Bath time

katylynn06 · 05-01-2006, 09:57 AM

How do I desensitize our white yearling to being bathed or to the hose. He is white and right now is filthy.

Launa · 05-01-2006, 10:07 AM

I started with Radar's feet and worked my way up.

Do not tie him to anything. Not safe for you or the yearling.

Hold on to the lead rope and start with his feet. If he moves back, move back with him. Follow him until he stops and relaxes and accepts the water on his feet. Then move up the legs, wait until he accepts that, do his back and finally his head. I would take my time for his firts one. This worked for Radar and by the time we were finished he had the end of the hose in his mouth and was drinking water from it.

(He's a bit strange anyway though

)

Blondehorse · 05-01-2006, 10:11 AM

I posted this in reply to someone else's question about bathing. Hope it helps!

Clinton Anderson has a good method to get your horse used to being bathed. It's in an article in Horse & Rider.
Ideally, you should do this on a warm day, and work your pony until he is hot and sweaty. That way, the water will feel good to him once he is not so terrified of it.
Take your pony into an inclosed area--round pen, paddock, etc, and take your hose with you. Hold your pony, don't tie him up. Just get him used to a stream of water being sprayed on the ground beside him, don't squirt him. Keep the stream of water as far away as neccesary to keep him from becoming overly concerned. If he moves around, don't try to stop him, move with him. Just keep bumping his lead to keep his head turned toward you. As soon as he pauses or shows any other sign of relaxation--lowering his head, sighing, blinking, chewing--move the water away to reward him. Repeat this process, slowly moving the stream closer and closer until he stands quietly while you spray the ground all around him.
Once he is good with that, stand at a 45-degree angle to his shoulder, so you will be out of the way should he strike out. Direct a soft stream of water toward his withers, NOT his legs. Horse's legs are very sensitive, and that is why many of them dislike having their legs sprayed. When he backs away, just move with him, keeping the water on him, and his head tipped toward you. Remember, if you remove the water when he moves away, you are teaching him that he can run away, and the water will go away. Once he stands quietly for the water on his withers, repeat the process with his back, hindquarters, neck, hind legs, and front legs, in that order. Then move to his other side and go through the entire process again.
Make sure to get him very comfortable with the water being sprayed all around him before you ever spray him! Otherwise, he will freak out when you go to wet his withers, and you will not be able to move with him.
Good luck!!

katylynn06 · 05-01-2006, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Launa

I started with Radar's feet and worked my way up.

Do not tie him to anything. Not safe for you or the yearling.

Hold on to the lead rope and start with his feet. If he moves back, move back with him. Follow him until he stops and relaxes and accepts the water on his feet. Then move up the legs, wait until he accepts that, do his back and finally his head. I would take my time for his firts one. This worked for Radar and by the time we were finished he had the end of the hose in his mouth and was drinking water from it.

(He's a bit strange anyway though

)

Would I do the same for desensitizing him to a spray bottle for fly spray? He doesn't like the spray and neither does my 17 yr old mare.

Launa · 05-01-2006, 02:12 PM

The old mare that I adopted some time ago hates to be sprayed also!

She still doesn't like it but will now tolerate it.

I put her in a small arena and sprayed her. I sprayed around her first, she hated even the sound of it. Then I sprayed her along her side. When she would run off I would follow her and keep spraying until she stopped. Then I would stop spraying and pet her. So she's better. She absolutely still will not let me spray her around her head.

I don't really like to do that anyway with any of my horses. I don't want anything to get in their eyes. Right or wrong, that's just me. I kind of have given into her whims (shame on me). I put the fly spray on a cloth and rub it lightly over her. She still will even flinch to the sound of the spray. When I began to use spray on Radar, I did it much like what I did with the shower/bath. The Clint Anderson advice above is excellent. I have always started around their feet but......maybe starting else where would be better.

imacowgirl2 · 05-02-2006, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by katylynn06

Would I do the same for desensitizing him to a spray bottle for fly spray? He doesn't like the spray and neither does my 17 yr old mare.

For spray bottle (and sometimes with hose too) we start at the shoulder ...its a lot easier when you have a horse dancing around you to spray at that level than it is to spray at the legs. Its also easier to keep their head turned in to keep them from running off when you are working at shoulder level as opposed to leg level. The shoulder is also less sensitive, so the horses sometimes calm down faster when you spray at the shoulder.

Buckshot · 05-02-2006, 08:08 AM

Clinton Anderson's method that Blondehorse posted is a good way.

Dandy_Brush · 05-03-2006, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Launa

I started with Radar's feet and worked my way up.

Do not tie him to anything. Not safe for you or the yearling.

Hold on to the lead rope and start with his feet. If he moves back, move back with him. Follow him until he stops and relaxes and accepts the water on his feet. Then move up the legs, wait until he accepts that, do his back and finally his head. I would take my time for his firts one. This worked for Radar and by the time we were finished he had the end of the hose in his mouth and was drinking water from it.

(He's a bit strange anyway though

)

I second this.
Introduce it slowly, and dont give up if he keeps backing up

Good luck

Appylvr · 05-03-2006, 10:49 AM

I agree with Launa... that is how I got my Palomino colt used to bathing and he absolutely loves bath time now. He loves to drink from the hose too...

The only thing I felt I should add though was you should do this with two people. Someone to hold the horse and the other with the hose. It's pretty difficult trying to hold a horse still and get it wet...

