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Problem Loaders
SPHO Hosts Trailer Safety Clinic
Four guest speakers each shared their extensive experience with horses and trailering. Despite a cold rainy fall day, attendees walked away more confident and more knowledgeable. The event started with trainer Cathie Hatrick-Anderson, who presented loading and unloading procedures with the focus on safety. She offered training exercises for owners to do with their horses before they begin traveling. Using one of the racehorses “X-Files” owned by Cath and Marc Bouthillier, in a live demo, auditors were able to witness her trainingCathie recommends working with your horse many times before you travel. Setting up ground poles and jump poles you can simulate trailering. It’s important that horses learn not to rush on or off a trailer and to wait for direction. A panicked or a horse that rushes does not facilitate a safe environment. - Kristy Milo Thanks Kristy- I have started using what I call a trailer simulator. I set up two jump standards two ground poles and a tarp or a piece of plywood to simulate the ramp. I'll add some pin wheels duct taped (you gotta love that stuff) to the jump standards to make it a little scary. The reason I started using "The Simulator" was the fact that I would go to a clients facility/back yard, work with the horse, he'd load up in a matter of minutes for me, and then he'd usually load up for my client in 2o minutes as I had done all the work, and he was primed and ready to go. Problem was the next time my client would try to take the horse somewhere the horse refused to load and the owner had no tools, their timing was off, as it was never tested.Then the horse has the upper hand or hoof as it were, He goes right back to his previous evasions of rearing pulling back, going off to the side and the list goes on. Now I work with the horse AND the client AWAY from the trailer so the owner AND the horse can actually take in the lesson without the fear associated with past bad experiences with the trailer. They may have have hit their head, gone under a butt bar, out an escape door etc. Before we go to the trailer I have taught the owner and the horse what they need to know to be successful. Now returning for a second visit is a rare occassion. Please visit my gust book to read more testimonials about problem loaders. Thanks Cathie
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Have you ever just given up on trailer loading? Don't give up - just
call Cathie. We struggled with our horses for a long time. Sometimes
they would load, unload, and then not get on again to go back home.
Other days we would try to load them for hours. They were clearly
unhappy and so were we. Our experiences were not safe ones either.
Cathie worked with us a couple of times and our horses now self load
willingly, ride calmly, and slowly walk out. We actually give their
tails a little tug when we're ready! My husband and I couldn't be
happier with her training and our stress free trailer loading! Thanks
Cathie for getting us through this. We are all better for it! Linda
Chita - Blackstone, MA
Date: September 26, 2007 Comments I have an old (26) Thoroughbred who
is my best buddy. I have owned him for 7 years. During the later part of
our relationship he has decided that he does not want to load into a
trailer anymore. He outright refuses! I had asked Dr. Jay Mirium, owner
of Mass. Equine if he knew anyone who trailers problem horses. I found
fighting my old friend was getting us nowhere. Dr. Mirium recommended
Cathie. She has been successful every time with not a lot of time
involved. He was semi-retired and now retired. She trailered him from my
home to 3 different barns where I boarded him and now home again. I had
a hunter/jumper trainer, where I last boarded, offer to trailer him home
in her big fancy trailer. I had seen this trainer "not so nicely" load a
problem horse and I wanted no part of that for my best friend. I turned
down her offer to have Cathie come in her much smaller trailer instead.
She is the only one I trust to get my horse on and transport with no
fighting or any tension at all. Its all about kindness and
understanding. I recommend Cathie hands down to load ANY problem
horse..... Thanks for all the safe trips, Linda
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"I cannot say enough good things about Cathie Hatrick-Anderson. She has been of invaluable assistance to me with my horses. Her kind but firm handling combined with infinite patience and knowledge is unbeatable. I used Cathie when I lived in Massachusetts to teach my Arab mare to trailer load for a trip to Idaho. The training was invaluable. When my mare arrived in Idaho, the shippers could only rave about her manners and training!
After I
was set up in Idaho and my barn built and a new mare added to the equation
I called Cathie again. I asked if she would be willing to spend a week in
Idaho working with both of my horses who needed all kinds of help. Diana leading Amber to the trailer "relaxed". Previously her head was in the air with her nostrils flared and her feet dancing trying to get away. She agreed to help me. My Arab was underexposed on the trail and my new quarter horse had been beat to get her to load on the trailer. We accomplished miracles in a week. My horses are very well behaved now and I am extremely pleased.
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Diana loading Amber right...
Loading Avalon next to Amber below...
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My only disappointment is that Cathie lives 3300 miles away now! Maybe I can talk her into moving to Idaho! I would recommend Cathie anytime". Diana Dawson
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