More trailer loading thoughts

Since we're having this discussion on trailer loading, I thought I'd give it a try with Belle, who is just three.

As a foal, I trailed Belle over to a friend's house, to a horse show, back to my house, to another friend's house. She had absolutely no issues with the trailer. But today, after a year's hiatus from the trailer (i just haven't gotten around to it), we tried again.

It wasn't easy.

She didn't seem afraid, just more confused about how to get her feet up inside (it's a step up). She's put one foot in, and then stand there. The first few times she managed to get both feet in, she backed up very quickly, as if the noise had startled her. After a few more tries, she got both front feet on the trailer, and stayed there. I rewarded her with a treat and lots of praise. I tried to repeat it (just to make sure) and again we struggled with the one foot in, three feet out thing.

I tried driving her in, as I'd learned from a Parelli trainer I worked with a few years ago, but she seemed more eager to get in if I was already standing inside the trailer. I've vowed to spend a few minutes (or as long as it takes) teachign her to load every single day until it is absolutely old hat. I'm using the pressure-release method-I lead her aggressively to the trailer and maintain pressure on the lead until she takes a step inside then I quickly release. Parelli calls this the yo-yo game. I've used the tap on the butt until you get a step forward with other horses, but she can be very "dull" to the whip (i.e. I've done such a good job desensitizing her that she doesn't react). The trick for me is not to get frustrated, and except a little bit of try at a time, until we put the whole thing together.