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  Discussion on First bath for yearling
Author Message
Member:
Danny

Posted on Monday, May 31, 2004 - 11:36 am:

We don't have a behavior problem yet. We just bought a yearling(the first untrained horse we have ever owned) who has never been bathed. I was wondering if any of you might recommend ways to get a youngster accustomed to being bathed so we don't do anything wrong that could cause behavior problems. The filly leads and is getting pretty good at being tied, but I have a feeling that if we tie her and then come at her with a hose she might freak out. I also get a feeling that if we just have her on a lead line and try to get her wet she will move away from the hose all over the place (would that be ok or not). Any suggestions?

Thanks...Debbie
Member:
Mrose

Posted on Monday, May 31, 2004 - 1:59 pm:

Debbi, by all means don't tie up the filly then try and give her a bath like she'd had one a hundred times before! I'm not sure what I do is "approved" by trainers, but this is what I've always done with our babies...and that's basically what she is.

Put a knot at the end of her lead rope so it won't slip out of your hand. Then, get a little stream of water flowing out of a hose and walk her up to it, let her sniff it and get used to it. When she's comfortable, pick up the hose, keeping it close to the ground and let her get used to that. (You probably will want to do this over several lessons) Then, let the small stream of water flow across her feet, then her lower legs, etc. You get the idea. Praise and pat her when she accepts the water. If she's comfortable at one place but not at a new place, go back to her comfort level and work from there again. (If she's really nervous about water you might even want to start with water in a bucket and a sponge.) Once she's comfortable with the small stream of water, you can increase the pressure level. It's a long process with some horses, but I've never had a problem once the horse went through this process. It helps if your water isn't terrible cold, too. Good luck!!

Member:
Kthorse

Posted on Monday, May 31, 2004 - 2:13 pm:

try this site
https://www.kbrhorse.net/tra/bath01.html
Member:
Dres

Posted on Monday, May 31, 2004 - 4:29 pm:

i start my young ones with a hose / water and just me holding the lead line.. i let them walk in a circle and keep the water only on the leg,... once they stop the water stops... i do this for all four legs... becareful.. don't get dizzy or tangled in the hose.. its a process but one that i have found that works without upsets.....

speaking of yearlings.. i just fully bathed my yearling, we are braiding her up and doing a sale video on her... she was splendid and loved the attention of the bath and braiding...

Ann
Member:
Christos

Posted on Monday, May 31, 2004 - 5:20 pm:

Danny,
A stream of water out of a hose looks pretty solid to a horse, as if you're holding a stick or something. When this "thing" you're holding touches the horse and the result is the shock of cold water, it will take you a long time to change her opinion about the procedure.
Do not let a stream out of the hose for the first several baths, especially not from any distance, even if the stream is not aimed at the horse.
I prefer to fold the end of the hose so to hold all flow, introduce the hose to the horse, then slowly release very little water over the front legs, shoulders and chest.
I think it is a better idea to introduce water after a workout, because she'll be less likely to be fresh, and she may even appreciate the cool effect.
Member:
Kimbrly3

Posted on Saturday, Mar 12, 2005 - 12:11 am:

Hello Danny,
The above advice is good.
I would also make sure your yearling knows the word, "whoa" real good too.
Take it slow and don't push past the yearlings "thresh hold" too much that she freaks. You lose controll at that point. Find the thresh hold of what he will tolerate and back off. Do it again and push it just a smidgen and back off. Repeat over and over... this moves the threshold closer and closer to your goal.
I'll give you a very sad stroy:
A young girl was trying to give her 3 yr. old mare a bath. The mare wouldn't stand still so the girl lost her temper. She would jerk and jerk and jerk and the mare would fly backwards trying to get away from the jerking. At one point, when she moved the girl started jerking again. The mare jumped sidesways and up in the flower bed. The flower bed was lined with railroad ties with two feet decorative fence. This mare landed right on that railroad tie and puntured her stomach. We all ended up taking turns holding her intenstines in while the vet was on his way. Because of the contamination of the stomach, they chose to put the mare down.
I was just 15 when I wittnessed that. I learned something from someone elses horrible mistake and maybe you too can gleam something from it.
Good luck!
Kim
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