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HORSE DISCUSSION FORUMS

Zegger · 04-09-2008, 01:12 PM

My friends horse,has a very annoying problem he is not scared of the float he walks straight up.As soon as he is in he rushes back out sometimes hitting his head.You dont have a chance to get the bum bar up.Every Pony Club day it is the same so she ends up riding there which is about an 1 hour ride.We have tried everything, treats to distractions.You carnt hold him there as soon as there is pressure on his head he throws it up and charges back.He will run over the person trying to do the bum bar up.
Any suggestions?????

Merrylegs · 04-09-2008, 01:15 PM

First suggestion, hire a professional to help. There is only so much that can be done on your own safely with limited experience with this particular problem.

I would avoid treats. Get your float and make sure it isn't too small for the horse, ensure you always travel very smoothly and give no cause for your horse to be frightened of travelling or being locked in.

Your horse needs first and foremost to learn to stand up until asked to move. Once this is established outside of the float you need to teach the horse the same thing once they're in.

A huge part of this problem is related to the horse not giving to pressure (which can be corrected pretty quickly with the right trainer) and another big part to the solution is lots and lots of practise until your horse thinks "Oh yeah, done this a billion times, no big deal."

Break the lesson into small bits so don't try to teach the horse to stay up there all in one hit. Perhaps teach them to stand up on the ramp first until asked to move. Then teach the horse to stand up with forefeet in the float until they do it perfectly... then progress to part way in the float and finally all the way in.

AND THEN teach the horse to accept being shut in.

The last big hint is when practising and then when actually needing to travel, make sure you give yourself HOURS of time. Keep calm at all times and don't get concerned, annoyed, frustrated or angry. Keep your adrenalin low, and prepare to spent hours getting the result you want.

Zegger · 04-09-2008, 01:21 PM

Our Float fits A 17hh Horse is So The Horse Is Fine.
He is great on ground a dream
He is just very stubborn sometimes he will stand on there enough time for the bum bar to go up but as soon as it touches him he rushes back we have gone on ground and showed him the bar and pushed it up against his rump not scared only in float.
Beside Floating he is a great horse

Merrylegs · 04-09-2008, 01:36 PM

Well if the float size and travelling experience etc is all covered sounds like the little devil has learned this trick to get out of travelling. Remember all horses are claustraphobic and travelling (especially when they have changed homes a lot) can be quite stressful for them. Great floaters are horses that have learned to put up with it or learned that floating means something fun at the other end and trust their handlers entirely.

Your boy may have decided that he's claustraphobic, doesn't like the float so stuff it he ain't staying in! He's discovered this great trick and it means no stupid float rides for him.

Again get a professional because horses that barge backwards like that can be very dangerous. The rest of the info in my prior post still stands

nimetyau · 04-09-2008, 01:59 PM

Great advice.

Have you got a good day to spare! I was going to suggest keep trying i.e. not giving up and keep loading him until he will stand and accept the bum bar. Do you try a couple of times then give up? Best to do it, as suggested, when you have plenty of time and are feeling really calm cause the worst thing you can do is transfer any anger or frustration at the horse. They need to know that its far nicer to be on the float.

I have a new mare that I have trucked only 4 times. Each time we walk on, she comes off, then we walk on again and she is happy for the bar to come across. Otherwise its a bit fight to get the bar across (which I did the first couple of times). Turns out she really is frightened and as long as she doesn't try to avoid getting on the second time I will slowly gain her trust.

Reward the good behaviour and keeping calm is the best thing I can suggest for bad floaters.

Good Luck

Toy · 04-09-2008, 02:01 PM

When exactly are you giving him the treats? Have someone stand in the other bay of the float (so they don't get run over) and when he goes in get them to gently touch his bum and if he starts pulling back stop. Keep doing this and he will eventually get use to something touching his bum while in the float. If he goes all the way out of the float, put him straight back in and keep doing it until he makes a little progress. Everyday ask him for a little more progress then the day before and don't stop until you get that little bit more from him. Put lucern in the front of the float so then he only gets it if he stays in the float.

Trojane · 04-09-2008, 05:05 PM

While I agree with the advice you have already been given and using a professional too as Merrylegs suggested, I wonder about the type of bum bar your float has? If it is a fiddle to do up then it's dangerous for you and not helping.

I would do float training with a self-latching type bum bar - so that it locks instantly (as on most Olympic floats). But of course don't stand right behind it - just in case!!! Have someone else near the back push it shut the moment the horse is on board and hopefully you'll catch him in time.

However I'd add a note of caution - if a real tough case he may panic once locked in. Some manage to slip under or flip over bum bars!! On the other hand he may give up once he realises he can't instantly race back again. Good luck!!

sparkie · 04-09-2008, 05:55 PM

i agree with marylegs you got it sorted. have him walk on ramp then stop and stand then ask back. step by step slowly progress until he is in the float but dont rush it it takes time. i had a very simular problem too i found this help my boy is more to the point of just being naughty he knows better. has this horse always do it? or just recently?

Shmoo · 04-09-2008, 07:21 PM

AGREED, GET PROFESSIONAL HELP before the horse or the handler gets injured.
If the horse has already hit it's head it will continue to do so that's how horses are, they naturally move towards pressure and he is anticipating the knock to the head,...which he gets because the roof of the float that he has hit his head on the first time was TOO LOW!!!
Which is where it perhaps started... either by being accidentally being left tied up while the bum bar was opened, the horse backed out had a bit of a pull back fight, head goes up and "BANG". Same symptoms when someone is holding the lead and is trying to keep the horse from backing out too quickly. the pressure raises his head and "BANG"
For a horse that is from 15.2hh to 16.3hh the float should be no lower then 2250mm internal height. Most standard floats in OZ are at 2170 or less.
I have big horses, well over 17hh and my float roof height is 2400. You might well be able to fit a tall horse into a low roofed float that doesn't have issues, your risk is increased though as soon as a mistake has been made as with this horse.
So now of course the horse has a bad attitude towards being restrained in the float, the head will go up as soon as he feels claustrophobic, and who could blame him.
Time and patience with someone who specialises in this field is the way to go.
Good Luck with your friends horse

Wendy · 05-09-2008, 07:36 AM

Had the same problem with some of mine going to pony club and one of them in particular got really cheeky after getting away with it a few times.
Solution Geoff Sandell - he's really great and he trained the riders as well to insist that their horses had good manners.
He's really good and the training has stuck.

Good Luck

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