Each year, I host a unique and transformative event with one simple idea: variety creates purpose. Purpose camp at James Creek Ranch introduces diverse experiences into our horses’ training keeps them engaged, confident, and willing to learn. Repetitive drills can lead to sour attitudes, but when exercises have meaning, both horse and rider benefit.

Helping horses load into a trailer with confidence is a common challenge, and I am often called upon to assist with both young horses learning to load and those struggling with trailer anxiety. Over the years, I’ve shared insights on horse trailer training, covering why it’s essential and how to approach it with the right techniques. However, this time, I want to shift the focus away from technique and explore the underlying factors that influence a horse’s willingness (or refusal) to load.

Essentially, a gate is a transition from here to there. It’s a transition from one pasture to another, replicated in competition. Learning to work a gate can be part of your horse’s training transition into a more attentive, patient, and handy partner.

As I write this article, I am days into the arrival of my new pony Gwynna, the third member of my little herd, with a herd integration in our near future. It seems somehow fortuitous to be riding the various waves of emotion that this transition can present — trepidation, fear, anticipation, and uncertainty — as I unpack what it takes to successfully introduce a new herd member or move from a barn with horses on their own to one where the herd lives together.