Hmm...when they taught me how to load 'the Parelli way' they really emphasized not putting much pressure on the horse after the 'send.' Sage kept stalling halfway up the ramp, and my instructor would have me back him down and away from the trailer, and wait a few seconds, and then 'send' him with more energy. If he stalled halfway up the ramp but was busy sticking his nose inside and snuffling around I left him alone, but as soon as he tried to back off the ramp I would back him up even further and then make him wait a second.
If he snuffled around for a bit and then turned and looked at me with a question...THEN I was allowed to put some light pressure on his rump. But I think the whole point is to accept what they give you and not push it near the trailer; because you want them to associate being near the trailer with being left alone; all the pressure should happen further out. Essentially you're training them to seek comfort, and you're training them that this comfort happens in the trailer. So in other words I would only push him past the think spot if he asks a question, otherwise, annoying as it is, you want to back him up and send him all over again, start from scratch. (Linda tells people to think "oh boy! I get to practice my send!" as a way of distracting us from thoughts of "argghh! why won't this bloody horse just GET ON already???")
I do think trailering is an emotional thing for him, and I think it's a good idea to add in some riding afterwards, but I maybe wouldn't have added it in after a session where he was emotional like that (then again maybe I would if I was trying to give him lots to think about as a way of pulling him out of his rb'd-ness). I dunno, I would maybe want him not getting overwhelmed by trailering alone before adding in activities after??? Its always such a learning process for me to judge how much to do with Sage in any given day...sometimes I push him way too fast and too far in one session, and other times I don't push him nearly enough.
But either way its probably best to follow your own instincts and it sounds like you were happy with the results. With Sage the answer I look for is in how he reacts to me the following day. If he turns his butt to me and looks grumpy, I know I pushed him too far. When he whinnies and is all eager to see me, I know he was impressed with my leadership and is looking for more...
If he snuffled around for a bit and then turned and looked at me with a question...THEN I was allowed to put some light pressure on his rump. But I think the whole point is to accept what they give you and not push it near the trailer; because you want them to associate being near the trailer with being left alone; all the pressure should happen further out. Essentially you're training them to seek comfort, and you're training them that this comfort happens in the trailer. So in other words I would only push him past the think spot if he asks a question, otherwise, annoying as it is, you want to back him up and send him all over again, start from scratch. (Linda tells people to think "oh boy! I get to practice my send!" as a way of distracting us from thoughts of "argghh! why won't this bloody horse just GET ON already???")
I do think trailering is an emotional thing for him, and I think it's a good idea to add in some riding afterwards, but I maybe wouldn't have added it in after a session where he was emotional like that (then again maybe I would if I was trying to give him lots to think about as a way of pulling him out of his rb'd-ness). I dunno, I would maybe want him not getting overwhelmed by trailering alone before adding in activities after??? Its always such a learning process for me to judge how much to do with Sage in any given day...sometimes I push him way too fast and too far in one session, and other times I don't push him nearly enough.
But either way its probably best to follow your own instincts and it sounds like you were happy with the results. With Sage the answer I look for is in how he reacts to me the following day. If he turns his butt to me and looks grumpy, I know I pushed him too far. When he whinnies and is all eager to see me, I know he was impressed with my leadership and is looking for more...
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