I'm sick of Mud!!!!

[Hugo10]

Hi all,
I'm just so fed up of my horse being covered in mud. I want to do some lunging work with him and my RI suggested that he wears brushing boots when I lunge him. I've just got him a really good pair of Woof ones but he just won't let me get the mud of his legs so I can put them on! I've tried hosing them and sponging them down but he's having none of it. I can brush them, which is fine when it's dry mud, but it's the horrible wet stuff. Even tried having someone hold up his front leg so he can't move round so much but he still does.

Any tips, or should I just send the boots back and lunge without? :confused:

[magicalmac]

Hi Hugo10 Dont know if this helps at all but I had a similar problem with my little shetland when I first got him, [was abused so not keen on being touched at all]. I could just about touch his body but no-way would he let me or farrier anywhere near his legs. Its a long and slow process but you just have to do a little bit each day and at the point hes not happy stop. Try with the hose on the ground and gentle move it towards his leg then remove it after one wetting, when he accepts this wet the leg for a bit longer. Not a quick fix Im afraid but with patience youll get there. When I first got little Tom [Jan 2007] he went beserk if you touched him especially his legs, by spring he was happy to be washed all over using a hose, now he positively loves it. Whats yours like with the farrier?

[Sammii]

Boots can wash! Stick them on him, and then when they're dry brush off excess mud and bang 'em in the washing machine!

I looove mud! :D

How happy does he look? He looks incredibly proud of himself!

http://img250.imageshack.us/img250/4995/dsc01044ge4.jpg

[eml]

I personally sacrifice boots when legs are muddy as there is too much chance of them rubbing, similarly I never brush anything but totally dry mud.

It will get better honest....I haven't actually seen clean legs for weeks!

[Hugo10]

Thanks for the replies. Hugo is great with the farrier, having his feet picked and is quite good grooming in general (apart from his face), it’s just the water he doesn’t like. I’ve only been trying to clean below the knee down but he’s having none of it! He’s happy to stand around in wet mud all day but just won’t let me get it off :mad:

I really don’t mind if the boots get dirty, but I don’t want to put them on muddy legs in case they cause rubbing.

Perhaps, until I overcome this I could just use over reach boots and sausage boots to help prevent injuries while lunging??? (haven't used these before)

Roll on Summer :rolleyes:

[jumpjaky]

*Day dreams about summer*
I realy want summer to come around quick i hate mud everywhere and flooding.

[carthorse]

Like eml I won't put boots on muddy legs because you end up with rubs & mud fever.

When you have the time I really would work on getting him used to having his legs hosed because if he ever cuts or injures them you'll need to be able to hose them in a civilised fashion. Is he always bad about having them cleaned? If it's a recent thing it may be worth persevering & getting them clean so you can check there isn't mudfever - it may be that they're sore & that's why he doesn't want you near them.

[Hugo10]

It has always been a problem. In the summer I use a bucket and sponge to wash him down after a long ride (he hates the hose altogether!) but he never stands still so I can do his legs :confused: It just gets a bit dangerous with him swinging his bum round at me

[Joyscarer]

How about letting him watch you hose down your wellies?

[Hugo10]

How about letting him watch you hose down your wellies?

When I do try and wash him down he sees me get soaked (I always end up wetter than he does :o) so he should know by now that it's not going to hurt him, but i guess anything is worth a go :D

[cute pony]

Hi, I know how you feel, take a look at my mud monster, in training of horse, a motivational thread! Mine is the grey, mud monster! If I had to brush and clean him all over I wouldn't have time to ride! I would always clean saddle, girth and bridle path and hose worst off legs(this alone take an hour!)I used to just ride when the weather was ok and I could brush all mud off etc. But due to wanting a fit pony and our horrid weather I'm going out rain, wind and shine. As for hosing, when my pony moves I carry on and move with him.

[tina1958]

I am very sick of mud also. If you read my other posts on various threads you'll see what I mean. This is the worst time of year for us horse owners.
Mud mud and more mud but hye presto, within another couple of months it will be gone as quick as it came (global warming prohibiting, nothings certain these days)

[Hugo10]

Hi, I know how you feel, take a look at my mud monster, in training of horse, a motivational thread! Mine is the grey, mud monster! If I had to brush and clean him all over I wouldn't have time to ride! I would always clean saddle, girth and bridle path and hose worst off legs(this alone take an hour!)I used to just ride when the weather was ok and I could brush all mud off etc. But due to wanting a fit pony and our horrid weather I'm going out rain, wind and shine. As for hosing, when my pony moves I carry on and move with him.

yes I always clean the mud off anywhere the tack touches, i.e, girth area and around his face, it's just his legs. I don't mind riding him when he's legs are muddy but I don't know whether I should lunge without brushing boots. I'm sure a lot of people do and he'd probably be fine, but I would hate for him to hurt himself . . . . you know what it's like when it comes to our horses :rolleyes:

[Hugo10]

Well, I tried to hose Hugo’s legs again tonight, and after quite a bit of perseverance I did manage to get MOST of the mud of his front legs so I’m well chuffed with that. He wouldn’t let me do his back ones but I didn’t want to do too much with him. I think I’m just going to do a little every other day with him and hopefully, in a couple of weeks we should be getting somewhere.

Thanks for all the advice :)

[Cochise]

Hard as rock and brown and crisp as hay here right now. Been the driest summer I can remember for many years. We've had a bit of rain this week, but don't think it'll really crack the drought.

[carthorse]

Well, I tried to hose Hugo’s legs again tonight, and after quite a bit of perseverance I did manage to get MOST of the mud of his front legs so I’m well chuffed with that. He wouldn’t let me do his back ones but I didn’t want to do too much with him. I think I’m just going to do a little every other day with him and hopefully, in a couple of weeks we should be getting somewhere.



Well done! Front legs are a really good start & for now you're far better to stop after doing the fronts - that's his reward for being such a good boy. I'm sure that with a bit of time & firm but kind persistance you'll overcome this problem :)

Personally I wouldn't lunge a shod horse without boots but I know lots of people do.