Spray Bottle Fear

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Whoopit

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I have a 2.5yr old ned.

He’s terrified of the sound of spray bottles!
I’m not sure “de-sensitising” is the answer as as soon as he sees he literally shits himself and has gone through double chain stall guards in fright. It’s a really quiet show shine type of bottle - it barely makes any noise!

Anyone had similar experiences as come summer he’s going to be a nightmare for fly spray! Is the answer cotton wool in the ears to start with?
 
My ex show Connie is exactly the same. Terrified of the sound so in summer I use Lincoln sponge on fly gel and they also do a roll on for heads. For mane and tail spray I stand by the door and spray the brush with detangler and then brush it through the hair. He is 12 so I’m not expecting him to change any time soon.
 
My chap ( now 10y, got him at 8 months, so it wasn't a *bad experience* thing for him ) has never got used to it. I tried every bottle, noise, singing, pump sprays, spray sprays, food bribes, you name it - even spraying it near his stable got him upset, and he couldn't even see it, let alone feel it on his skin ! I gave up, and ditched the sprays, make my own fly detergent liquid in a pour-bottle, and keep a plastic bag with a sponge in it, and simply add a sloosh of liquid to the bag before taking the sponge out and wiping them both all over with it. I see it as some horses accept it, and don't mind, and some do. I hate the feel you get from plates and glass when it has been in the dishwasher - that squeeky to the touch feel - so I figure horses can have the same sort of *eewwww* reaction to stuff !
 
Agree with others about wiping spray on rather than spraying it. Otherwise, spray yourself/quiet horses in his sight and try to introduce the spray bottle to him outdoors where he has the freedom to move away from it if needs be, he's much less likely to panic if he doesn't feel cornered. I'd suggest taking the bottle with you to poo-pick and just playing about with it in the field as you go, not trying to spray him but encouraging him (with bribery perhaps!) to be curious about what you've got.
It's worth remembering that their sense of smell is phenomenal compared to ours, mine hated sunscreen until I switched to a scent free version, now he'll stand quite happily to have his nose plastered in it. Obviously fly spray is always pretty potent smell-wise, but I'd suggest a spray bottle filled with water to get him used to sprays in general.
 
I did manage to desensitise a share horse that the owner said tried to kill her when she fly sprayed him. It took months. I started with one of the small travel bottles and would spray away from him with my body blocking his view initially so it was really just the sound, before gradually moving onto him seeing as well as sound and eventually to spraying him, once he was fine with that all over, I started it with a normal spray bottle, starting at the beginning again. All this I would add was with treats. I'd spray and then treat immediately, move away and allow him to relax. It was done on every occasion I was at the yard which was twice a week as it was a share. In the end he was fine for me to spray him, but it took many hours to achieve.
 
I don’t think I’ve ever had one that totally freaks but I’ve always found if I hold them on a longish rope and let them move away as you spray then they eventually get used to it. It’s often the feeling of being trapped that will send a horse over the top. Also little and often and not over forcing it.

Eta I’d never introduce a horse to this or similar within the confines of a stable you’re asking to be injured.
 
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It's a visceral reaction to the noise, he thinks it's a snake.

Sponge it on for now and meanwhile desensitise with one spray onto a cloth and an immediate treat from someone holding him. Do it outside with him on a double length rope or a lunge line. Build up from there. Good luck!
 
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