Comments on: Tips for Bathing Your Horse

By: Frances

Frances — Sun, 29 Jun 2014 21:38:39 +0000

hey roger, sorry this is rather late, I know it has been a while since you posted here.
I might have an idea that could help. In your comment you mentioned that you could not even rub fly spray or water on her, first you need to desensitize her to rags. If you have no trouble with grooming after you are done bunch a rag together and rub it over her body, be careful around especially ticklish area such as the stomach. Work your way to where you can rub the rag any where and then gently dampen the rag and work up from there.
Another thing you can try is gaining her trust, she was neglected and needs a strong leader to show her that that is not going to happen again. work on lots of ground work and vocal commands and, if she lets you, work on some under saddle maneuvers, soon she will learn to trust your judgment and allow you to introduce scary things like a bath.
final suggestion, try introduce her to scary object like small plastic bags and things like that, once she gets used to things like that, bathing will be much easier.
hope this helps!

By: roger

roger — Fri, 25 Apr 2014 20:51:01 +0000

hello, i liked your artical on bathing a horse BUT; i have an ARABIAN MARE THAT IS 17 YRS. OLD AND I RESCUED HER FROM A NEIGHBOR THAT BARELY FED HER LET ALONE BATHED HER.. ; MY PROBLEM IS THAT I CAN NOT EVEN WASH HER WITH A WARM CLOTH OR ANYTHING AT ALL WITH OUT HER TRYING TO KILL ME OR HERSELF..SHE IS ABSOLUTELY TERRIFIED OF WATER NO MATER HOW I TRY TO WASH OR BATHE HER….DO YOU OR ANY OF YOUR READERS HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS AS TO HOW I CAN HANDLE THIS SITUATION? I’VE TRIED EVERYTHING THAT I CAN THINK OF ! I EVEN LEFT HER OUT IN THE RAIN TO SHOW HER THAT THE WATER IS NOT GOING TO HURT HER AND STILL, I CANT GET HER TO LET ME WASH HER!… I CANT EVEN SPRAY OR WIPE ON A FLY DETERRENT TO KEEP THE FLYS OFF HER WITHOUT A TREMENDOUS FIGHT….PLEASE HELP IF YOU CAN!!!THANK YOU ROGER

By: Kylie

Kylie — Sun, 18 Aug 2013 15:14:42 +0000

This will be very helpful!!!

By: jennifer

jennifer — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 19:27:06 +0000

cool article!ilove it!im gonna use those awesome tips!im looking forward to summer when i can wash my horse, fred more often on really hot days! thanks for the info!

By: Diane

Diane — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 12:34:34 +0000

Hi Reagan, you need to get your horse accustomed to “snake” like things. Begin to drag rope, short pieces of hose, lounge line near and around him to de-sensitize him. Always you are calm amd have treats and lots of praise so that he will hopefully associate ground movement with less fear.
It works for my guys. Good luck!

By: Reagan

Reagan — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 11:06:48 +0000

My 16 yr old QH gelding “Boogie” Likes baths but when I move the hose he freaks out!! And he hates it when I Spray his face.
Anybody have an idea?
Reagan

By: B.L. K.

B.L. K. — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 06:27:47 +0000

My horses like to squirt the hose at each other, or if I spray it in the air, they like to stand under it….specially if it is HOT out….but they hate baths…go figure.

By: Ashley

Ashley — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 19:26:41 +0000

My horse hated baths! so I decided to take her out in the yard and bathe her on a hot day. She didn’t care about the water while she was eating the grass. Now I have someone hold her while I bathe her and she eats grass with no worries!

By: Cutch

Cutch — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 08:51:22 +0000

I use a product called Waterboy you can see it on http://www.waterboy.ie its is so easy to use and you can bring it every where, just fit it into your trailer or keep it in the barn.
Cutch

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 07:12:21 +0000

I just got a Quarter horse.And she dosn’t really like a bath i’ll trie these tips and tell if they work.