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Based on our “Koda trailer situation” one of the things our trainer suggested was putting Koda and the trailer together in a separate area. Leave the trailer opened up, take out the dividers, block off the walk-through and feed him in it for about two days. If he wants to eat, he has to go in the trailer.
This plan has crossed our minds more than once, it’s basically what our ranch friends out west do with their young horses. So why have we not already tried it? One reason, we don’t want our trailer damaged. It’s pretty new, and has padding inside etc. On the other hand, why hire a trainer, and then not do what they suggest? What means more, the trailer or the horse? What will cost more to fix, the trailer or the horse? Exactly. Trust me, I’m worried about the trailer getting ripped apart by Mr. Playful – but I’m more worried about the horse.
Before I got home from work my fabulous other half moved a lot of snow around the field, backed the trailer up to the round pen, secured it, put food in it & showed Koda where it was. Unfortunately he could have cared less, which is odd since he is pretty food motivated. Since then, I’ve been watching Koda from across the field and it appears as if he’s thinking “trailer, what trailer” or “if I wait long enough, someone will come feed me” consequently he ate nothing for breakfast yesterday – by choice. After work Brad did evening chores and noticed he had still not eaten anything, so he spent more time getting him interested in the trailer/food. Koda is now going into the trailer alone to eat.
Next step is to put the dividers back in, go back to leading him in/out, and figure out what triggers the back-out response and continue de-sensitizing him with "it" (using the opposite side of the trailer) until he stops backing out. This could potentially take a long time, sigh. If leaving Koda & the trailer together doesn’t work, we will try borrowing a stock trailer. We have to get Koda to the trainer’s somehow, without traumatizing him. The consist work they'll do will help him overcome his fears. We'll likely leave our trailer there, so they can continue working with him. Who knew this would be so damn hard?
Well, the "haul 'em to the trainer" day came and went, and sadly Koda...is still at our place. Those of you that have been reading along, know Koda had a trailer set-back...poor guy. We have been periodically working on getting him back to where he was for longer than I care to remember. With hauling day quickly approaching, it was time to start working on loading again. Sigh. I've gotten him to load, relax, and back out when asked a jillion times since his mishap, but he just can't overcome his fear of the door and bolts backwards. Koda only behaves this way in the trailer, he otherwise stands very nicely and so we repeat, and repeat, and practice patience. We've tried just about everything. It's extremely frustrating. Sooo many emotions.
We felt a little better when Patty assured us that Koda's trailering conundrum would go away, through the mental maturing they experience while training. It's a relief to know he won't be scarred for life. She also gave us a couple new idea's to try with our trailer. If they don't work, we have yet to try borrowing a stock trailer. I'm hopeful we won't have to...
It was a hard decision, but we took Nemo up to Iron Horse without him. He was happy to hop on the trailer after watching his buddy get all the loading attention this past week. We were so impressed with how well Nemo did at Patty's. He calmly unloaded, walked through a smaller barn door, stood in the aisle to get his boots off, and walked right into his stall without so much as a second thought. Nemo has never been in a stall, or similar situation which earned him several "what a good boy" comments from Patty. She also said he looked great weight-wise, which we took as huge complements. The stalls around him were full, once again everyone was quiet and happy - the girls next to him were reeeally happy to see him. He seemed partial to the good looking one on his right lol. Nemo starts his training today. He is more than ready.
We had the farrier out last night to trim all three of our horses. I rushed home from work and made it in time to watch half the first horse get trimmed. Not that they need me, but I try not to miss out. He was working on Harmony’s back feet. Front shoe’s were already off. I guess they decided she would do fine barefoot for now...I hope that goes okay? She’s had front shoes on for as long as I’ve known her. She did well in a new location for our farrier, not bad considering Harmony has had her previous owner doing her feet her whole life. Wonder if it feels good not to have metal on the bottom of her feet?
Koda was a curious wiggle-worm for the farrier. He’s partial to bays, so Koda has that in his favor lol. However Nemo gets "the prize" for being the best behaved this time. I swear they trade-off!!
