How to Load your Horse on the Float

1. With an aid of a halter and long lead and flag (not a whip), move the horse around you at a walk, stop your horse and change direction and go the other way. Repeat this until you are confident you can do this with your horse calmly.

2. Be able to back your horse, this is required to get your horse off the float once it is on. Too many people get the horse on the float and unable to back it off.

3. Once you get to the float, ask your horse to walk across the tail gate in both directions. You do this to get the horse comfortable hearing its feet on the tail gate, and getting comfortable with the idea there is no need to be concerned.

4. Open the middle divider and access door in front of the float, this helps the horse deal with its own claustrophobia. Horses are not designed to travel in a small box.

5. With the attitude of positive leadership, start asking the horse to approach the ramp squarely, once the horse has its front feet on the ramp, stop, re-assure the horse that this is okay. Do not try to make the horse walk on at this point. You re not leading the horse to follow you, you are asking the horse to self load (that is where you stand on the ramp and ask the horse to walk past you into the float). You need to replicate this numerous time until the horse has all four feet on the ramp. Very important not to let the horse settle too much away from the float as that becomes the horses safe area. It’s our job to convince the horse that the safe area is on the float.

6. If your horse tries to leave the ramp just as its about to put its head in the float (either left or ride side), your job is to keep horses head pointing into the float but not trying to drag your horse’s head into the float. The mechanics is to walk the horse forward with the use of the flag on the hip to drive the horse forward as practiced in your ground work exercises.

7. Once the horse is on the float the first time, do not rush to lock the horse in. Normally they will stand a little while and wish to leave, don’t be concerned that they want to leave, some horses only require a small amount of persuasion to keep them from leaving, others will wish to depart very quickly. Go with your horse and don’t let the horse settle, then proceed to start over again (point #6), and repeat this as necessary until the horse realises the safe space is on the float.

8. Once you have achieved point 6 and 7 and the horse is comfortable to stand without being restrained, in your own time ask the horse to back off. Take the horse for a walk around for a few minutes but keep it walking and proceed back to the float and start again from point 5, 6, 7.

There are no short cuts, this will lead to successful horse loading when you are comfortable with yourself and being honest with the whole process. If your require help, seek support.

We recommend Just Equus Foundation Clinics for the ground work exercises with float loading. https://www.justequus.com.au/clinics-dates