My horse hates mud. How can I make him get over it?

Question

Any time I try to get him to go into the washracks, if there is any mud he just refuses to follow me. It's so annoying.

Answer 1

you dont need to wash him in mud, or wipe him down with it, just walk him thru a mud puddle somewhere else make one if you have too, get him to go thru it till it doesnt bother him anymore, or try tying him in a dry spot and wetting the ground around him and then let him stand in the mud while you brush him or whatever, where mucking boots if you have them so you can be up in the mud with him condition him to the mud nomatter where it is then work on the mud in the rack.... is he ok in the rack any other time except if theres mud??? i was wondering if it could be the rack and not the mud.... i had a horse who just was terrified of the washrack... is the concrete texturized with grooves or something so its not slippery when wet??? or clean the mud away then put him in the rack then let the mud run down while he is in the rack so he is forced to stand there with it.... it should be fairly easy to get him to overcome his fear of mud they see things differently than we do literally so who knows what he see's when he's looking at the mud!!! just have patience with him and keep on de-sensitizing him with the mud, but you dont have to rub it all over him just make him stand in it after all that is what you are trying to accomplish, making him ok with standing in mud in the rack not bathing him in mud!!! good luck and be patient with him he will get it if you show him the way!!!!

Answer 2

I would advise you to make a large area muddy with the hose, do it where you have room to lunge your horse. After you have a nice muddy spot put halter and a 8-12 foot lead rope on the horse and lead him over to the mud hole you just made. The muddy area should be long enough to so you can stand at the edge in the middle and it will extend as far as the lead rope will reach in either direction. When you take the horse over have a lunge whip with you, one that is about 5 foot long.

After you are in position ask him to lunge around you at any speed he cares to go. He will come up to the mud and stop. Let him look at it for a bit, and then ask him to lunge in the other direction. He will cone back up to it and stop again. Do this several times, then when he stop put some pressure on him with the whip by slapping the ground behind him. As soon as he makes any movement towage the mud stop slapping, and let him stand where he is for a second or two, then ask him to go the other way, and put pressure on him to go into the mud with the whip. If the muddy area is not wide enough he will try to jump over it, he will try to doge it by going around it, but is you keep asking, and release your pressure every time he makes a effort to step in the mud he will with in an hour or so be standing in the mud. Repeat this exercise as many day as it takes for him to get over his distaste of mud.

Good luck,
CC

Answer 3

First off let me say that I am sorry that some people feel the need to be RUDE AND DISGUSTING!

How does he do with mud outside? If it is just the wash rack then it probably isn't worth forcing the issue, just rinse it out before you take him in there. If it is everywhere then you need to get him around it as much as possible. Put it on your hands and let him sniff it, put it on the ground by his feet, etc. I had a TB gelding that was terrified of leaves on the ground so I feel your pain with the stupid fears. :-) Good luck!

Answer 4

You can always blindfold him, but the best way is to get him used to mud. Tie him in a dry spot he doesn't associate with getting washed and sluice him gently down. Wipe the mud up his legs and wash it off several times. Do it in a different place every day, if possible. If not, just alternate where you do it. Give him a mudbath every now and then (wear a bathing suit!). Lead him back and forth through muddy spots once you can get him to step into the mud and keep going. Don't force or he will balk for a longer time. Make him stand in it for twenty minutes if you have to once you start leading him in and out. Never let him know when you are going to stop in the mud or just keep going.

Answer 5

I would suggest having a crop in your hand to tap his behind to encourage him to come. I had the same problem too. Try to give him a treat or 2. If not try some sweet feed.

Also putting the shank around his bum and pull might work. Try anything you can think of.

Pulling and shoving will make him more nervous.

Best of luck with you little fella and I hope this can help you a little.

Answer 6

Horses do not commonly like puddles and so on as they are able to't tell how deep the water is. have you ever tried finest him by way of water mutually as dragging your ft so he can see it extremely is not hurting you? Or making him heavily persist with a horse which will walk by way of it so he can not leap? (ideally a horse that doesn't recommendations others top in the back of them). He could desire to persist with.

Answer 7

Dont give in. Put mud in the rack if there isnt any and just like trailer training walk him in and out until he doesnt flinch at it.

Answer 8

When horses refuse forward motion, no matter if its mud or a horse eating lion, you always push from behind instead of pulling from the head.

You need to work with your horse ahead of time, so he realizes the forward command you are requesting however.

I just use the cotton leadrope hooked to my halter.

I ask the mule to walk forward (kiss) and he refuses, I work him by disengaging his hips. Both sides. I ask him to walk around me, with me choosing his direction at all times. If he refuses to walk around me, I pop the lead rope on his butt and you want to make it known that you popped him. So not a light tap.

Eventually, you just come at their rear with a swinging leadrope and they move forward. It never does any good to get into a pulling match with an animal, for one, it makes them claustrophobic and 2, they can so drag you right through the mud in reverse. If you push them from behind, you take their reverse out if you train them correctly.

If they ever move backwards while I am asking them for forward movement, they get worked even harder for blowing off my cues.

There are times, such as my donkey, its kiss-one step, kiss-one step through a scary object or scenario, but he gives me forward motion when requested and that is what you are striving for.

Answer 9

Lucky you! My grey won't stay out of the mud :)

I agree with the person right above me.

Answer 10

wow a horse who hates mud...there must be some pros to that....hmmmmm
i would walk him through it while feeding him...make it pleasant