The first exercise in our trailer loading simulations is The Crash Mat exercise. This simulates the feeling of the unstable floor that a trailer ramp may have. The aim of this exercise for your horse is to be able to cross the mat from an ask from you, with all four feet stepping onto and over the mat in a calm and relaxed manner. In the beginning, your horse may offer a step onto the mat without you asking, and its really important that we make them feel really good when they engage with the mat, but we want to build up to us asking for forward steps and really directing each step across the mat, just as we would need to whilst trailer loading. Eventually, your horse should also be able to stand on the mat with all four feet.