It's All "Good"

When one of my horses is learning a task--even something as simple as tipping their nose in response to halter pressure I reward the smallest "try" at first and then ask for a little more each time.  And each time I reward with release of pressure I say the same word.  For me, the word is "good".  The word becomes associated with the reward and this can be very helpful.  Then when the horse is looking for the right answer, the word "good" lets them know they're on the right track.  Sort of like the childhood game of "you're getting hot" that meant "you're close."   If you're consistent with this, the horse will know when they're doing what you want even if you can't reward them another way--such as when they're at liberty.   I haven't really studied "clicker training", but I think the concept is the same.  A certain sound or word means "that's what I want!"   This works especially well with horses on the ground, but it works under saddle too.  The key is to assoicate the word with the release at first and later it can almost substitute for a reward or release in situations where you're asking for a better response, letting them know they're on the right track before actually rewarding or releasing.

Trailer Loading

Now, with the gate issue not so big and the bridge conquered, loading in the trailer is anti climactic!  The bridge is about 8 inches off the ground made of rough cut 2 by 8 lumber.  It's eight feet long and four feet wide and it is HEAVY!  This is a great transition to the bigger step up into my trailer which is a two horse slant load.   
After Abbey was comfortable stepping on and off the bridge, we moved on to the trailer.  I have it hooked up to the truck of course to be safe before putting even a small horse inside.  I gave Abbey plenty of time to sniff the inside, and look around.  My yearling was already in the trailer the first time and I did get in first, which I'll only do until she's loaded once or twice, then I'll want to send her in by herself as it's MUCH safer for the handler.   Now, with the yearling out and not much coaching, Abbey put her front foot in and thumped the floor a few times.  I don't care how much of this she needs to do, as long as she's standing right at the back of the trailer and looking inside, not trying to get away to one side or back away.  I'm also ok with her taking her feet back out, as that's going to help when I teach her to back out of the trailer.  When she puts both front feet in and stops, that's a good time to let her decide whether she wants to come on in or to back out.  I've found the young horses are more comfortable if they know they can get out without any pulling.  And really, if one is going to pull back and get out, we can't hold them anyway.  So I give myself plenty of time and let her back out if she needs to as long as she stays calm and stays at the trailer.  Pretty soon, she's trying to lift a hind leg in too, since it will be more comfortable.  It takes a couple of tries to figure out how high to lift that hind leg, but when she does I tell her how good she is and give her lots of rubbing.  I still don't try to keep her in the trailer if she gets worried.  When she's calm, I ask her to back out.  Of course, she's already learned to back on level ground with pressure on the halter.  Because she was able to load and unload one leg at a time, backing out isn't difficult. 
The next time Abbey loads in the trailer, she finds some hay.  It's not a bribe as she didn't know it was there.  It just makes the trailer a positive place to be.  I'll have hay in the trailer each time she loads at first, then it will be there randomly.  After she loads a few more times and goes calmly out both front feet first and backing out, she's ready to self  load.  I tie the devider securely back, open the doors, take her lead rope off and let her loose.  The area is enclosed and I've made sure there isn't anything she can get in trouble with.  After exploring for a few minutes, she climbs back in the trailer and finds more hay.
The next step will be to close the doors and build up the time she's inside, always unloading when she's quiet. 
I won't tie her in there.  It could creat a sense of panic to feel so trapped.  There aren't many times with horses when you can use the words "never" and "always", but NEVER tie a horse in a trailer until the door or devider or butt chain is first secured.  Then tie from the outside.  And ALWAYS untie the horse before the door, devider or butt chain is undone.  You may get away with doing the wrong thing lots of times, but it is a very dangerous and risky mistake when things go wrong!  Tying in the trailer is a matter of personal preference and depends on the situation--other horses, devider type, etc.  Personally,  I don't tie mine in most circumstances.  They are all schooled to wait in the trailer until I take them out.  Schooling in this area is time well spent. 
I'm pretty sure I can put trailer loading on Abbey's resume now!

Back to Work

Well, the weather outside is frightful, but I want to start  Abbey trailer loading , so I've just had to cowgirl up and git 'er done.  I believe trailer loading is one of the most dangerous things we do with these enormous, claustrophobic animals.  I want to have it be as safe for me and the horse as I can possibly make it.  Even if I get a weanling that already has followed mom into a trailer (the best and easiest way to start), I spend a LOT of time schooling loading, standing calmly until asked to unload and then unloading slowly.
I don't want to lead the foal or any horse into the trailer--I want to "send" them in.  So first I have to teach the "send."  With the horse haltered and on a lead rope, I face the horse at the shoulder, extend the hand closer to the nose, and "cluck".  Of course nothing happens, so then I ad some driving pressure by twirling the end of the lead rope.  If that results in some forward movement, I stop twirling and praise.  If not, I'll let the tail of the lead rope hit the butt.  That usually gets a jump, but the release is instant when I stop twirling.  I do this from both sides until the horse reliably moves forward when I point and cluck.  Next, I send the horse between me and an obstacle, like a corral panel.  Then through gates, between barrels, etc., and try to make the space narrower as the horse gets confident. 
The great advantage of starting these youngsters as I do is that they've never had a bad experience, so when I ask them to do something they are unsure of, they trust it will not hurt or scare them.  That trust will remain only as long as they don't get hurt or scared by a bad situation I put them in.  And it will transfer to any one who handles them in a confident and fair manner respecting their inborn "horseness".
Since Abbey has learned to trust me,  she's willing to try things that are frightening to her.  My fences and gates have an electric wire attached, so the horses are all respectful of them.  Abbey is fearful of going through the gates even when they're open as a result of having been shocked.  So that's the next obstacle to overcome.  I just ask her to give me small steps at a time, rewarding her for any forward movement with release of lead pressure and letting her take her time.  I don't have to keep tugging on her, just keep her facing where I want her to go.  She knows what she's supposed to do, she's just afraid, but I like that she doesn't fight or get worked up.  She's just unsure and afraid to go through that space.  With enough time she builds up her courage and goes through the gate and gets lots of praise.  After walking around outside a while, we go back through the gate and it's only slightly less scary, so we have to do it several more times. 
Tomorrow, she'll be ready to go outside to my training bridge to learn to step up and down on it in preparation for loading in the trailer--a step in.  I'll want to be able to send her onto the bridge, stop her there and then either send her off the other end or back her off.  She'll need to learn both.