Aside from the usual suspects of loading and unloading and taking short trips, one of the other ways we help get our horses accustomed to and comfortable with spending time in the trailer is by getting them reservations at Cafe Tie-In. The location is typically our 3‑horse trailer, on the menu is a big hay bag full of alfalfa, which is a dish that never goes out of style.
We had only ever loaded Mirana in a stock trailer set up, but an important box to check is whether or not a horse will be able to tie into a trailer with a divider. Mirana had only a momentary hesitation before walking right up the ramp, and wasted no time zeroing in on the hay bag. The swing of the divider towards her caused her no anxiety— with a mouthful of alfalfa, there was not much that would. When the doors of the trailer closed, she grew a little worried, but quickly relaxed into the idea of more hay. To make it an even better experience, we loaded in a friend as well (Tiva) so they could give each other support. There’s always room for two at Cafe Tie-In, though it’s good practice to dine alone as well.
Loading in alone, Mirana is definitely a bit more reluctant to stand quietly. You can’t really blame a girl, but it means there’s just more work to be done. It’s likely that Mirana was tied once upon a time, but it has certainly been a while, and she has made some great progress in a short amount of time. With more practice and hours spent dining at the Cafe, Mirana will one day be a pro!
