Rethinking Trailer Loading: Training an Anxious Horse

Ziva – Part 1 of 2

Ziva – Part 2 of 2

Trailer loading often looks like a training problem, but more often, it’s a conversation about safety, pressure, and trust. This two-part series follows a real-time training journey with an anxious horse, where the goal isn’t compliance, but understanding.

Across both sessions, I work slowly and deliberately, prioritising emotional regulation over outcomes. You’ll see how anxiety, shutdown, and avoidance show up in the body long before a horse ever says “no” at the trailer. Rather than escalating pressure, I focus on rebuilding clarity, confidence, and willingness through groundwork, timing, and thoughtful decision-making.

This is not a polished “how-to”. It’s an honest look at what progress actually feels like with a sensitive horse. There are pauses, setbacks, moments of uncertainty, and quiet breakthroughs. The transformation isn’t dramatic, but it’s meaningful: a horse that begins to think again, offer try, and stay emotionally present in a situation that once felt overwhelming.

Just as importantly, this series reflects the human side of training: how we read the horse, regulate ourselves, and learn to redefine success in a way that supports long-term trust.

What you’ll see in this session:

• How to recognise anxiety, shutdown, and overwhelm in trailer loading scenarios
• Using groundwork to assess emotional readiness before approaching the trailer
• Pressure and release as communication – not force
• Allowing retreat to build forward intent and confidence
• Approach-and-retreat at the trailer without trapping the horse
• Lowering criteria to support thinking and curiosity
• Why slowing down often creates faster progress
• How to decide when to stop and what truly counts as a “win”

Perfect for riders dealing with anxious or nervous horses, trailer loading issues, or horses that shut down under pressure.
If you’ve ever felt stuck, second-guessed your timing, or wondered whether pushing harder was actually making things worse – this series is for you.

Trailer loading is one of the most common stress points in horse ownership, and it often becomes a battleground of force versus fear. This series offers a different lens – one grounded in connection-based horsemanship, emotional awareness, and thoughtful training choices. By shifting the focus from “getting it done” to helping the horse feel safe enough to try, we create outcomes that last far beyond the trailer.

These sessions aren’t about shortcuts. They’re about learning to listen, adjust, and lead with clarity. Skills that translate to every aspect of groundwork, riding, and partnership.

🎥 No quick fixes. No fancy edits. Just honest, real-time horse training exactly as it happens.

📍 Filmed on the Mid North Coast of NSW, Australia.

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