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RE: [RC] bathing problems - Jim HollandNot all, but most horses have to become "accustomed" to this. It's not a natural thing for them, especially using a spray nozzle under pressure. At 14, she may have had some bad experiences with someone just spraying her in the face from a distance. This is NOT the way to teach your horse to handle this. When I got Magic, there was no way he was going to stand still for bathing ANY of his body, much less wash his face with a hose! Now, he loves a bath and will just stand there unrestrained with his head down and the water pouring over his face in sheer pleasure! I can spray his head all over, even around his ears and he just stands there with his head down. First, teach your horse to lower his head on poll pressure. Teach it WELL. If you don't know how to do this, go to: http://www.seraonline.org/Training/Training%20For%20Endurance.htm Article 3 has what you need to know. It also helps if you have taught your horse to "WAIT"...park her feet. Be sure your horse will allow you to handle her head and ears without the water with her head down. Article 8 has an example. Once you have done this, find a way to wash your horse with WARM water. It makes all the difference. Would you like to be sprayed with cold water? Do not use a hose with a spray nozzle. Find an old piece of hose and cut the end off, preferably at a 45 degree angle. Or make a short piece and attach it to the end of your regular hose. Objective is to have a hose end without ANYTHING on the end...just a bare piece of hose. Turn the water pressure down to where you barely have a trickle of warm water. Use that and your HAND for the bath. Put the water from the hose on the back of your HAND, not the horse. You are basically "wet rubbing" the horse and letting the warm water flow over her skin...all over. Ask for a head drop and rub her neck and withers with the water/hand. Work toward her head. When you approach her head, if she objects, move quickly away, ask for a head drop, then try again. Be patient. A little more each day. It make take you a few days, a few weeks, or a few months, but eventually she will gradually become used to this. You can move to one of the multi-spray nozzles with a "shower" setting around her head as she gets better. Good Luck! Jim, Sun of Dimanche+, and Mahada Magic (Who both LOVE a warm water bath...especially around those sweaty, itchy ears and chin!) -----Original Message----- From: ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ridecamp- owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Ridecamp Guest Sent: Sunday, September 26, 2004 3:23 PM To: ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [RC] bathing problems Please Reply to: sue sue_jamaica@xxxxxxxxx or ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ========================================== I have a 14 yearold NSH mare who doesen't mind having a bath,however she won't let me get near her face with a sponge or hose.Do most horses have a problem with water around their face? I've seen race horses that don't mind it done to them. What can I do to wash her face but not freak her out? =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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