Belle Trailer Loading: We Got iT!

Okay, so, we took a bit of a hiatus on loading for a few weeks, but today I thought we'd try again. First I brushed up her ground work, making sure she was longeing correctly, and leading her all over the property. She did great at the longeing, and I even got her to canter a bit (she's so smart) for the first time. Now she walks, whoas, trots and canters on voice command on the longe. I also did a bit of natural horsemanship type driving with her--swinging the rope and pointing in the direction I wanted her to go.

After a few attempts at trying to just lead her in (she'd put two feet in and then stop), I decided to try to drive her in. I could tell right away this was what she was comfortable with! Right away she looked like she was ready and eager to just jump in, and after our third attempt (turning, but never letting her go past the trailer--just asking her to step to the side and head off the other way, then turn toward the trailer). I got her walking briskly, swinging the rope and pointing to the trailer and low and behold, she just jumped right in and stood there. I even asked her for a few more steps forward (from outside) so she'd be all the way up to the front. Then I gave her a carrot! We did it twice more, and I'll probably do it again tomorrow. I'm so pleased it didn't turn into a big deal! She learns really fast. Sometimes she stands and stomps, and has a mini-trantrum, and then she just does it!. She's looking more horse-like every day, so I'm thinking of sitting on her pretty soon.