it? You've kinda already lost half the battle.

3. If it's a fear of the trailer, you need to desensitize him to it. One of the best ways is literally to just park it in his pasture? And put his food in it. He'll eventually self load to get his food, and you can then bribe him in with buckets and hay. Once he realizes the trailer is associated with "good" things, that helps immensely. Obviously it needs to be braked on the truck or very very well braced so it doesn't roll and cause greater fear.

4. if he's being just plain stubborn.. and it's a big stock type trailer? See if you can back him in. My perch stallion did NOTHING but pasture breed for five of his nine years when I got him, and thinks he can simply get away with all kinds of crap because he's 17.2 and a ton, the people who had him previously were frightened of the big black hairy beast, and lil ol' me is 5'4" and significantly smaller than he is. However, he severely underestimates sheer will and contraryness.. (if that's a word) and when he doesn't go forward? He gets turned around and BACKED wherever I need him to go. It gets the job done and it also reinforces to him that I AM in fact smarter and that he really does need to listen to what I'm asking of him.

I wish you the best of luck with him. He sounds like he could be a heck of a horse, just has some issues... no fun for you!

Best,
Cricks

[2ndyrgal]

Put horse in stall overnight with no food. Get the biggest most open trailer you can. Put his feed tub all the way up in the front. Wait. Really, just wait. Big horses are usually food whores. It won't hurt him to be very very hungry for a few hours. I had two horses to place that had not been in a trailer since they came down from Canada as weanlings on a semi (not the most pleasant experience I would think. They were now three years old and big. I usually fed at 7am. Told the person that was buying them (had the local carriage business) to show up at 9am. By this time, everyone else had been fed and the little darling were banging their stall gates in frustration. The had very good ground manners. Had the groom carry the feed tubs to the front of the big trailer, put one in each hand, led them side by side up the ramp, when they dropped their heads to eat, I dropped the leads, backed out, closed the ramp and away they went. They unloaded them in a fenced pasture, simply lowered the ramp and out they walked. The theory is if you can't lead them you can't load them, but if you have to, back the trailer up in a barn aisle or an indoor anywhere without food, and just wait him out. Food will win, but you can't give him anything, unless it's on the trailer.

[Trakehner]

Food is your friend.

Let their friends eat, the neighbors, the dogs etc....no food while everyone else eats. Let em' starve for a bit. Then, let em' go on the trailer to eat. If he still won't go on...still no hay or grain...make em' want to get on the trailer.

Perchies have so many issues when it comes to not respecting people and their spaces, and boy will they ever walk right over you, through you and gates.

Good Luck.

[Kyzteke]

I
I've tried tiring him out and starting fresh. I've tried the "John Lyons" tap ad nauseum, he either fights back or shuts down completely.
:)

If you are doing the John Lyons method, they aren't allowed to "shut down." The horse must be moving at all times unless he is standing in the trailer. That is the only place they are allow to stand quietly, to rest...to "shut down."

The John Lyons thing has little to do with a "tap" and more to do with the horse leading.

Make sure the horse is solid on being lead, going forward.

Approach trailer. If horse puts two feet on trailer, great! But if they 'choose' to back out, then they have chosen to go backwards. So make 'em go backwards. And backwards. And backwards. Like 100 ft. or so.

Use a chain over the nose if you have to, or a dressage whip against the chest or knees (keep in mind, this is to get motion o/o the horse -- you are NOT "whipping" it).

Now you go forward again. Each bit of FORWARD is rewarded with rest. Each bit of backwards means the horse has to work, and work hard.

IMHO, forget butt ropes (horses can break through them, flip, etc) or anything where you are seriously expecting to out muscle the horse. If you watch JL's video on trailer loading (and several other trainers have good ones as well), you will see that you have missed or misunderstood some vital steps.

Try again. It WILL work if done correctly.

[Cielo Azure]

If he has a best friend, load that horse first. They will often load once their friend is in. Make sure he is good and hungry and use lots of grain. Stop all grain unless he eats it in the trailer, even if takes weeks (trust me, he will live).

In fact, hopefully with that personality, you don't have him on a grain diet at all. I really like the Triple Crown Senior Feed as a sub for grain and BOSS.

Train now before you need to take him somewhere. I can't believe how many people don't train their horses to load before they want to do somewhere!

