How to Teach an Adult Horse to be Sprayed With Fly Spray

While training a horse a new skill or a new trick can be a positive and rewarding experience, training an adult horse to overcome a fear or bad habit can prove to be somewhat more difficult. To erase a bad behavior as opposed to teaching a new one, a significant amount of patience and moderation must be used. Below, learn some helpful tips on how to teach an adult horse to overcome the common discomfort of being sprayed with fly spray.Have an extra person help you with this task forsafety spotting so you will not be accidentallykicked by a skittish horse.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Fly Spray in a Spray Bottle with Adjustable Nozzle
• Horse Halter
• Cross-Ties or Sturdy Lead
• Small Towel or Sponge
• Water Hose

Teaching a Horse to be Sprayed with Fly Spray

1. Secure the area that you will be working in before you begin helping the horse become comfortable with being fly sprayed. This means finding either a cleared area of the hallway or a protected area outside. Avoid wide open spaces, as this could cause the horse to become uneasy and attempt to flee. If you are securing the horse with a lead rope, be sure to have a second person hold the horse while you apply the fly spray. A cleared-out wash rack or tack up area would also be ideal, where the horse can be secured with cross ties on both sides of the halter.

2. Observe the horse. If an adult horse is showing reluctance to be sprayed with fly spray, it is more than likely either the sound of the spray bottle, the shock of the liquid hitting his skin, or the unusual smell of the fly spray that is causing the discomfort for him. There are steps that can be taken to help the horse become more comfortable with each of these issues. To help with the sound of the spray bottle, be sure to use a brand new bottle that has been tested beforehand for functionality. To help with the unexpected shock of the spray on the horse's coat, try getting them used to the feel of a hose beforehand. If they are comfortable with being washed regularly, then the feel of the fly spray will begin to feel less threatening. You could also try misting a dry sponge or towel with fly spray and then applying it to the horse's coat. To help with the smell, try filling a similar spray bottle with plain water and for a few days, just spray the horse with the water. Once they get used to the sound and feel of the spray, the smell is less likely to startle them.

3. Notice if your horse is sensitive. He might be sensitive to being sprayed on the sensitive areas of their head, ears, and legs. These are the areas that should be addressed with the most care and caution. Apply the fly spray to a "spooky" horse's legs with a dry towel or sponge, as mentioned in the previous step. The same method could be used for the ears and face, or the fly spray could be sprayed on your hand first and then applied to the sensitive areas, which has proved with many horses to be the least threatening. Be sure to refer to the safety instructions of a particular spray. Non-toxic and organic fly sprays are available in many tack stores and online.

Tips & Warnings

• Horses are always more comfortable when they are around other horses, so consider having a third person hold a calm partner horse within sight of the horse being trained or sprayed.
• Be careful of the hooves of the horse while it is being sprayed. Usually when a horse is being restrained while feeling uncomfortable about something, they will repeatedly try and move away from the stimulant, "dancing" around in place.
• Be sure to watch out for your toes and wear sturdy boots!
• Also, make sure the person holding the lead of the horse is prepared to hold their head steady, as most horses will try and shake their heads free when feeling uneasy. Similarly, be sure to check the sturdiness of the cross ties if the horse is being held in a wash rack or tack area.

Resources

• A Great Non Toxic Fly Spray Option