Horse Trailer Loading

What’s the Best Age to Teach Your Horse to Load?
What’s the best age to teach a horse how to load?

A reasonable question, I think, because we base so many training milestones on our horse’s age.

Any Thoroughbred breeder will tell you that it’s not uncommon to introduce one week old foals to horse trailers. This is due to necessity. When it’s time to breed Mom again, baby must go too. What better way to teach a youngster than by its parent’s good example?

Typically, Trailer Loading 101 begins by putting the mare onto the trailer and letting junior follow. Allowing mother and baby to get on and off several times lets the foal see this is no big deal.

If you have a two horse trailer, it helps to remove the divider so the mare and foal have plenty of room. Leave both horses untied to move about freely. Or if you prefer, you can tie Mom and leave baby loose.

Once the foal is accepting of the trailer, start incorporating short trips to allow him to get used to riding in it. Most babies will nurse while traveling and some may even lie down on longer trips.

After the foal has mastered these initial loading and traveling lessons, be sure to follow with regular refresher trips, so he doesn’t forget what riding in the trailer is all about.

Using this method positively exposes the foal to horse trailering and creates a solid foundation for future travel.