Stock trailers work way better for drafts than horse trailers.

How long have you owned him for?

I have 12 Percherons right now, I actually do not in anyway consider them stuburn but I have had plenty here that we took in for training that were bullies. When a Perch is acting stubern, it is usually that they are scared. They will get looky and stop instead of spooking, like a normal horse would do.

The last bully we had here, it took the new owners six hours to load him to get him to our place. It took my son and I five minutes to load after he graduated.

Sometimes, a whip to the behind or just behind the behind will get them to jump on but you have to mean it -especially with those bullies, who know darn well when you are bluffing.

Another tip: Park the trailer in front of the barn, make sure his only exit is into the trailer.

You might consider hiring someone to help, if it is truly beyond you to figure out his personality. It sounds like he has been able to get away with murder for years and now that there is a crisis to load him, his spoiled, rotten behavior is finally a crisis.

[hitchinmygetalong]

I don't have any advice, but there is a huge thread (http://www.chronicleforums.com/Forum/showthread.php?t=196984) over on the Endurance/Trail Ride forum about loading balky horses. You might find some tips there.

Good luck!

[festus]

put the trailer in with him and feed him hay and feed for a week or so he will load. also to work on claustrophobic horses, get some pannels create a shute, first wide and walk him thru it narrowing it everytime you walk through it until it is close and he will be comfortable walking thru it and standing in it. www.listentoyourhorse.com

[festus]

when you do this they will load everytime. It is a round pen loading exersize. no abuse. let him have his space to move away with out feeling trapped and just let him work, he dont have to get tired you can even put grain in the trailer I do, and let him make th choice to go in.back the trailer up to an opening so he cant get by it but his only rest is to go in the trailer. Make him work and keep him working push him back and forth and aroudn as to heard him in on his own accord. when he goes in let him rest reward with a bite of food, than do it again. until he just walks right in. works every time and no one gets hurt etc...www.listentoyourhorse.com

[Thomas_1]

I've just posted advice in Horse Care and for someone else who's having problems.

Not sure why this one is over in the driving threads as this has got absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with the fact that its a draft breed.

So here goes:

A problem loading is nearly always a problem leading.

If you're struggling to load a horse and you're in a hurry and acting like a woman on a mission, or are getting frustrated, then no matter what method you use, you haven't got a cat in h***'s chance of being successful

What you need to do is spend a considerable time retraining the horse to go in to and out of the trailer and build his trust and confidence in you.

But the place to start is not with the trailer.

BEFORE that, I'd suggest a day on basic ground training and ensure that the horse is confident with the handler and responds well, consistently and willingly to walk, stand and back commands given calmly. So a good session using voice commands and use of the word STAND

A calm obedient horse to those commands is what's needed and not a quick fix and not anything to force him.

The problem is NOT that he won't stay in the trailer nicely, the problem is that he isn't responding properly when he is told to go forward, stand, stop, and go backward. . . one calm step at a time and most likely because he's genuinely frightened.

You have to get it so he knows there's nothing to fear and the only way he'll find that out is if you are calm and patient

After you've given him a refresher course in voice commands, do it again and this time use a large sheet of wood on the ground and treat it like a trailer. As much as helping him, it will help you to gain confidence because this isn't a trailer.

Ask him to step on it with his front feet, stop, stand, and back off, ONE step at a time. Give him lots of praise when he does what he's asked and by patting him on the neck. Repeat the process many times, and when he will walk calmly onto the plywood, stop when he's asked, stand until he's asked to move, and then back off it quietly, you'll be ready to start work with the trailer.

First of all absolutely be 110% certain your trailer is in good condition and safe - if its not then you'll not get the horse's trust. If you've a slippy ramp and a poor floor then change them. The trailer must not have things rattling about to bump him and it must have adequate headroom. You've made mention of a step up? Is it too high? Does the trailer actually fit your horse? It is suitable for a horse is it? Or is it a clattery old stock trailer?

Something I've also done with horses that have been traumatised say by a trailer accident is park the trailer in the paddock and put treats and feed in it and let the horse go in by itself. You can move the treats further in each day. And just leave it there all day and every day.

If he's loading though then backing out, I'd be inclined to load him and feed him in there. Get him so he's familiar with loading and standing and feeding and being relaxed and comfortable and it is indeed going to take a long time. Don't pester him in there, but just feed him the likes of carrot tit-bits.

