Hosing Legs

asommerville

asommerville

Well-Known Member
Joined
13 May 2010
Messages
1,542
Visit site
Hi, can anyone give me any advice on getting my youngster to stand for the hose to get his legs washed? He is terrified!! I cna now gt a sponge and water on his legs but as soon as you take him towads the wash bay he loses the plot. Anyone got any advice on things to try with him? i know it's going to take a lot of time and patience.......!
 
Hi :)

My boy was terrified of the hose, not the actual water, just the scary horse eating snake it came out of, we started just taking him up to stand by it, letting him have a sniff around. Then when he seemed more confident with this, we just let the water run slowly, building up to faster. Then started to introduce it by just hosing one hoof, leaving it then gradually building up the next day.

I still wouldn't say he enjoys it but will now stand to have his legs hosed quietly.

Hope it helps! :)
 
If he starts to worry just going near that area take him back a few steps, just take him to the area then walk away, once he is a little more settled ask him to stand there for a little while, feeding him there may help. Then show him the hose (with no water) move it around, stroke it up his legs once he is settled with this put the hose on the floor and turn the water on slowly once he is ok pick the hose up a foot so he gets used to the noise and things try and get him to look at it and nuzzle it if possible then you can start moving slowly towards his feet. If he stresses out with any of this go back a step. Feeding him in the area will make it a bit less stressful for him. Good luck
 
Get a short piece of hose, say 2m long and "groom" him with it in the stable, drag it about a bit too. When he's familiar with it, introduce him to the hose in the wash bay. Once he's comfortable with that, start with a small trickle on his feet
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top