Is this a good idea or a stupid one?

[Cedars]

To get my youngster to be unafraid of hoses?

Every night when she comes in during the winter, we'll hose her legs off, no attempt to tell her off if she misbehaves, just stand there, hose her off as best we can, praise for what we achieve, do this every day all winter (we do it with the other two already) and hope that the repetition will teach her its not scary?

Or will it result in her refusing to come to me at night?!

We've done everything else we can do really, she'll stand next to the hose if its not on her, and she'll have water thrown at her, its just the combination of the two she can't cope with!

 

[splashgirl45]

one i had hated being hosed with the nozzle on but was fine if i took it off and eventually was ok with the nozzle on, just an idea...... what about someone giving her a piece of apple or similar treat each time you try just to take her mind off what you are doing?

not sure if she would still come to you, you know her so are the best judge, but i would think you've nothing to lose by trying hosing every day and if it caused a prob getting her in you could stop..good luck

 

[Crazydancer]

Any idea about what part of the process she objects to? Only ask as my lad will tolerate hosing gently on his legs, as long as there is no nozzle, because it seems he doesn't like water dripping off his belly, he gets ticklish! When I bath him I have to be in there pdq with the scraper to get the excess off....
He did improve after a while of starting hosing just his hooves and fetlocks, and then working further up as he got more used to it. But all without any force in the water, just normal water pressure out of a standard hose pipe.
He has got better with age!

 

[Cedars]

She just has a hissy regardless, I did think it was the water dripping onto the floor but we've now "cured" that as for her last show we just threw cups of water over her making sure there were loud splashes.

Have tried taking the nozzle off and that didn't help.

It doesnt help that I'm so nervous of her getting tangled up in the hose that I struggle!

 

[Orangehorse]

Have you tried tying up a haynet and letting her eat while you hose her legs - you keep hold of her rope though? It worked for mine.

 

[wilsha]

my pony doesnt mind hoses until they get nea his head! so i let him put it in his mouth and gradually put it higher and higher up his head so he stays calm(ish)hat really helps alsomake sure you turn the hose on so its only gentle

 

[corriehorse]

A couple of years ago the YO of my old yard bought a pony as a little project. The pony had many fears, hoses was one of them. I helped her out quite a bit with the pony and we did manage to cure her phobia.
To start off with, we just rolled the hose out, chucked it across the yard, and led the pony around and over the hose. To begin with, she would just plant herself or try to run around it. After a couple of days, she would happily walk all over the hose, stand in amongst it when asked, and walk on quietly again. At this stage, we then turned the hose on, and leaving it on the floor still, repeated the above process. At the same sort of time, somebody would hold the hose, with it turned off, and walk pony around person just holding hose. Then stand the pony still, and move hose towards pony, starting at her feet and very slowly moving it up her legs and towards her body. She had to be fed treats at this stage to reassure her that it wasn't going to hurt her, (very food orientated pony). Once she was happy with all of this, the next step was to just have the hose running, being held at hip level by somebody and slowly moving towards and away from pony. As she became more happy with this, we were then able to build up to having the hose running on to her hoof for a short time, always moving the hose away from her before she felt the need to move herself, but building the time, litrally by seconds, each time the water was on her foot. You can then build up to moving the hose up the leg inch by inch. This was always done to both front legs first, then both back legs. Eventually built up to the body and having a bath. This entire process took about 2 weeks of spending 15-20 mins sessions once or twice a day, EVERY day. She was still wary of the hose, but not petrified like originally, and as it was carried on every day, she became happier to have the hose and water on her.
Sorry, that turned in to a bit of an essay, but it's a tried and tested method that would be very worthwhile process for you to try. Because everything is built up slowly, it allows the horse to be comfortable at each stage, rather than feeling rushed by going straight for washing legs.
Also, make sure horse is being held, ideally by a competant, calm handler so you're not fighting to hold horse still, and move hose to and away at the same time.
Hope this is of some help to you.

 

[Cedars]

Have tried tying her up but she's not all that food orientated so previously she has just snapped the tie and run off. I always have someone hold her when we're doing water stuff after she ran INTO the wall she was tied to and cut her lip on a door fitting (she is a bit dense....!).

Will try your method, thank you, I did try previously when I was filling water buckets and she put me in A&E! But the hose was on so when she stood on it it hissed.

We're having an arena built soon, would it be worth laying it out right across the length of the arena and having a play in the arena? Walking across it, etc. Just so nervous she might get caught up in it. Oh how I wish for one of those overhead arms that keep the hoses out the way!!