Trailer training is best done if you take your truck into a safe area with good footing for the horse and turn it so the sun is shining in it so its not dark and open all the doors. If it has a groom's door or side ramp open that too as well as the loading ramp. Your horse needs a safe footing IN the trailer as well as out of it. If need be put sawdust on the ramp and inside the trailer. Put whatever safety gear you need on your horse and wear your hat and gloves.

Have something in the trailer that he likes - say a haynet or a bucket with carrots

And doing precisely what you did with the plywood just ask him to walk and let him go just onto the trailer and then tell him to back out again. Be patient. He may put one foot in and then back out shaking his head. That's okay. He may get partway in and then back out and he might keep doing it and if he does then that's o.k. because all you want to do is teach him that its safe and o.k. to go in and out of. Whatever you do, don't force him and suddenly close the doors. Let him decide and chose to go in and out and let him know he can get out and he'll be safe and there's be no stress, frustration or violence involved in getting in or getting out.

Your horse must be calm, which he WILL be if there is no threat, and if he is allowed to get partly in and then back out again. And after he does that, say fifty times, he will be much less worried, and even a little bored. You want him to learn he can go on and off and its not scarey.

When you've got this sorted and he'll stand calmly, you can then close the trailer, wait a few minutes, and open it again and let him out. When he's calm about THAT, start taking him on short - very short, just a few minutes at first - trips on or around your own property. Be extra-careful about your driving, so that the ride will be a comfortable one. By the time you're up to half an hour's ride, he should be much more relaxed about the whole idea.

Be prepared for this to take a few weeks.

And its really important that you're confident and patient and believe the horse will load. If you're hesitant and concerned or impatient or annoyed he won't.

And I have a terrific first hand example from the other year of how such things can happen. I'd a new apprentice groom started: she's reasonably adept and competent but what a carry on the first time ever she accompanied us when we've transported the horses anywhere.

As we loaded them and 3 of the driving team were already on board, I said "are you taking him or shall I" she said she would and she merely slightly hesitated on the ramp and the horse ran out the side of the ramp and then flatly refused to turn back and to load for her. This is an 18 year old wheeler that has never done anything like that in his life. Indeed normally he's too eager ! I took the horse and he led as always and just loaded in his normal way - jump on the ramp, run up and load.

When we were all in the cab she told me that her own horse is an absolute pig to load and so she doesn't take him anywhere and she was a little nervous as she went on and clearly the horse was very perceptive and in tune with her caution and hesitancy.

I hasten to add that since then, we've got her horse to load beautifully.

[HoustonFarrier]

Sell him...and buy a Clydesdale :lol::lol::lol:

J/K !!!!

What Thomas said is spot on! Once you get him to follow you confidently on lead...he'll follow you to hell and back.

Steve

[SmokenMirrors]

I have to second that if you hesitate or falter in your steps to the trailer, your horse is going to know that and act accordingly, I myself was at fault doing that too with my QH mare. She has had a few accidents in a trailer so can be very recalcitrant when it comes to loading. Imagine what I was thinking when I had to ship her, her brother and my Percheron mare to VA from TX...

I loaded Smoke first, she is a doll to load, and her and Lucy are buddies. I put a hay bag up, tied Smoke, they loaded and unloaded Lucy for over an hour, each time extending the time I stood there, giving her small bits of carrot, telling her what a big brave girl she was for standing there. I realized if I hesitated stepping up into the stock trailer, she would too and as someone said, she would immediately swing around and literally yank me off my feet. But if I was confident and walked in so would she. By the end of the week I could throw her lead through the sides of the stock trailer, she would stand there with Smoke and I could get out and close the door, walk around the trailer then get her out, walk her around, praise her and do it all over again.

Today I still do this with her, my husband has a lunge whip in hand just in case she does balk or hesitate, all we have to do is touch her hocks and in she goes but it is now rare we do so. I don't care if were parking the trailer or off loading, we always put the horses in and praise them like crazy for being good to get on.

I think the food will work, but you have to be more patient with the Percheron and outsmart and out think and out wait him.

Oh...what is a Lipi? Some new breed? Never heard of it. And I thought a Perchie was a type of fish...I DO know what a Percheron is.

