IN broad general terms the three most dangerous times with a horse is putting them in or taking them out of a trailer, mounting and feeding. Sassy I am glad you have taken the time to learn before you leaped but then again being a teacher you would know the value of preparation. Like one of those show boat clinications always says, 'ride smart' Good luck and stay safe.

Rancher2, Thanks for your comments. I have had a horse for quite some time but it was already trained-little rusty and I got to make some mistakes as well as some "right moves" to get her where she needed to be. I am new to training a horse from scratch, but wanted to give it a try myself. Heck, everyone has to start somewhere, and I didn't do too bad with the other horse. I also know my limitations and am willing to seek help wherever I might find it. The videos and books have come in handy at times. I find that I take a little bit of all of them and find what fits for me and the horse. I joined this site and sought help in weaning my colt since that was also new to me and got lots of great advice from everyone. (they were apart 1 1/2 months and are now back together with no problems) I took a little bit of all advice and fit it to my situation once again. I am a school teacher by trade and find that teaching horses and children run pretty parallel. All children don't learn the same nor do all horses. They all have different personalities as well as the human training them. Thanks.

Maybe we have again demonstrated there is more than one way to skin a cat. Or teach a horse to trailer. I have to take some exception to mtnstates comments. Not that I am right and you are wrong but your position seems to assume everyone is at about the same level in dealing with horses. The clinations have their place because the common thread in their messages is be safe. They all harp on that over and over. If everyone that reads these posts had some experience then comments like your may fit. But some that come here are brand new and looking for advice on how to get started. They can be helped by the tapes and clinics and just about any of us can pick up on something we may have started to over look. I think you do the wrong thing to discourage them from learning from these sources. The simple fact you state such exact precentages would indicate you are shooting from the hip. Heck I've been getting on these critters for over 50 years and I still like to listen to that fella with the strange accent.

I have said it more than once, get Mark Rashid and trash most of the rest Lyons comes 2nd. And yes wet saddle blankets do help. Here in the west trailer means go home and rest cause we worked hard today.So we jump in and get to the house to feed beast and peps. Happy trails, ole Hoss

I gotta tell you...this is exactly what's wrong with the majority of the horse owners in the country. It's the horse that has a "problem". 99.9% of the "problem horses" have been made that way by the wanna be's that own them. Too much time watching videos on how to fix this and how to do that. TrashCan the videos and the majority of the clinic boys that push them. There's a big difference between a clinician and a trainer. A good trainer is hands on for both you and your horse. Clinicians like to run their mouths and hear the sound of their own voices, plain and simple and at the end of the oratory..."It's all on my video for just 19.95". Oh, and don't forget, you have to buy a stick or a flag. Everyone has to have a stick. Horses learn by repetition...repeat the right things and they learn. Nothing makes horses more receptive to the learning experience than a lot of miles, time and wet saddle blankets. So, my suggestion...between the trail rides spend the needed time with Fluffy and forget the video. OR send the horse out to a reputable trainer...this make take a little homework...and will cost you more than 19.95. But your horse will come back a horse that will be a pleasure to be around. The trick is...who will retrain you?

I'll throw in my 2 cents. Teach the horse to lead off of all four feet. Get a soft lariat or a cotton rope, 30 feet or so. Catch the left hind hock, wear gloves, and stand in back of the horse. No halters or any restraint on the head. Pull on the rope and hold it until the horse gives you the left foot. Immediately release. Pull again until you get the foot once again. Release with compliance. When the horse is leading backwards off of the left hind foot, with you directly in back, then move to the right front and repeat the same process. Then the right rear and finally the left front. When you're done the horse will lead off of any foot. Next, as long as you've got the rope, tie off a bowlin knot at the neck. Spin the rope over the horses back, under the tail, under the flanks, and then tangle him up with it, however you can think of. All of this teaches the horse to give to pressure. I'm not sure how it might work with a horse that's gotten away with not loading for some time, but it sure works with a colt. After doing the above, I've never had any problem loading or with pullbacks when the horse is tied. Finally, if the horse ever gets into the wire he'll be much more likely to stand until rescued and not struggle and hurt himself. Finally, if you know someone with a stock trailer, a horse will generally be more willing to step inside because there is more room. Once he's got the hang of it it's lots easier into a slant load. Good Luck

I have to agree with horsetrained. When my mare doesn't want to load, I have her lunge in small circles. It only takes a few rounds and she is more than willing to load. Shannon

rancher,,one them electric winches is less labor intensive,,TG for power age and technology

teach him to load in a open top or bar top stock trailer fisrt if you look in most slant load trailers that have been used the rubber is torn off behind thier rear feet

A come-a-long has an application here.