Spray Bottle
Posted on Friday, May 7th, 2010 at 5:12 amIdeas for 2 year old colt afraid of spray bottle?
I've tried everything I can think of to help my colt get over his fear of the spray bottle, and the hose. Nothing has worked so far. I use Parrelli training, and these methods (like advance-retreat etc.) have worked for my other horses and their various issues. Any ideas? I would like to someday give him a bath or put Show Sheen on him without him thinking I am trying to kill him!
There's no way for a horse to get over his fears without facing them. If you spray him and he freaks out and the stimulus (spray bottle / water hose) is taken away for even a couple of seconds, he associates getting away with something positive. You have to make him realize that tolerating the water hose or spray bottle IS a positive experience. It may be hard, but you have to FORCE him to tolerate the water hose. (You can force a horse to change his mind without using necessarily "forceful" means) If you don't make him, he will always opt out of the situation because what's the use for him to allow himself to be stressed?
Here's what I would do:
I would put him in a small enclosure, but not one that is dangerous for you to be in as well. Maybe a pen the size of 3 stalls. Make sure that it is solid enough that he probablly will not be successful at escaping. Then put a halter and long lead line on him so you have some control over his movements. I would start with the water hose, because you don't have to get so close for it to reach him. This way you can keep spraying him even if he jumps around, and tries to get away. I would try to spray him on the shoulder because that is a neutral zone and doesn't make him think you want him to move forward or backward. Keep spraying and stay very calm. Don't holler at him, stare him in the eye, or make a big deal out of it. Just act as if nothing changed even if he is making a big deal out of it. This way he is not getting reinforcement from you for his actions. Eventually he will stand still, even for 3 seconds. When he relaxes, then you can take the stimulus (water hose) away and praise him. DO NOT take it away until he does relax, otherwise you will be teaching him to be bad. You will have to repeat this MANY MANY times. Each time he should learn to stand still a little longer before you take the water hose away and praise him. Eventually he will decide that all the fuss isn't worth it because you are just going to keep spraying him until he settles down and acts normal. After a while he will learn that being calm is a lot more fun than acting up. Keep in mind that spraying him on the other side, or spraying him in new areas might pose a new battle even after he tolerates the same thing on the other side.
This method has worked for me many many times. I have a horse training business and all I do is start green horses. If you do it right, it will work for you too. The horse has to learn to control his reactions and think. If his initial choice of action doesn't pay off, he will have to think of something else to releive the stress/ pressure that is applied. You are the one that will decide which of HIS actions (not YOUR actions)are going to cause him the least stress. And in this case, he must be trained to learn that relaxing is so much more less stressful even if he is getting wet!.
When you and him learn how to communicate, then I would try the spray bottle. This is a little harder to do since it is easier for him to get away from it. But the same concept applies.
Good luck with your colt.
"Be calm and assertive",
Adrienne
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