saddlesore
Well-Known Member
Any tips? My youngster has a pink nose that burns easily but is winning the fight in the suncream front. He just waves his face about. All suggestions welcome! :-D
teaching horse to accept suncream!
- Thread starter saddlesore
- Start date
turkana
Well-Known Member
I've had this problem with a horse who thinks that sun cream will instantly vapourise her muzzle!
I gave up & bought nose cover which I attach to a field safe head collar.
I gave up & bought nose cover which I attach to a field safe head collar.
Bertolie
Well-Known Member
Treats in right hand, suncream on palm of left hand....stand by horses left shoulder, facing forward, with right hand under neck and offer treats....whilst horse eating treats rub left hand over muzzle quickly...worked for me 
saddlesore
Well-Known Member
ooh good shout- thanks 
What should I do if he tosses his head out of my reach? I'm worried that if I give up i'll basically be training him NOT to accept it!
What should I do if he tosses his head out of my reach? I'm worried that if I give up i'll basically be training him NOT to accept it!
Bertolie
Well-Known Member
ooh good shout- thanks
My boy is so food orientated that it wasn't really a problem and I can put suncream on him at any time without the use of treats anymore.
I would just keep trying with the treats until he gets the message that the suncream is not going to kill him
Even if you only manage to get a little bit on him to start with, I'm sure he will soon get the idea!
tallyho!
Following a strict mediterranean diet...
Like anything, train him to accept the feeling of rubbing on his nose. It probably tickles and is cold so just practice rubbing without cream on to begin with and gradually put some cream on, that is warmed in your hand first.
noodle_
Well-Known Member
i normally hang onto her headcollar with my right hand and put the cream on with my left and be pushed around the stable but she gives in eventually.....
the treat thing would work fine though id imagine
but she gives in eventually.....the treat thing would work fine though id imagine
Beau jangles
Well-Known Member
I bought a factor 50 spray on one , I hang onto his headcollar and spray like mad , he then runs of snorting and sneezing and trying to rub it off , he is 24 and never got any better , as long as you get it on once a day it should be enough !
saddlesore
Well-Known Member
Ha ha, a real spread of approaches here!
sandi_84
Well-Known Member
Mine is only just 15hh but he can lift me off the ground when he doesn't want stuff on his nose He's fine with me touching his schnoz when I've got nothing in my hand but approach him with sun cream or sudocreme and you know you're in for a bit of a fight, I think it's the smell he objects to.
He's wily too, he won't take treats when he suspects there is an alterior motive
I tend to get a load of it on my hand get him by the headcollar and smear it all over as quick as I can then give him a few treats to chill him out again ha ha!
He really is a massive wimp when it comes to stuff like that, you can touch him all over but go near him with any lotion/potion or (god forbid) needle and he'll jump around like you're trying to torture him
He's fine with me touching his schnoz when I've got nothing in my hand but approach him with sun cream or sudocreme and you know you're in for a bit of a fight, I think it's the smell he objects to.He's wily too, he won't take treats when he suspects there is an alterior motive
I tend to get a load of it on my hand get him by the headcollar and smear it all over as quick as I can then give him a few treats to chill him out again ha ha!He really is a massive wimp when it comes to stuff like that, you can touch him all over but go near him with any lotion/potion or (god forbid) needle and he'll jump around like you're trying to torture him
Hedwards
Well-Known Member
I use a stick rather than the cream... its has better water resistance, and you dont end up covered in it if they dont like it being put on like you do with the cream!
http://www.boots.com/en/Soltan-Active-Ultra-Resistance-Suncare-Protection-Stick-SPF50-25g_1206982/
my current mare doesnt mind one bit about having sunblock on, but previous horses, a large carrot in one hand, sun block in the other disguised in my hand, and stroke down their nose, always worked for me...
http://www.boots.com/en/Soltan-Active-Ultra-Resistance-Suncare-Protection-Stick-SPF50-25g_1206982/
my current mare doesnt mind one bit about having sunblock on, but previous horses, a large carrot in one hand, sun block in the other disguised in my hand, and stroke down their nose, always worked for me...
MerrySherryRider
Well-Known Member
My pink nosed one used to object too. I use Sudocrem because it's soothing if the nose is a bit sore.
My approach is to desensitize by rubbing around the muzzle with a dry hand first. My right hand placed further up his nose and left hand strokes his muzzle until he's relaxed. Then a small amount of cream is dabbed on and after a moment or two, after he's acclimatized to the smell, it's lightly rubbed in for as much as he'll accept without objecting too much.
He gets a treat at each stage until he's worked out that messing with his tender nose is fine because it equals a reward.
I'd generally apply cream at a time when he won't be eating or grazing until it's absorbed, as a sticky nose for a grazing animal isn't pleasant.
After a few sessions the treats diminish and stop, as by then the cream has become a non-event and hopefully, it'll be seen in the much the same way as picking out feet or putting a bridle on.
My approach is to desensitize by rubbing around the muzzle with a dry hand first. My right hand placed further up his nose and left hand strokes his muzzle until he's relaxed. Then a small amount of cream is dabbed on and after a moment or two, after he's acclimatized to the smell, it's lightly rubbed in for as much as he'll accept without objecting too much.
He gets a treat at each stage until he's worked out that messing with his tender nose is fine because it equals a reward.
I'd generally apply cream at a time when he won't be eating or grazing until it's absorbed, as a sticky nose for a grazing animal isn't pleasant.
After a few sessions the treats diminish and stop, as by then the cream has become a non-event and hopefully, it'll be seen in the much the same way as picking out feet or putting a bridle on.
Tia0513
Well-Known Member
I've just experienced this with my new horse... just used a spray suncream and did it quickly before she realised ! I think the treats thing would probably work too though if they are really obstinate about it.
! I think the treats thing would probably work too though if they are really obstinate about it.HardySoul1
Well-Known Member
Warm the sun cream (er in the sun or car!)
Get a large carrot
Offer carrot but keep hold of the end
Smear the cream over muzzle, using carrot to manoeuvre muzzle into desired position
Put a headcollar on if horse difficult
Get a large carrot
Offer carrot but keep hold of the end
Smear the cream over muzzle, using carrot to manoeuvre muzzle into desired position
Put a headcollar on if horse difficult
Spotsrock
Well-Known Member
Nivea does a spray which is very quiet and comes in factor 50 blur bottle yellow lid. It's oil based. My mare won't consider cream rubbed on nose but is fine with a quick spray of this stuff
WelshD
Well-Known Member
Someone on here posted a pic of a neat trick, they put some sunscreen on one half of a paper plate and when the horse was reaching for a treat (cant remember but think that was on the other half of the plate) they angled the plate up and smeared the sunscreen on