[Trakehner]

Sell him...and buy a Clydesdale :lol::lol::lol:


Naw, I vote for a Shire or a nice Draft Mule.

[SmokenMirrors]

:lol: Nah...must of been a mule person who ruined the Percheron...:D Note:Said tongue in cheek and as a joke...a few will get it..

Seriously, good luck and let us know how it goes and if you get him on the trailer or not. I would bet somewhere along the line he was let to do what he wanted or abused. Not all Percherons are that bad, trust me, I have one and wouldn't trade her for anything!

[LR1976]

Sell him...and buy a Clydesdale :lol::lol::lol:



Sounds like she did sell him but he won't load to go to his new home! :lol:

[hossluva]

Thanks to all for your time in replying and thoughtful ideas!! So very Appreciated. :)

So what I did ~ just in case you want to store it away in the memory banks for future reference:

I tried for hours straight. Coaxing, then working (in round pen) and coaxing... Minimal Success. That's when I was at the end of my tether and reached out to ya'll.

I went the deprivation route (believe thee me, he wasn't gonna starve :lol:).

This morn. (after trying from 9am - 6pm yesterday and dinner left on the trailer) I fed everyone and left his grain in the aisle for him to contemplate. When all else was done and everyone was turned out I took him and his grain to the trailer and asked him to step up for 5 mins. (about his attn span). When he wouldn't - back to the stall. All he had in the stall was water and shavings. Not even a feed tub. I wouldn't let anyone talk to him or pay him any attn at all in the stall. There was every kind of yum yum on the trailer, just out of reach of the back gate.

Maybe 5-6 tries of this throughout the course of the day, on my schedule. If he wouldn't get on in 5 minutes, either back to the stall (and nothing) or a little work in the round pen - a little ground work and I mean little, couple of minutes, then back to the stall and nothing.

At approx. 4pm I walked to the trailer and walked on, like I had done 10 million times, and so did he, right beside me like he hadn't been refusing for 2 days. I couldn't even believe it... I almost freaked out and sent him off! :lol:

He was so happy to be eating (and eating everything in sight - which was plenty). He didn't even notice when the doors were shut and the truck was hitched up (it had been used for other things and wasn't attached when he got on). He was a fun haul, untied in a 3 horse stock. Facing backwards most of the time, talking to people at all the lights, bouncing ALL OVER!!

His arrival at his new home was adorable, he instantly fell in love with a draft x mare who nailed him with both hinds. :lol: :D Like Pepe' Le Pew, dancing off after her. Awesome!! This is WHY I do rescue. Onto the next! :yes::yes: Happy Trails and Thanks Again! See you around the forum. :winkgrin: Suz

[Iride]

Congrats! I love this story :cool:

[analise]

Haven't read all the responses, but figured I'd share my "loading a contrary draft" story.

So the rescue I volunteer at has this lovely black Percheron who, for the first six years or so of his life lived in a field and did nada. His first experience with a trailer led to his whole life getting turned upside down. We think he still holds that against trailers.

Anyway, his deal seems to be any pressure at all on him and he just shuts down and eventually runs away and there's not a whole lot you can do to him once he really decides he's no longer paying any attention to you. One trailer loading incident (that I wasn't present for but heard about) had five people trying to get him on and took an hour and a half before he finally just sort of decided to walk on. During that incident, he reared at least once, IIRC. He has, in fact, just bowled over people before. He's learned better since then, but it's something to keep in mind.

So we come to last Saturday. He loaded relatively well to get him to the show (but again, it was really case of him deciding he wanted to cooperate, much pressure on the lead just led to him planting his feet and being stubborn). On the way back, he walked most of the way up to the trailer, planted his feet, refused to move. So we waited, staring at the trailer, encouraging him to move forward, not letting him look anywhere else. He got almost to the point of stepping on, the horse already on (stock trailer, with a divider up to divide it into a front and back section) kicked the side, he took that as a cue to back up. I pulled, he pulled harder, and then took that as his cue to run awaaaaaay. I fetched him, we walked back to the trailer, he planted his feet.

