tips on bathing a baby for the first time?

[springer]

It just occurred to me that my almost 2 yr old filly has never officially been bathed. We're in Montana so the "bath" season is rather short. But I think the time has come! It's going to be close to 80 tomorrow. Note: I do not have hot water in my wash stall. Any suggestions for baby's first bath?

[Dazednconfused]

It just occurred to me that my almost 2 yr old filly has never officially been bathed. We're in Montana so the "bath" season is rather short. But I think the time has come! It's going to be close to 80 tomorrow. Note: I do not have hot water in my wash stall. Any suggestions for baby's first bath?

By never officially, do you mean really never been touched with water?

I would start with a sponge and warm water - even if you don't have hot water, you can always get warm water from a faucet or use one of those bucket heaters. I would really not suggest trying it with cold water for her first introduction to water ever, especially at 2 years old. And I would have two people there - one to hold and one to bathe. I'd give her sponge baths for a couple of times, read her reactions and if she's good, go slowly, start at her upper leg/shoulder area. Maybe for the first time just do as far as she's comfortable with (lots of horses that haven't been exposed to baths are touchy about their face and hind legs). If she won't let you do either one I'd come back another day to do it so that it remains a good experience for her. Especially if you take into consideration that a washrack is probably one of the most dangerous places to take a horse (water + cement and/or rubber mats + 2 year old that's never been bathed = :eek: ). I definitely would not tie her, either.

[springer]

Actually she has been lightly sponge bathed before, but never a full-out hosing- only hosed on her legs. She's not completely unfamiliar with a hose.

[Dazednconfused]

That's a relief - I think things could get very exciting (in a bad way!) with a 2 yo that'd never been touched with water/a hose before.

All the same, I think I would refamiliarize & refresh her memory with the sponge & water first and then use a hose the next day. Bathing is a lifelong thing they really have to learn so it pays to take it slowly and make it a good experience for them the first time around. I would say that the most dangerous horses I've ever handled (beyond a couple of just plain rank ones) were the ones that were not trustworthy in a washrack. So much can go wrong in so little time, and people tend to take it for granted.

[CanterQueen]

I use one of those instant hot water tea pots in my barn. Add it to a big bucket of cold water and it makes the temperature nice for introducing bathing.

I did what Dazed said -- hubby held my yearling and I did the sponging. We soaped him up, sponged and scrubbed, and hosed him down with the garden hose. He had happy feet, but did really well. Just go slowly.

[Penthilisea]

Hehehe I am planning to help my friend the next WARM rainy day. ;) How can filly protest the hose if she is in the rain?:D

[Nlevie]

I always spray my babies the 1st time in the summer when it's really hot and they've always come to love it. But I would agree that for the 1st time when it's not miserably hot out I would NOT bathe with cold water - I think their first experience should be positive ?
So for now I would sponge only and wait for that hot buggy weather to do the cold spray.

[mvp]

I like mine "ranch broke." On the ground, that means they stay planted, think first and run later, tolerate a lot and can be handled by one person.

In your position, I'd work by myself and go slow. I'd hold her, spend some time messing around with the hose/snake until she's quiet.

Then I'd turn on the snake-- no hissing nozzle or sharp spray, just water flowing out quietly. I'd start at a front leg and work around her and up until she's just about out of attention span.

I'd quit for a minute, stand around, maybe moving the snake some more. Then I'd drench a part of her body she already tolerated it well, expecting her to stand flat footed. When she did that, I'd quit.

At two, it doesn't matter if she can be bathed. But you are working on two other important skills--dealing with new situations and tolerating things she doesn't like. Time and well-planned sessions where you read her well will work well in the long run.

[Char]

If you've already hosed her legs before, you've already gotten your start. I always start with the front legs, below the knee, and work my way up and back from there. Being the first time, I wouldn't go past 1/2 way up her neck, but would definitely go over the chest, shoulder, back and hindquarters.

That method has always worked for me. Especially whomever said about doing the first one on a REALLY hot day in the summertime. It soon becomes "Love at first spray" :lol:

Good luck!

[Flash44]

You have a solar water heater! Fill up some buckets of water and leave them in the sun all day. They like warm water much better than cold water. I keep a 75 gallon trough of water about half full and sitting in the sun so I at least have lukewarm water for baths. Much better than the freezing cold hose.

[sid]

Didn't read all the posts, but this has always worked for me. It may take several days, and doing it a few times a day.

Pick the hottest day you can when the youngster is really not happy with the heat. Give a good grooming and apply a cold wet towel to them as you brush. Get the towel wetter and wetter and keep the hose running so they get used to the noise. Pay close attention to the chest as they usually love a good scrub there when it is hot.

Once they know this is a real pleasure (relieves them from discomfort) they'll start following you around on a hot day every time you see them with the hose (wink!).
'
Frankly, my problem in doing this is I can't allow my water tanks to fill unless I am present...they hose everything down hoping to get a splash on a hot day. Good luck!

[Foxtrot's]

Last summer when it was very hot, I sprayed my hose into a mist in the air for the dam. My little suckling colt came and stood under it for the relief - but he's Irish.