Our guide to safer learning

• The Easy Loader is a training aid.
• It should be introduced gradually and quietly, allowing the horse to associate the harness & loading experience as a calm and happy one.
• The horse should be either held by a competent handler, or attached to a tie-up ring in a secure environment when first introducing the harness.
• Approach slowly and calmly, talking to your horse.
• Gently lift and place the harness onto the horse, so the two locking units are equally balanced either side of the horse’s quarters.
• When fitting the harness, leave the wither and quarter strap fastened until you have tightly secured the chest and belly strap. The wither and quarter strap can then be adjusted to secure the harness in the correct position. Allow your horse to get used to the feel of it and become fully aware of what it is.
• Practice unfastening and fastening the velcro so they know the sound.
• Walk your horse around and tighten any straps that may need tightening. It is very important that the harness is very secure. If your horse becomes restless or agitated during the loading process you do not want the harness to move around.
• Rehearse this for a few days until your horse is completely relaxed when wearing it. Walk your horse to the trailer with the ramp down, pull the webbing out and manually activate the locking mechanism. Do not attempt to load at this point. Reward your horse for doing what you have asked, either with a treat or a pat.
• Continue this process for as long as is necessary until you feel your horse is completely comfortable with the harness.
• Under no circumstances should this harness be used straight away in an attempt to load until the horse is used to the equipment. It is a training aid.
• Now you are ready to load your horse. This process again must be taken slowly, with every forward positive movement rewarded with a pat or a treat. It is not imperative that the first time you go to load your horse that you load him. If you get him calmly half way on the ramp reward him, back him up, finish on a good note, and leave it until tea time or until tomorrow. Start again, in doing this you will reinforce a calm and controlled environment, because this time you are actually in control of the proceedings. It is important that at some point you allow your horse to make a backward movement to feel the mechanisms lock and to feel the pressure on his legs. Even at this point, it is not necessary to load, finish on a good note of encouragement and calm. Eventually you will know when it is time to fully load your horse. Having taken this time and displaying a calm and controlled environment your horse will load with little to no fuss. Once he has loaded, undo the belly strap and the chest strap of the harness inside the trailer, unload your horse and repeat three to four times. At this point ask him to load without the harness on, if he refuses, put the harness back on until he loads without it.

Putting On Your Harness

• When you take out your harness you will see there are straps which are labelled. This allows you to easily see how your new piece of equipment fits on your horse.
• Hold the wither strap in your left hand, and the Hind strap in your right hand.
• The two straps that can be undone are the Belly strap, and the strap that secures the harness across the horse’s chest. These should also be in your left hand.
• The two seatbelt unit blocks should be to the right of you as they will lie on either side of the horse’s quarters.
• Once gently placed down, the strap going across the chest should be fastened to allow a secure fit.
• Next is the belly strap. Again making sure it is a secure fit.
• The strap which runs around the quarters and under the tail can now be gently manoeuvred into the correct position on your horse, slid up or down, and the tail pulled over.
• As you would with any piece of equipment on a horse, before walking off, ensure that all the straps are as secure as they comfortably can be. Therefore avoiding any chance of it slipping, and so being ineffective and/or spooking the horse.
• Check that all your safety quick release clips are positioned in the trailer prior to loading. (Also make sure that you have fastened the sacrifice rings onto the quick release clips). These clips are very important as they are tested to break under strain in the event of an emergency, should you not be able to pull the quick release cord yourself.
• The team at Equine Evolution know that the only way to predict the future is to create it. We plan to create a much safer, easier and happier future for all dedicated horse owners and riders in the 21st century and beyond.