Water problems

[horsey1]

Hi my hoss has a problem with water he dodges puddles and wont go through them unless he has to also the hose I cant get near him with that at all has anyone had the same problems and how did you fix it

[momofsix]

Yes, my 11 year old, Sauvy, has the same problem. I actually spent quite some time yesterday trying to correct. One of the pastures at my boarding stable was flooded to irrigate it and I took her in there since I knew she was afraid of puddles. I walked her through it with me on the ground first. Then I had her follow our other horse through puddles (my 7 year old mare has no water issues, she loves swimming in a stream). However, when I tried with me on her back on my own, she still backed up and I had to tap her with my crop. Once she went through, I praised her lots. I guess I will just keep trying to desensitize her. My husband said he saw on Clinton Andersen that you should ride them in large circles edging closer and closer to the water, and eventually through the water for a few paces. I think I will try that next. I would love to hear other ideas.

[bexj]

I would also be interested to hear replies, as I have the sam e problem with my mare. I can just about get her to step in a puddle at the yard now, but any moving water is definitely a no-no. She will back up and spin rapidly if she even hears it nearby. I wish she could talk to find out what happened.......

Anyway, here is a pic of moo having a splash in the puddle - this took about 2 days work to get this far!!! And look how deep it is!

[Styric]

About the hose...

Well, I cheated. He was asinine about it until about late summer when it was SUPER hot out and I took him over to the rack. He acted the idiot, until I got him with the hose once and then he realized it felt really good in the heat.

Never had a problem since.

He's the same with fly spray. He acted the fool with it until the flies were really bad, I sprayed him and he figured out that spray = less flies bothering him. He now stops dead still when I grab the fly spray and practically begs for it. He's ticklish ;)