spray bottles?

[Shavings]

i have seen a few members on here talk about how there horses where/are scared of spray bottle and how they have worked/working to over come this fear

my boy doesn't mind spray bottles at all... UNTIL! you spray him..

the fly spray for eg he is not bothered by the bottle i can rub it all over his body but pull the trigger and he will spin, pull back and so on to get out of reach and even then he does his "puff the magic dragon" impression at it!

so how have you guys worked with your horses to over come this? i don't care what it is or how long it takes i just wonder if there is a way he can over some this.. because face pull of fly spray is not pleasant!

(for now i am just spraying a body brush and then apply the fly spray that way)

i do thing half of his problem is he has had a number of nasty cuts on his legs and the string of blue/purple spray is what he is thinking about!

but any help would be lovely

 

[Shady]

Hi S !
I have beaten this problem totally but i don't know if my method is a bit weird and long winded, i do know that Mr P went from a whirling dervish to a horse that will stand quietly while i spray him all over with whatever stinky stuff he needs.
he freaked at the tiniest squirt of anything on him to start with so i started with just water, OH held him and i'd gently squirt a bit in my hand and show him, first few times had pulling and tossy head stuff, then i mixed honey or sugar in a second bottle, mmmmmm, now squirty thing has tasty treat to lick!! changed back to water and gradually extended the distance, neck , chest legs etc, then back to honey mix again in my hand, i just kept doing this and he associated the spray with a nice thing, it didn't take long , the trouble i think is that the noise is unsettling and then there is a horrid smell or like you said a stinging feeling , before you know it your horse has developed a massive aversion which is a pain in the butt and makes them impossible to treat safely. i'm sure others will be along to offer better solutions but this worked for me. xxxxxxxxx

 

[Micropony]

My 4yo isn't massively keen on spray bottles. Has always been fine with detangler on his tail but not keen on fly spray on his body.
I find he copes better if I don't tie him up but leave him loose in his stable.
The bottle itself doesn't bother him, it's the noise and the feeling of the stuff landing on his coat.
I found that it helps to let him smell some fly spray on my hand before I wipe it on his face. Then he objects less to little squirts on his body and I immediately stroke the bit I have just squirted.
His objection is by no means extreme, he is generally a very easy going chap, so I don't know how well this approach might work with a horse that's terrified rather than just a little bit anxious. Does seem to be enough to help him though.
Good luck with it x