Hosing legs

[K8E]

Copper who will be 4 is the summer is terrified when you hose his back legs.

He isnt scared of the hose or of the water. He is fine when you hose his front legs but as soon as you move to his back legs he starts freak out.

I was wondering if anyone has any tips i could use to get him used to it.

Thanks in advance

[My Crazy Clan]

I would use a bucket and sponge, lift up his legs and wipe, he sounds like my sisco, I would rather not upset them to be honest.

[cocopops]

I would use a watering csn, and see if its the feel of the water, or the actual hosepipe, if he still freaks, its the water running down his back legs, if no tthen its the actual pipe

[helena]

It might be because he can't see what you are doing when you get to his back legs? I had a horse that was terrified of being washed on his legs, I eventually got him round by doing a tiny bit each day, starting with the water on his hooves, then moving a couple of inches up the leg, then rewarding and stopping.

The next day I'd do the same again, gradually moving up his legs. Each time I would take it very slowly and make sure he was aware of what I was going to do.

If you think he is really too scared, or you are going to be in danger, I would stick to a bucket and sponge.

[BEX101]

Patience, just hose his hooves or even just near his feet untill he's comfortable with that an work your way up a bit at a time. Hosing back legs tends to splash more because your hanging on to the head and hosing from a distance. They are also more sesitive on the inside of their thighs and under the stomach and may not like being splashed there.
If it turns out he's really scared of the hose sponge his legs down but have a cut of piece of hose with you. eventually (hopefully) he will become used to it.

[rozbug]

I'm nearly getting there! I have nearly cracked it, I put his head in some feed, that always works! NOW, i can nearly do it without fuss (2 years Later LOL) without a bribe!!

[K8E]

Thank you everyone for your advice

I kind of knew what to do with him but wanted to see other peoples opinions

x x

[Welly]

Is he happy about you handling his hind legs in general or does that bother him too?
Maybe spend as much of your grooming time as you can just fiddling with his back legs, touching them with all sorts of things other than the brushes he is used to - just to let him feel different sensations on his legs and then take it from there.. Just a thought - does he let you touch his back legs with the hose if its turned off or does this still get a reaction from him?xx