See Jayne Load Zorro At Liberty!
Just click the Movie Icon above to watch this inspiring one minute video clip! For best results... Click pause on your player, and let the clip download completely... . Then Press Play.
Trailer Training
If you have ever wondered if it is possible to re-educate a horse who is scared or uncertain about the float (horse trailer) then you need to see this short clip of Zorro ‘loading up’ on verbal command!
Zorro was very afraid of the trailer, going through the usual avoidance maneouvres to avoid entering the ‘cave on wheels’.
He tried flipping over, pulling back, spinning and bolting, rushing sideways and backwards, stomping and stamping and some pretty impressive belly-button displays, not to mention the “I'm not moving!” foot plant!
Thus began Wrangler's mission: to help Zorro overcome his fears of the trailer, and then to cause him to feel so good about it, that he would run in and load himself when she called ‘load up, Zorro!’ out of the kitchen window!
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Floating Can Be Fun
Jayne says:
“To help a horse understand that the float is not to be feared, to where that horse sees the float as a fun game, requires that the human develop some skills. It's not about the horse!
 “When you earn a horse's trust, confidence and respect - through understanding and practice of the hierarchy games horses play with each other - practically anything is possible, and the float game starts on the ground, without the float!”
It really all begins with Essentials 1, 2 & 3 - Jayne's Horsemanship with Heart DVD sets. It's like building a house, the foundation needs to be solid to enable the whole structure to be sound!
Understand firstly that it is natural and instinctive for any self-respecting horse to be suspicious of a cave on wheels. As a prey animal, who uses flight as his main response to danger, he is a claustrophobic, panicaholic and a throttleaholic by varying degrees. Think of it from his point of view: if he goes into the cave and is shut in there with no means of escape, what is he to do if his life is threatened?
When we look at the situation like that, it’s a wonder any horse ever goes into any trailer! A miracle!
Overwhelmingly, the largest number of letters I receive relate to horses and their transportation. The float or trailer is like a ‘moment of truth’ where trust, confidence and respect between horse and human is either there, or it isn’t.
It’s a case of desensitizing and educating - and it requires USP on the part of the human (Understanding, Sensititivity and Patience) along with a natural attitude, knowledge of horse psychology, natural communication tools, the right techniques, allowing the time it takes and being able to use your imagination when things may become challenging (aka having some SAVVY!)
  
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What does your horse feel about the float? Before you answer, take a ride in the horse trailer yourself. Go for a 20 minute trip standing up as your horse would, without holding on - around corners, up and down hills, stopping and starting. Get a sense of what it's like to have trucks whoosh past and the dust in your horse. And don't forget the NOISE!