How to load a problem horse into a step up trailer? Help!!!?
He is 10 years old. My trailer is a step up. He will get right up to the trailer and lean as far as he can in to get a treat or food, but he is not food motivated enough to get all the way in. He hates pressure on his poll so if you pull even a tad he will back up or rear. He doesn't seem spook-ish about going in because he will rub is nose all around and sniff the door with out acting scared, just stubborn more than anything. He just won't get in. Using a butt rope makes his rear and same with a whip or bat around his hindquarters. He is a horse that just doesn't do well with being forced to do something. He has always been that way. He likes things to be done gently. You name it, I've tried it. Lunging, a chain, food... HELP PLEASE!
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You have to make it his idea to get in. Once he puts his front feet on, back him off and walk about 20 feet from the trailer door. Approach again, and once he puts his front feet back on, back him off and walk back the 20 feet from the door. Repeat a couple of times, and he will get bored and start to wonder what you're getting at. Just keep going and start asking him to get on the trailer. Before he has the chance to rear or pull back, back him off yourself if he doesn't go forward right away. You have to make the getting off part your idea, the getting on part his idea.
I suggest watching some of Monty Roberts trailer loading videos on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=monty+...
you say your horse likes things done gently yet everything you said you tried was trying to force him or bribery. that stuff never works good for the horse. it's no wonder he doesn't want to go in. this is liable to take a lot to fix up. your horse doesn't trust you about going in the trailer because of your methods. with horses, it all starts with trust. if your horse doesn't trust you he won't do what you ask but if he does then it goes much eaiser. you'll need the help of someone with good experience at fixing these kind of problems. to try to explain it here would take too long and would probably be misunderstood. find someone to teach you and your horse that doesn't use a whip or bat or butt rope or bribery or any kind of force to get it done. the horse needs to learn that when you ask something of him then it's a good idea that he do it. because he trusts you.
Watch Kelly Marks Top Horsemanship On Horse & Country or type into YouTube Monty Roberts- Loading . Hope this helps, it happens with a lot of horses.