trailering


Tonka has never had big issues with trailering, but I don’t take it for granted! When I purchased him, he loaded fine, but scrambled too fast backwards when stepping out, so I trained him to wait patiently in the trailer and back slowly when asked.  Over the years, there have […]

Optimistic Trailering


In an ideal world, your horse confidently walks with you anywhere. A comfortable halter and lead rope provide for subtle, tactile information. Turn here. Slow down. Wait.   However, when faced with something worrisome, a horse might need more from you. We’ve all been there. A horse won’t get in the […]

Effective Luring For Horses


Yesterday, the Goat Boys traveled to their new home in Maine. I transported them in my horse trailer. My goats are skittish about new things and don’t like to be out-of-sight of their barn. They’ve lived in the backyard, without venturing beyond the fence, for many years. How do you […]

Loading Goats Onto A Trailer



In a couple of weeks, I turn 60. I bought myself something.   There’s a lot written about the mystery of why some girls love horses, and why when those girls turn into women, we still love horses. Not much is written about women and their trucks. We love our […]

Horse Women and Their Trucks


The sport that I choose to compete in is not something that Tonka would have thought up on his own. Exerting oneself while doing precise patterns in a ring while the sun beats down on you, is not an activity that a horse would innately see as a sensible thing […]

Horse Show Happy


I’ve always have a feeling of guilt when I load Tonka into the trailer. After all, it must be uncomfortable to stand in a moving box, balancing over bumps, hills and curves, with the jarring noises and smells of the highway to contend with. I’ve felt guilty even though Tonka […]

Tonka Sightsees



I use checklists. I’ve already shared my hitching up checklist for you. I once thought I had that down and didn’t need to take pen to paper to X off the steps – and my trailer didn’t budge. I’d forgotten to remove the chocks from the wheels! Fortunately Tonka wasn’t […]

Trailer and Riding Gear Checklist


My previous post talked about what I do to keep Tonka happy about trailering. I left out one, hugely important item. For him to get on willingly, ride without fuss, and exit calmly, I also have to be happy, and for that I need to feel confident and competent driving […]

Horse Trailering Checklist


You can train a horse to get on a trailer without balking, but for me, that’s not enough. I want Tonka to get on and have a cheerful, Where to? demeanor. And, I want him to arrive relaxed and ready. That’s asking a lot. Trailering means that Tonka is leaving […]

Happy Horse Trailering