I
took advantage of the 30+ degree weather today to see how the horses will handle the hose and
spraying water on them. The theory being that the cool water will feel nicer if it's really hot out, so
theoretically the horses should accept the hose better. I caught all 4 of them and went to work. Jake was the easiest (he only moved away a few steps when I started the sprayer before settling down). He's also the easiest to apply fly spray to. He seems to love it - the others... not so much. Next was Gypsy, who trotted around me a bit, but then after some approach and retreat and stopping the sprayer when she stopped moving, she got the message. Plus I think she started to like the water! Skittles pulled back, then trotted around a bit. Eventually she stood still, but not calmly. Then she lowered her head
and was licking and chewing and relaxed. Lastly was IndyAnna. She went pretty snaky on me to start with (sorry no photos of that!). It took me a while just to get her to move forward without the hose on. She never really completely calmed down, although she did stand still for me eventually (I would stop the sprayer as soon as she stopped her feet). And once we were done, there was lots of licking and chewing. By the time I put Indy back though, Jake and Gypsy were already dry! And Skittles rolled in the dirt. By the end of it all, I think I was as wet as them!Attached are the photos of each of them, before and after they accepted the sprayer (in order: Jake, Gypsy, Skittles and Indy):
I 
took advantage of the 30+ degree weather today to see how the horses will handle the hose and 
spraying water on them. The theory being that the cool water will feel nicer if it's really hot out, so theoretically the horses should accept the hose better. I caught all 4 of them and went to work. Jake was the easiest (he only moved away a few steps when I started the sprayer before settling down). He's also the easiest to apply fly spray to. He seems to love it - the others... not so much. Next was Gypsy, who trotted around me a bit, but then after some approach and retreat and stopping the sprayer when she stopped moving, she got the message. Plus I think she started to like the water! Skittles pulled back, then trotted around a bit. Eventually she stood still, but not calmly. Then she lowered her head 
and was licking and chewing and relaxed. Lastly was IndyAnna. She went pretty snaky on me to start with (sorry no photos of that!). It took me a while just to get her to move forward without the hose on. She never really completely calmed down, although she did stand still for me eventually (I would stop the sprayer as soon as she stopped her feet). And once we were done, there was lots of licking and chewing. By the time I put Indy back though, Jake and Gypsy were already dry! And Skittles rolled in the dirt. By the end of it all, I think I was as wet as them!Attached are the photos of each of them, before and after they accepted the sprayer (in order: Jake, Gypsy, Skittles and Indy):
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