started bathing but a question

[western]

Well today it was auround 80 degress so i took my horse out and started to get him used to it . Well i dont know if he likes it or not because when i tryed to put water on him he would move from side to side and i couldnt get near him. First i rubbed the hose on his neck and on his feet just to at least shown him that it woulnt hurt him then i managed to get at least bathed half way . I am just starting with water no shampoo or anything. How can i get him to calm down more and how was some of your first bathings was it worse then mine ? How long will it take until he gets used to the water and hose? I am not hardly using a whole lot of pressure because i couldnt yet. Not yet am i am going to sart with the back end or anything because he kicked out two times. I really want him to get used to bathing and to teach him that i wont hurt him. Any tips that i can Use ?

[sallym]

We had our first bathtime of the year on Saturday. No 80 degrees for us over here!

Just take it slow. Tie him up with a haynet as a treat and to keep him occupied. Run the hose near him so he gets used to the sound (not too high pressure). Start with the feet and legs working upwards. Then the back, neck and rump. Then mane and tail. Tickly bits last, once the rest of him is wet. I don't spray my horse's face. She doesn't like it and neither would I. I just use a sponge. You might have to build all this up gradually over a number of sessions, depending on how he reacts.

Good luck!

Best wishes

SallyM

[IrisSilverMoon]

if you have a bathing area with cross-ties that's really helpful, some horses just plain don't like water and it's a pain to do anything around them with it.

The horse I ride, Jay, does not like water, it's super hard ot bath him cause he just dances around the whole time, but the cross ties help a whole lot because there's only so far he can go and i can pay attention to where he's going and know where he could potentially squish me against the wall.

[Tootsie4U]

Tell him its ok. I've found that Bonfire understands my tones of voice. I've taught him that Im happy with his actions by making a really high pitched thrilly noise. When we're training and he does something good, I use this voice and he really REALLY responds to it. When he's upset, I use a calming soothing tone that also works wonders on him.

So with this in mind; I gave him his first bath of the season. He was scared of the water but I reverted back to my voice tones, told him in the exact same calming tone that things were ok. Then as he learned to accept the water on him, I changed the tone over to the high pitched thrilly one and by the end of it we were both playing in the water (him picking up the hose and tossing it around and me laughing out loud). Worked for me..... Good luck

[western]

I have no cross ties , i was trying to calm him with my voice but that wasent working as well . I was just holding him with a lead rope and a halter. I wont really worry yet since its his first time.

[Piaffe]

Try using luke warm water in a bucket. hoses to horses look like snakes and some horses won't go near hoses.

Have the hose lying around to top up your bucket so he gets used to seeing it, but keep the water warm ish. On hot days especially, cold water on warm muscles can be quite shocking for anyone!! - if the water is luke warm, normally at 'body temperature' it will still cool off your horse and he will probably be grateful for a sponge bath without the cold shock to his muscles!!

[western]

so you put the hose ontop of a bucket ?

[galadriel]

"Top up" means refilling.

Silly Brits :)

[western]

sorry i misread