Again, encouraging to move forward, not letting him look anywhere else. Still standing there. Person I'm with starts getting frustrated with him and takes him from me. When he doesn't go in, she starts doing the small circles thing with him to make things uncomfortable outside of the trailer (I personally think changing tactics like that midstream isn't the best idea but I wasn't the trainer and he's not my horse). He does something, I forget what, but she gets after him, he's already moving, so it's not hard for him to run awaaaaaaay again.

I fetch him a second time. Suggest we try bribery. See, we recently came into possession of these mineral lick blocks that are, basically, horse crack. All the horses love them. One of the other horses in our group had been using his like a pacifier at the show all day. The horse in question had been eyeing up said mineral lick all day. So I took it and stuck it in front of his nose then stepped toward the trailer. He slowly moved closer until he just barely had his nose inside the trailer, I stepped in and let him have a lick, just enough for a taste, then backed it up. It took patience, but you get the idea, and soon enough, he stepped right up and I rewarded him by letting him lick a lot of the block. But if at any point during that I put pressure on the lead rope, he'd plant his feet and make like he was going to back up.

So anyway, all of that to say I'd suggest bribery if pressure doesn't work. For some horses, it's just going to make them more contrary. Find something that really motivates him and give it a shot. For the record, the mineral lick we were using are called MenthoLic (or something like that) and are a mollasses based 11 lb lick in a blue plastic tub.

[goeslikestink]

I have a percheron, 18H, 10yrs. old. Very little training. About all he knows is:

1. how to run you over 2. how to plant his feet 3. how big and strong he is.

I'm trying to load him onto a trailer and I simply can not. In all my years with horses I have, seriously, never not been able to get a horse on. I have trailered him twice before. The first time he was injured, drugged, lame and weak. The second time (home from the vet hospital) he was stubborn but eventually followed an apple that was "rolled on" past him.

Now... Nothing... No apples, carrots, sugar, grain, peppermint, hay, water, or cookies will get him in. I've had his two front feet on several times then he quickly backs out. The trailer I'm using is a step up stock (it's the same one that I've used before) but I've also tried backing up to the barn door which eliminates the step entirely.

I've tried tiring him out and starting fresh. I've tried the "John Lyons" tap ad nauseum, he either fights back or shuts down completely. I've blind folded him. I've walked him in circles. I've been nice and I've been nasty and clearly get further with nice.

I do not have very much experience with drafts. If I can get him onto the trailer he will be out my life, moving on to a fabulous new home. Please let me know if you can think of something else I should try. My little frame can not move a mountain unless the mountain wishes to be moved... Thanks!

:)

not to be offensive or anything as you obviously had horses before but is your trialer the correct size width and lenght and height for him, so many people have so many probems as they dont think to check the trialer for the size of the horse and a big horse isnt going to be that easy to load in a too small trailer
anothr thing people do is look at the horse whilse loading, which will stop him dead in his tracks
another thing they do , is park it in the open so have both sides to worry about rather than pulling up against a wall or fenceline and using that to help you load
then load standing to his schoulder with short lead rope

other things that puts horses off is bad driving and braking to late poor neddy in back goes crashing into brest bars or breaching straps etc and take corners to quick and not wide and slower

rear unloads havent got the airy feel of a front unload so open grooms door and let as much light in as possible till in and tied up

if you have a front unload undo top door of front ramp and grooms door make it inviting for the horse and move the central partition across so he has wider access which again will make him feel more comfortable
have a haynet in there for his journey and tie the horse up and replace the partition as it does help the horse with balancing
other things people do

if a two up have the horse on the side opposite camber side heavier horseswhen transporting 2 should be on the outside

judging by what your saying i have a gut feeling your trialer is to small and he can see over the top of the roof when he puts his head up and they will plant there feet if they can do that
also when you have checked you trialer which should be at least 7ft 6inces head room
pony ones are 7ft and go up to 16.2hhs only
check this sight in comparison with your trailer you will notice the ifor willaims have a 505, newer version is the 506 and a 510 and newer version is 511 the difference is height lenght and width
www.iforwilliams.co.uk click horsesboxes down the side bar

my point is he may be to big even for the biggest trialer so you might have to consider a lorry
as you state he was injured and drugged and lame
which also might be to heavy for said trialer being used if a lightweight one and not one that made for larger horses this can have a drastic effect with the horse when be towed and its would be deemed unsafe as the horse added with the weight of a lightweight trialer is just waiting for an accident to happen which as you state in his previous journeys migt have been the reason why

so like i said you might have to consider a lorry or a repretable shipper that has the corect size transportation for said horse and please remember to protect the horse with travel boots or leg wraps plus tail guard
then load as previously describe by thomas 1

