Izzy on the Hi-Tie

Since my trailer was still parked in front of the barn on Sunday morning after our visit to Summer Lane Farm, I decided Izzy needed another trailer loading lesson. With the butt rope tossed over his hind end, he got on very quietly, but he's still pretty worried about the step down when unloading. 

Tied to the trailer via the Hi-Tie System - he found every blade of grass.

I loaded only one time with the butt rope; for the next several tries I took it off and asked him to load without the crutch. Each time he refused, I gave him a quick tutorial in what forward means by getting after him with the lunge whip. He's a quick study.

When the grass was all gone, he stared mournfully at the dirt.

After loading and unloading successfully three or four times, I turned him out with Speedy (who I kept on a lead rope). Izzy got some big bucks and woo hoo gallops out of his system and finished it all off with a big drink. I put Speedy away and brought Izzy back to the trailer for a cool down on the Hi-Tie, his first time.

You can see how much space the Hi-Tie gives a horse for walking around.

He was as brilliant as I knew he'd be. He eye-balled me a bit when I climbed up on the wheel well to snap him in, and then he gave the rope a quizzical look as it hung above his, but that was all the energy he cared to put into that.

I spent some time banging around inside the trailer, which can be scary for green beans as they can't see what I am doing in there. I cleaned manure, removed a hay bag, and slammed the windows closed. None of it bothered him.

I left him standing there while I changed back into my muck boots, untied the dog, and put my stuff away. In between searches for bits of edible plants, he checked on where I was, but his trailer manners were impeccable. I feel pretty confident that when it comes time to go somewhere, he'll stand at the trailer without too much of a fuss. 

He finally saw me and decided to pose!