How to desensitise a horse to water?

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emma.is

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As above really, as it's getting to summer when we're hacking around the village his aversion to water is getting in the way...

He hates baths, hoses, sprinklers things like that but will happy plunge into a river :rolleyes:
 
chifney bit ... or any controlling headcollar and call a mate.

fill a bucket full of water and "THROWWW" literally do it to all my horses , they will learn ..

Better still go on a lovely long hack/ schooling sesh, on a really warm day , he may even be thankful of a cooldown then
 
Horse-Rider said:
chifney bit ... or any controlling headcollar and call a mate.

fill a bucket full of water and "THROWWW" literally do it to all my horses , they will learn ..

Better still go on a lovely long hack/ schooling sesh, on a really warm day , he may even be thankful of a cooldown then
Click to expand...

Personally I strongly disagree with this, especially using a chifney or controlling headcollar.

I get them to accept a hose, or sponging down in the following way.

Simple rope headcollar, I always use one of these as a matter of course. This is because some horses can and will, lean into a leather or webbing headcollar and use it against you.
Then on a long lead rope, 12', outside where they have plenty of room to move, put the hose on them, it doesn't want to be full on or with a pressure attachment on, just water pouring out. The horse will move around you in an attempt to get away from the water, sometimes very quickly. Keep the water on him till he stops moving his feet, then immediatly take the water off him. Give him a few moments then put the hose on him again, let him move away keeping the hose on him, when he stops moving his feet, take the water off him again. Keep repeating until you can put the hose on him without him moving his feet. Some horses accept this after a few goes, some take a while.
We train all our horses this way, and it gives a true acceptance to water, and they all get to enjoy a bath or shower using this method. You can build up the pressure with the hose and even pour a bucket over them once they are confident and happy about the water.
 
As pale rider suggests.

If you get him really hot and sweaty first he will enjoy it more and therefore resist less.
 
Don't know, but wouldn't be using a chiffney and throwing buckets of water :(

My old mare hates water. She's often marooned on the hard standing in the field gate in the winter as she can't bear to get her feet wet :D

Even taking her from stable to field results in saucer eyes and lots of sharp intakes of breath if its a bit squelchy under foot! :D

So as you can imagine a hose or bucket gives her a heart attack

Such a princess ;)
 
No idea but if you find a way, please tell me.

Two of mine are fine but the oldie has always hated it. He also will jump in a river, muddy puddles etc but hates being washed, even his legs.

I have been fighting him for 31 years over it :D

He was pulling back and breaking tie rings a few months ago when the farrier trimmed him when I wasn't around. First thing I asked was where he had tied him. If you put him on the ring near the tap he's off :D :D
 
right...no chifneys or throwing of water,may work on some, but more likely to cause future probs or worse case horse panics and slips.someone/horse gets hurt...gentle accepting by repetition will lead to recognition of positive outcome...and less damage/injury or trauma..bearing in mind I'm speaking from a TB and youngster point of view or anything that is threatening to explode wildly!most of mine have been a bit :eek: but quickly twigged its a good thing just with a dripping hose and long rope..they usually twig too that standing on it is hysterical,but with youngsters I tend to let them watch a well behaved one enjoying a bath/wash down and getting fed after then gently trying occasionally tho you get a 'very special' one with psychotic monster tendancies and a love of inflicting A&E on anyone possible,so I do this-bit boring but it works by boring the horse!:

1.Tickling stick..2 mins if your horse is clearly capable of getting groomed/tacked up etc .play and groom with tickle stick and give treats (you could use a clicker)
2.now, mist some water spray onto tickle stick so just damp. repeat stage one and increase wetness of tickle stick. May be best to use a sponge on a stick or swap to one before it drips too much if looking slow progress. keep praising fussing and treating for acceptable behaviour and as one post above, when the fidgets start persevere until less mobile & not attempting dancing on ice stunts.
3.repeat above with same sponge minus the tickle stick gradually increasing wetness
3.if horse suitably ok with this and hot sticky day or after a ride I'd then progress to dipping sponge and dripping it on so water runs.treats and repeat.
4.feed next to gently only just running hose coiled round bucket lying on floor -obviously make sure its safe.continue dripping the sponge if needed.switch hose off show horse hose is not carnivorous.use hose as dry tickle stick and start off with feet legs shoulder and do same with slow dripping hose,increase water gradually...hopefully...now your horse will now be so bored out of its brain that its never a problem.
5if any probs, try it in the rain with food.

before anyone shouts me down,some horses actually convince themselves the water is their blood and its strange in sensation and moves..others are just taking the widdle.oh and offering lavender oil or having lavender oil on your hands or on a small rag wrapped onto headcollar can help too-also is fly repelling and ,makes a good addition to shampoo.

you can wake up now, i've finnished!:D
 
Pale Rider said:
Personally I strongly disagree with this, especially using a chifney or controlling headcollar.

I get them to accept a hose, or sponging down in the following way.

Simple rope headcollar, I always use one of these as a matter of course. This is because some horses can and will, lean into a leather or webbing headcollar and use it against you.
Then on a long lead rope, 12', outside where they have plenty of room to move, put the hose on them, it doesn't want to be full on or with a pressure attachment on, just water pouring out. The horse will move around you in an attempt to get away from the water, sometimes very quickly. Keep the water on him till he stops moving his feet, then immediatly take the water off him. Give him a few moments then put the hose on him again, let him move away keeping the hose on him, when he stops moving his feet, take the water off him again. Keep repeating until you can put the hose on him without him moving his feet. Some horses accept this after a few goes, some take a while.
We train all our horses this way, and it gives a true acceptance to water, and they all get to enjoy a bath or shower using this method. You can build up the pressure with the hose and even pour a bucket over them once they are confident and happy about the water.
Click to expand...

THIS is what I plan on doing.
I feel throwing buckets of water on a horse that has an aversion to water, is not the best idea and certainly not what I'll be doing with my youngster.
 
My old horse was terrified of the hose when I first got him but he was extremely green with anything on the ground. I just slowly built it up from using a bucket, then putting the hose on near him, then on his front feet and working up from there. When I sold him I could hose him from head to foot without a problem. Although mine was a bolshy so and so in hand I would recommend having someone hold them rather than tie up to start with as they tend to feel less restricted. My boy also loved wading through water it was the hose (and the dark washdown area) he was scared of.
Good luck, lots of patience and you will get there :)
 
Horse-Rider said:
chifney bit ... or any controlling headcollar and call a mate.

fill a bucket full of water and "THROWWW" literally do it to all my horses , they will learn ..
Click to expand...
Whatever you do emma.is, do not do this suggestion. I can't believe I have read this I'm afraid. :(
 
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