[Drive NJ]

Our first draft cross (Perch/QH) taught us a lot about loading... we'd not had a problem loader before. When he came to us his experiences with trailers hadn't been particularly good - first known was from somewhere in Manitoba to New Jersey in a semi. Then the dealer sold him to the people we bought him from and loaded him with loads of 'encouragement' of whips, ropes, etc. Never gave him time to see what was going on or a real chance to get on, on his own. Fortunately for him, his new owner took the time to teach him to lead better and be better at loading.

We found that for him pressure = scary thing here, don't go in there, you will probably be eaten. Actually, my old Quarter cross taught us about exerting undue pressure too. Always loaded for us, but when loaned to the handicapped riders he wouldn't get on. I thought it was their trailer until I saw them load. They grabbed him by the halter and started putting pressure to load and he decided if it wasn't just here-you-go-get-on, there must be something wrong.

Another interesting lesson from draft crosses... our trailer was a ramp trailer. Our one horse was an excellent loader when he came, but didn't like getting on our trailer. Figured out his problem as we loaded him to take him to his new home (lovely horse, just not right for short, short-legged people - too big and round - no wither). Turned out that when he walked up the ramp and got fully on the ramp, it created enough pressure on the back of the trailer to lower it an inch or so which told him it wasn't safe. If he was on the side of the ramp and stepped on like a step up, that didn't happen and he went right on. Had to get a different trailer for carriage set-up anyway so we made sure that issue didn't happen any more and no more problems with the others.

Main message is - it IS about leading, trusting you to move forward, understanding they can't run you over without consequences AND earning their trust that the trailer isn't associated with bad experiences.

And one more thing - when you lead a horse you are at the side of their head, generally not in front of them and definitely not turned around facing them. But that is what we often do when trying to trailer load. We walk in ahead of the horse, turn around facing them and try to haul them in. They get confused and dont know what you want. We found that if we stay in a normal leading position as long as possible and then just walk into the trailer they are more likely to follow, than if you have turned around to face them. Just another thought.

[hossluva]

Just as a For the Record :winkgrin:, the trailer is a huge wide open bright as daylight 3-4 horse stock trailer, step up, extra tall w/shavings and hay. He could turn around in it, all 18h of him. :D And, I was doing everything right - not looking at him, blah blah blah... He's just a stinker!! But I won in the end. :yes:

Here's the Update: He's doing awesome in his new home. His new owner hired a professional trainer to help him get him going and he's drop dead gorgeous all shed out. He's gone through several round pen gates ('cuz he's a dip :)) and has an affinity for picking up the goats by the scruff of the neck which the barn owners are not overly thrilled about - thus trapped in the round pen and taking out the gates...

They love him though, and are working through it. So it's all good. He is the epitome of why I will never own a draft. :lol: But he was a lot of fun to work with during his stay.

My newest conquest is a skeletal and sketchy t-bred mare w/ a skeletal and sketchy yearling on her side. Weaning is not going well and the baby isn't even halter broke. So I'm having a bit of fun with them. Today I'm going to attempt shaving the matts off the baby. It's getting hot and he's cooking in his own juices. Poor guy. What a mess. Their case would be a whole new thread... :(

[hossluva]

OMG, I had to transport him again this past weekend!! He outwore his welcome at the boarding barn, so to speak, so we're looking for another home for him. The good news is, we got it down to a little over an hour and had him on the trailer!! Yippee, thought it'd be at least another day long affair but he apparently does have a little retention in that big ole head.

It's a good thing he's good lookin'. :winkgrin: Not that he isn't a pure joy to work with. :lol: I guess, since he'll be hanging around, I'll have to actually train him to load. I thought I dodged a bullet but they do have a way of coming back around don't they?

Just thought I'd share... Anyone need a perch?

[analise]

So how'd he wear out his welcome?

[hossluva]

Weeell, let's just say he doesn't play well with others, goats especially.... Basically, he's a very big under socialized punk and they had only one pasture with a bunch of goats and several other horses - there were no options for separation.

He's a tough case, without a doubt.