Float Loading

Set up for success: Float Loading.

If you cannot load your horse the worst things you can do are:
1. Force them
2. Get angry and frustrated
3. Try to teach them the morning of a show

To understand the concept of float loading you first need to understand the psychology of the horse.

Horses are claustrophobic by nature, there is nothing more unnatural and foreign to a horse than being shoved in a metal box and being driven around!


Set yourself up for success with these following tips:
-Allow your horse to explore the float without being forced
-Do not growl them for pawing at the ramp- this is them testing it
-Leave float in their paddock
-Learn about pressure and release and apply this concept when teaching the horse to load (also see out blog)
-Make sure your horse knows how to back up before trying to back them out of the float
-Do not take them the whole way in before backing them out, take them up a bit and then back them off etc
-Have a long lead
-Use a stick and string
-DO NOT shut the gate until they stand in the float FULLY relaxed