24/05/2026
HELP My Horse Loads Leaving to Go Out But Wont Load Coming Home ?
This is an INCREDIBLY common issue facing caregivers and their horses. It also often seems counterintuitive as leaving home is one thing but surely they should want to go home to their friends? Loading is VERY unnatural and extremely stressful for horses. It is one of the scariest tasks we ask of them . Shows, clinic environments and vets are in addition extremely challenging environments for a horse to be in even if they are seasoned at it or the horse enjoys them such as a long hack with equine friends . This means that your horse may be more stressed and over-aroused than they were leaving home the same might also be true for you too especially if you had a difficult day. Horses encounter various stressors and novelty when away from home such as unfamiliar horses, sights , sounds, smells, even tastes such as different drinking water in addition to undertaking activities that increase arousal such as showjumping , eventing or a dressage test. All of this means their levels of tension may be heightened , when you add the cumulative stressful experience of loading this is enough to take them outside of their window of tolerance as a result of stimulus/trigger stacking . As a consequence loading is more challenging for them and us .
Treating a loading problem involves addressing root cause alongside creating safe experiences , managing the environment and offering choice and control to the horse. It is possible to accomplish this without the use of aversive equipment such as whips, flags or Dually halters etc but instead using trauma informed principles, attention to emotional state (theirs and yours) and evidence based psychological methods of behaviour science. I specialise in trauma and profound fear or phobia but am able to offer support with a range of challenges your horse may be experiencing in addition to offer relationship based enrichment and scentwork sessions.
Drop me a message or WhatsApp ๏ฟผโจ07763 317464โฉ
if you would like support
References in comments
๐ด๐ถFull CAB, ABTC registered for horses and dogs, Family Dog Mediator. Supporting traumatised, fearful, phobic or complex horses and dogs and their families Helping you to help them ๐South East WhatsApp 0776 331 7464
ยฉ๏ธJessie Sams Animal Behaviour and Trauma Recovery Service