I would just give it time. When I have a spooker- I just continue to ride them around the things they are afraid of. Like in our ring we have a sliding board from a pool that we use as a jump- most of the horses think it is a blue horse eating monster. I move it around the ring every couple days or so and just try to incorporate it into my routine. Turn around it, hop over it, walk past it, canter by it, etc you get the idea. A horse that spooks at a log- trail ride him by logs with a horse that doesn't spook at logs, have him follow. You cannot force him to not be scared by it. And don't fuss at him when he is scared- if he spooks don't yell at him, don't baby him- keep going like nothing happened. I know people who coo and baby talk to their horses when they spook at stuff and the horses tend to still be scared of it and then when they hear the voice they think there is something to be scared of. It is great that you want to help him with his confidence but make sure you give him time, you said that you had been avoiding it so it is new to him.

As far as trailers- I have seen more horses injured from a step up than a ramp. I find that food is a great motivator for loading. I had one horse that you couldn't load if you were ahead of her. She would throw a fit back up, refuse to come into the trailer if you were already in. If I was back by her shoulder-she would march right on, and eventually would self load because she wanted the cookie at the front. I have used a butt rope on a horse that nothing else worked. I have tried the lunge in front of the trailer idea- I have never had it work.

imagefunny pictures of cats with captions
more animals