Training Paint horse / western horse via Natural Horsemanship

On Saturday the 28th January 2012 I collected "Magicality" a rising 2 year old paint horse colt. By Hombres Boston Amigo out of Southern Baked Dean. Sarah and I set of early to Notts with my 3.5 tonne horse transport Horsebox. I had taken out the partition and put a good layer of shavings down and some hay in the back corner to make the space nice and inviting for a young horse who is loading onto horse transport for the first time.
When we got there it was good to see that the young colt had a nice temperment but had also been well halter broken using natural horsemanship methods.
Using a long lead rope and a rope halter I lead Magicality up to the horsebox so he could have a good look... putting no pressure at all on the young horse. he very soon lowered his head and sniffed the ramp - this is a sure sign to me that a horse will load given the correct handeling by the horse transporter - the trick is PATIANCE, not to add any presure, the horses natural inquisitive nature will take over and he will wish to investigate the new area. If however you try to force a young horse on while he is still trying to work out if it is safe to place a foot on the ramp he will become wary and often stressed.

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