We made national news!

I couldn't believe what I saw on the national news today!

Do you ever watch the Today show in the mornings with Matt Lauer and Katie Couric? 

Well,...among the usual negative BS the newspeople always tell us...they quickly gave a blurb about the weather.  They said there was going to be some major rain happening.  Guess where they said it would be? 

Give up?  (I know, I know...there are only a kuh-zillion places to name)

They said "Lamar"...you know...where I live.

When I heard them say Lamar I looked up and there we were on the map...on national news.

That's the first time I heard national news talk about Lamar.  No doubt I'm a little overly excited about it.  But it's pretty neat to hear your own town on national news - especially when they're not talking about some kind of tragedy (which is the typical way things get on a newscast)

Onward.

I checked my message center and found this question:

 
Hey Andy,I've got more of a question than a comment. A while back I was moving my horse to another pasture using my narrow, but double horse trailer with a divider down the middle. She has never been a fan of that trailer anyway, but I had her in (just barely) then a very bad thing happened. The wind caught the door of the trailer and slammed it HARD. I can't exactly tell you how it happened because I fell backwards out the trap door, but I got up to find my beautiful mare ON HER BACK, hooves up in the air, belly against the sides of the trailer. We had to drag her out by her hind legs with another truck! By the time it was over, she and I were both a hysterical mess. Since then, I haven't been able to get her into anything other than an open top stock trailer. I've tried EVERYTHING, begging, bribing, sweet talk, rope under the rear, you name it! Do you think I'll ever get her into an enclosed trailer again, or do I sell mine and start looking for a stock trailer? Any suggestions would be very much appreciated!^..^ (Kat)

Whew!  Sounds like Kat had stressful day that day.  I've been there and done that.  I feel for ya Kat.

I don't know if you'll get her into an enclosed trailer again or not.  It will definitely take a lot of patience and work to do it.

As you likely know, horses have the best memory in the animal world.  This is one memory your horse has locked in his brain.  And it's going to take a lot of work to unlock it from the sounds of it.

Bribbing your horse with food, begging, etc.  is not going to cut it (as you have already found out).  If you have some knowledge on how to teach your horse to load in a trailer then stick with that and work at it.  Remember, it'll probably take quite a while to get your horse willing to do it.

Another option is to get a good trainer to reteach your horse for you.  It may be expensive.  You have to decide if your horse is worth what it would cost. 

You asked if you should sell your trailer and get a stock trailer?  If it were me I'd keep trying to get her in the trailer or have a trainer help you.  But the whole thing may boil down to the question of affordability and time. 

I hope that helps, Kat.

I guess that's it for today. 

Oh...before I forget...I need to remind you about my special pricing on items from my site.  It's my wife's and my anniversarry.  I decided to celebrate by offering items at special prices.  If
you haven't seen them yet click here:
http://www.horsetrainingandtips.com/specials.htm

If you are interested, please hurry because prices go back up Monday.

Talk to you later.

Andy