To get them used to the fly spray... try holding it in front of them, not pointing at them (just use a spray bottle with water though, much cheaper) and spray it away from them. That way they can start getting used to the noise of it, when they're used to that then try doing it towards them until they stop jerking and flinching. You will probably have to do their whole body to get used to it. Then make sure whenever you do spray them you only do it with a halter on, so they never think they can run away from you. Then you can get them to the point where you can just spray them without a halter on.

05-01-2006, 09:57 AM	#1
katylynn06 Senior Member+ Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: AR Posts: 1,647 Images: 189 Blog Entries: 29	Bath time How do I desensitize our white yearling to being bathed or to the hose. He is white and right now is filthy. __________________ Member of the 20lb club. 142lbs, goal lose 20lbs Ahhhh the smell of a horse. Who could resist. Proud Mom of a United States Marine

05-01-2006, 10:11 AM	#3
Blondehorse Senior Member+ Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 910 Images: 184 Blog Entries: 7	I posted this in reply to someone else's question about bathing. Hope it helps! Clinton Anderson has a good method to get your horse used to being bathed. It's in an article in Horse & Rider. Ideally, you should do this on a warm day, and work your pony until he is hot and sweaty. That way, the water will feel good to him once he is not so terrified of it. Take your pony into an inclosed area--round pen, paddock, etc, and take your hose with you. Hold your pony, don't tie him up. Just get him used to a stream of water being sprayed on the ground beside him, don't squirt him. Keep the stream of water as far away as neccesary to keep him from becoming overly concerned. If he moves around, don't try to stop him, move with him. Just keep bumping his lead to keep his head turned toward you. As soon as he pauses or shows any other sign of relaxation--lowering his head, sighing, blinking, chewing--move the water away to reward him. Repeat this process, slowly moving the stream closer and closer until he stands quietly while you spray the ground all around him. Once he is good with that, stand at a 45-degree angle to his shoulder, so you will be out of the way should he strike out. Direct a soft stream of water toward his withers, NOT his legs. Horse's legs are very sensitive, and that is why many of them dislike having their legs sprayed. When he backs away, just move with him, keeping the water on him, and his head tipped toward you. Remember, if you remove the water when he moves away, you are teaching him that he can run away, and the water will go away. Once he stands quietly for the water on his withers, repeat the process with his back, hindquarters, neck, hind legs, and front legs, in that order. Then move to his other side and go through the entire process again. Make sure to get him very comfortable with the water being sprayed all around him before you ever spray him! Otherwise, he will freak out when you go to wet his withers, and you will not be able to move with him. Good luck!! __________________ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSciabBYJJ8 ~~~~~~~~~~~ not all who wander are lost

05-03-2006, 10:49 AM	#9
Appylvr Senior Member+ Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: California Posts: 7,007 Images: 307	I agree with Launa... that is how I got my Palomino colt used to bathing and he absolutely loves bath time now. He loves to drink from the hose too... The only thing I felt I should add though was you should do this with two people. Someone to hold the horse and the other with the hose. It's pretty difficult trying to hold a horse still and get it wet... To get them used to the fly spray... try holding it in front of them, not pointing at them (just use a spray bottle with water though, much cheaper) and spray it away from them. That way they can start getting used to the noise of it, when they're used to that then try doing it towards them until they stop jerking and flinching. You will probably have to do their whole body to get used to it. Then make sure whenever you do spray them you only do it with a halter on, so they never think they can run away from you. Then you can get them to the point where you can just spray them without a halter on. __________________ ~Tonya~ Teak~Coco~Baylee~Dolly~Rosie~Shilo~Jazzy A solitary ride through the bush is more beneficial than six months with the best psychiatrist

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05-01-2006, 10:07 AM	#2
Launa Senior Member+ Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Missouri Posts: 3,530 Images: 693 Blog Entries: 87	I started with Radar's feet and worked my way up. Do not tie him to anything. Not safe for you or the yearling. Hold on to the lead rope and start with his feet. If he moves back, move back with him. Follow him until he stops and relaxes and accepts the water on his feet. Then move up the legs, wait until he accepts that, do his back and finally his head. I would take my time for his firts one. This worked for Radar and by the time we were finished he had the end of the hose in his mouth and was drinking water from it. (He's a bit strange anyway though )

05-01-2006, 02:12 PM	#5
Launa Senior Member+ Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Missouri Posts: 3,530 Images: 693 Blog Entries: 87	The old mare that I adopted some time ago hates to be sprayed also! She still doesn't like it but will now tolerate it. I put her in a small arena and sprayed her. I sprayed around her first, she hated even the sound of it. Then I sprayed her along her side. When she would run off I would follow her and keep spraying until she stopped. Then I would stop spraying and pet her. So she's better. She absolutely still will not let me spray her around her head. I don't really like to do that anyway with any of my horses. I don't want anything to get in their eyes. Right or wrong, that's just me. I kind of have given into her whims (shame on me). I put the fly spray on a cloth and rub it lightly over her. She still will even flinch to the sound of the spray. When I began to use spray on Radar, I did it much like what I did with the shower/bath. The Clint Anderson advice above is excellent. I have always started around their feet but......maybe starting else where would be better.

05-02-2006, 08:08 AM	#7
Buckshot Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Michiana Posts: 5,425 Images: 26 Blog Entries: 19	Clinton Anderson's method that Blondehorse posted is a good way.