Trailer Session #1

I am logging on this morning to fill in all my blog followers on the interesting session that took place yesterday afternoon. First off, Woody and I went outside and did some Sideways (#6) and some circles on the 12ft line to get mentally, emotionally, and physically on the same page. Once he seemed tuned into me, we headed over to the trailer and he, right away, was very curious about it... good sign! After he had sniffed it and put his mouth on a couple things, I started a Squeeze Game (#7) over the ramp. I would ask him to go between me and the trailer AND over the ramp, but he understood right away and didn't pose any problems/rightbrainedness (is that a word?). Once that was going real well, I started to send him towards the trailer and inside. He was pretty confident to being with, and he would put his front feet in the trailer, but then back right out once he got in. How interesting! His body language was beginning to read unconfident/introverted/worried, but stupid me didn't read it at first... I was just trying to be Pat Parelli on the Trailer-Loading DVD I had watched that morning. My mom soon came over to watch and let Charlotte graze a bit, and as soon as she did, she asked me if I was getting frustrated. I replied, "No, he just keeps invading my space and it's annoying!" (a.k.a. frustration). I decided to let him take a grazing break while I thought things over, and my mom suggested I slow things down, be not as loud with my aids, and generally, take it doooown. So, I pointed him toward the trailer gently, and he walked up to his normal stopping place. I let him sit there for a moment, then I lifted the lead, and began to put a bit of motion behind his drive line. He stepped up more, but immediantly backed out, becoming worried.
This was the picture for a while after that, going farther and backing out right away. Finally, he was able to stand with his two front feet in the trailer without backing out, so I scratched under his stomach, and we backed out together to let him graze.
Then it was Mom's turn.
Mom practiced the Squeeze over the ramp, but being Charlotte, she had no problem with that. Then it was on to the trailer. Once Mom got herself in order and got in the proper position, she sent Charlotte up and she went, right away, about half-way in. Mom stepped up onto the ramp with her to help give her more direction, and led, lifted, and swung it a bit, and Charlotte went al the way in the trailer! She quickly found the cookie that had been planted in the front of the trailer, and once devouring that, she began to chew on the chest bar, the divider, and pretty much everything else she could reach from where she was.
After spending a couple minutes in there, Mom backed her out, and gave me a huge smile. I laughed and began to call Charlotte Showoff Charlotte.
It was my turn again. This time, I decided to try something else. I asked him to keep his attention on the trailer (not me or the grass) and at least stay on the ramp. I wanted to see what would happen if I didn't pressure him, and if he would become interested or curious in the trailer. He began the sniff/chew on the butt bar and the divider, but other than that, he just went to sleep on the ramp. Finally, I decided to mix te two tactics I had used and let him stay on the ramp, but gently began to apply pressure behind his driveline, he went forward and then forward some more, but then back up. So, I would rub his face, then send him toward the ramp again.
Eventually, he was able to keep his front feet confidently in the trailer and reach the cookie that was inside. I rubbed him, and I called it the end.
It was a very interesting session, but one that I definitely learned from. Today we are going to go out and play with it some more, and maybe Charlotte will feel confident enough to play with the butt bar going up today! I am just looking for Woody to be confident in what I am asking him to do, and if he goes in the trailer... great! But I need to keep in mind that the ultimate goal is for him to enjoy the trailer and for him to trust in me and my leadership.
~Eden