07/08/2026
FLOAT/TRAILER LOADING ā ITāS NOT JUST ABOUT GETTING IN. š“
Being able to influence every foot, every stride ā forward or back ā is what makes float loading feel calm and controlled.
We always start with the groundwork first, well away from the float. Before asking a horse to walk into a float, we want to have the buttons installed. They know what the horsemanship flag is and understand that when we put some energy into it while raising our arm, that is a clear request to come forward. They also know how to navigate through a narrow gap when we send them through it. The sending part is important, as you canāt pull a horse onto a float.
We practise float loading in a rope halter, where we have a better feel. However, we never tie a horse in a float or travel them in a rope halter. For travelling, we use a webbing halter, as it can break in an emergency if the horse becomes caught or panicked.
Then we take that communication onto the ramp. One foot on, one foot back. Two or three steps on, then back again ā releasing the pressure with every step. Weāre practising control, communication, and teaching the horse that every correct response brings a release.
Itās just as crucial that a horse knows how to back up and has an understanding of how to get back out again. Some horses will load beautifully but then become really stuck once theyāre inside because they have no real concept of how to leave the float.
Sure, this particular float has a front ramp to unload, but you donāt want to rely on that. Every horse should understand how to calmly back out when asked.
The same applies once theyāre inside. We want the horse to be comfortable taking a step forward when asked, or calmly backing half a step or moving partway out, and then being able to step forward again.
No rushing in. No rushing out.
