Am I missing anything obvious about de-sensitising the baby to the hose?

C

Cedars

Well-Known Member
Joined
19 May 2009
Messages
7,830
Visit site
As you're all VERY aware (haha) its the baby's first show on the 11th.....

She's going to need a bath obviously, but she's bloody terrified of the hose!! She'll let me rub it all over her (literally EVERYWHERE, tummy, legs) when its off. Its just when its on and making a noise that she can't cope!

She did let me rinse her feet off the other day with a hose that was literally dribbling (took me FOREVER!!!!), but its the minute it makes that hissing noise she panics.

Apart from persevering, any magic tips?!

Thankies in advance xxxx
 
Always found with our baby who loathes water, he seemed to like it a lot more once he was all hot and sweaty after being worked! Though don't think that will help you lol.

I'd just be 'mean' and keep it on her and just get on with it like nothing's happening, what we do with all our lot, a few pratted about to start with but all stand there quietly now and can them head to tail :)


Or have the hose on in the background all the time when you're grooming her etc till she gets used to the noise.

Or distract by a food type bribery ;)
 
With my youngster I used to wash her with a bucket and sponge until she got used to the hose. I used to boil the kettle so I could use luke warm water instead of it being freezing cold but then you probably won't have to do that in this weather.
I had to use loads of buckets but it was better than frightening her with the hose. Going to a show is stressful enough without having extra issues!

I eventually got her used to the hose but it took months of very gradual de-sensitisation (I had to do it every day for about 3 - 4 months because like your horse she was terrified)

Good luck with the show! If you haven't managed to de-sensitise her before the 11th I would just use buckets of water.
 
What about hosing another horse (who appreciates a shower) with her standing nearby and just watching, munching a bit of hay ? That'd get her used to the noise, and see the other horse is calm. I shower two together, and they really seem to enjoy it.

My boy was very nervous at first, got really upset about it all, rushing and diving everywhere, but this hot weather has changed all that :D sm x
 
Have you taken the end of the hose off? Mine has one of those hoselock things and they do hiss but if I take it off then my two year old doesn't seem to mind. Just a thought...
 
Aquamarine that was the miracle answer I was looking for! Good pointtttt. Will try that! You're right it might just be the hissing.

She is fine with buckets, tried that but its just the hose she objects to. Last time she pulled back so hard she snapped the quick release and ran off round the yard!

Also very good point about hosing another horse when shes around thats very clever.

All other suggestions still accepted!!!
 
As above, start with the hose with no head on it and slow trickle. Stood Stinky as a baby next to Cairo so he watched him being done and then I would just give him a little trickle of water above the knee as this seems to be more tolerated than on the feet to start, so he got used to it - did a similar thing with clipping, he was tied next to Cairo and I would just turn and put them on him every now and then so he got used to it.

I also used to give him something to eat at the same time so he had his mind on other things.

All over bathing I started with warm water in a bucket, progressed to cold water in a bucket, and then on warm days the hose. He still does not like cold baths unless it is hot, but for a gypsy cob, Stinky is a real wimp.

Stinky is now very good to bath and clip, though as said, he wriggles a bit on cold water, but I can't blame him as I hate cold showers. Put him in a hot shower like my friend has, and he stands with eye closed and loves his pampering.
 
It doesn't hiss with just the pipe open as usual (no special attachments), and with it like that, I'd just hose horse every day, legs only to start with. Make sure someone is holding the horse rather than having it tied up. It won't take long.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top