Scared of water and sprays.

[dreambigpony]

My four year old mare is awful with water and sprays. Being a piebald it is so difficult to keep her clean as every day she has laid in poo! She won't stand still for fly spray or to be hosed down. She tries her best to get away from it and my dad who is a 6ft1 strong man can barely hold her when we get the hose out. I have tried using a bucket and sponge to which she is not quite so bad but again, she just does whatever she can to get away from it. What have you done to get your horses used to water and sprays? She hates the feeling of it on her. Thanks

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

My four year old mare is awful with water and sprays. Being a piebald it is so difficult to keep her clean as every day she has laid in poo! She won't stand still for fly spray or to be hosed down. She tries her best to get away from it and my dad who is a 6ft1 strong man can barely hold her when we get the hose out. I have tried using a bucket and sponge to which she is not quite so bad but again, she just does whatever she can to get away from it. What have you done to get your horses used to water and sprays? She hates the feeling of it on her. Thanks

My late mare sued to be like this, I just let her walk round me while I continued to spray.

A hose have you thought about washing her in a hose down box where she cannot get away or let her stand near another while its being hosed??

Really all you can do is persevere tie her up then just let the water be on the lightest trickle to start with. You need to cure this in case there is an injury.

I would start with only a short piece of hose and hold it and work on runing up and down his legs till he gets used to it then progress.


Key Points When Teaching
a Horse to Accept Water

The horse needs to be solid on his targeting skills before introducing stressful situations.

Dripping water may at first feel like flies to a horse. Be prepared for him to stomp his feet or cow kick at what he perceives is a fly assault.

Don't approach the horse where he is tied fast, can panic and fall, and that will only reinforce his fear of water.

Get the horse completely desensitized to the hose and its movement before attempting to get him to accept the water.

Organize the scenario so that the horse is investigating the hose and water, rather than be pursued by it.

Your horse has probably been taught to yield or move away from pressure. Don't blow your objectives by advancing the water on him in a way that he perceives that you are asking him to move off. Apply the water in a non-forceful, non-directional manner.

If you find a portion of the bath that he likes, go back to that part occasionally as a reward for good behavior.

Don't wear out your welcome or the horse's attention span. Accomplish something then rub him down and make him feel good. Continue the lesson and build upon what you've gained on the following day. Don't take baby steps, but stay within the horse's curiosity and attention span.


Another idea is robinsons hose shower so you don't get the hose wrapped round the horses leg
Remember, the ground may be slippery when wet so think about your movements, where the hose is located, and don't provoke the horse to sudden reactions and movement

 

[STRIKER]

Do not use cold water or a hard spray. Reward but also persevere. Poo stains brush out, only bathe when going to a show. Wipe fly spray over her with a sponge she will get used to it then you can sponge bath her.

 

[Toffee44]

I love my pressure halter. Always do lots of ground work of back up, walk forward. If they back up/ rear ( this is my mares reaction ) then apply pressure until they step foragers, release pressure. Reward ( scratch etc ) and just stop for a moment allow horse to think about the cause and effect. Continue.

Now all I do for bathing/ clipping/ is put the halter on and I have no argument because she knows.

We have cross ties in the wash bay I have just started to put her in these ( daily bandage changes etc have helped us practice ) and although obv halter not attached ( halter over normal head collar ) she stands relatively still and doesn't fight.