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dragonfarmgirl
Junior Member
England
47 Posts |
 Posted - 28 Jun 2010 : 4:56:40 PM
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Hi Folks.
Every now and again I read about arabs being tricky to bathe/shower/wash.
From your experience is this true or more of a myth ?
Thanks x
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Callisto
Platinum Member
6905 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jun 2010 : 5:13:10 PM
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We have four purebreds at the moment, three of them are happy to be bathed/sloshed/hosed - they range in age between 11 and 22, Lily who has just turned 5 is less keen, but as she is a grey she will just have to get used to it  , she is already better than when she first arrived. I think it is definitely a myth, it is just a question of getting them used to it, and behaving calmly and sensibly while you wash them, don't throw too much water around and scrape them dry fairly promptly. |
  Zahkira (GR Amaretto x Taffetta)
Linda
East Sussex |
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LYNDILOU
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
13976 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jun 2010 : 5:19:17 PM
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I have never found them to be any different from other horses regarding baths , they dont like the water cold, (unless the weather is baking) and if the weather is cold then warm water please . I think the myth may have come from yet another unsympathetic person who bathed them in freezing water , Arabs will tell you if they dont like something and then get the reputation for being difficult  PS they will talk to you if only you listen |
   
www.dreamfield-arabians.com |
Edited by - LYNDILOU on 28 Jun 2010 5:24:35 PM |
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Arachnid
Platinum Member
England
1872 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jun 2010 : 5:19:49 PM
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| Definitely myth although mine doesnt like cold water which seems quite reasonable to me so I heat it up first. |
   
West Sussex |
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geegee
Platinum Member
England
3682 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jun 2010 : 5:22:22 PM
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Agree with Lyndilou...
Nothing to do with the breed. ALL to do with the handler
I hosed all three of mine today as it was so hot. Arab, Anglo Arab and Welsh pony. All three loved it. I even turned the hose on myself Sooooo hot today!
ETA - no lead ropes or halters required - all stood for it. |
Edited by - geegee on 28 Jun 2010 5:23:57 PM |
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Callisto
Platinum Member
6905 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jun 2010 : 5:27:03 PM
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| Oh yes - definitely agree about warming the water unless it is very hot - well I wouldn't want to be doused in cold water on a cold day, so why should they? Also better for cleaning manes and tails than cold water. |
Zahkira (GR Amaretto x Taffetta)
Linda
East Sussex |
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dragonfarmgirl
Junior Member
England
47 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jun 2010 : 6:22:32 PM
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Thank you all for replying.
I have to say I'm very relieved but not totally surprised as there seem to be so many of these myths like the ones about chestnut mares etc.
I have Marquessa, my little bay weanling coming in September so am trying to make myself worthy lol.
I have a rescued thoroughbred who is great in most ways but doesn't like the hose on her legs so I will work on that with her and try using warm water and sponges instead of the cold hose.
Hopefully, by the time Marquessa gets here I will be a perfect arab-bathing handmaiden lol.
Thanks again for the reassurance. I don't post much but am on here everyday learning everything I can in preparation for nthe big day.
xxx |
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pintoarabian
Gold Member
Scotland
1242 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jun 2010 : 6:38:12 PM
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| We use a pressure washer to bathe ours (obviously not at full force next to their skins) and they looooooovvvvve it. They love the massaging effect and lean into it with the same expression as when you scratch their withers. We even bathe our yearling filly this way and she loves it too, just as much as the stallions. We start off with it as gently as possible but, before long you can build up the pressure....great for cleaning hooves and getting the scurf out of their coats. Someone once told me they used one on theirs and I was very sceptical until I tried it. Would never go back to buckets and sponges now. In our experience, they have all accepted it very quickly. We let them get used to the sound of the motor first before the water is turned on and then very gently to begin with. Makes life a lot easier when you have a few. |
http://www.performancearabians.com
http://performancearabians.blogspot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/PerformanceArabians
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dragonfarmgirl
Junior Member
England
47 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jun 2010 : 7:01:05 PM
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Hi PintoArabian - That sounds like a great idea but how do you vary the pressure ? Ours is either on or off. Do you just not have the tap turned on very far ?
MY OH is always joking about jetwashing the horses. I'd love to see the look on his face if I actually did it ! lol x |
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Rozy Rider
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
4545 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jun 2010 : 7:21:09 PM
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My real spooky Arab, I tie up short and bath/wash him no trouble, you try to get across the brook or stream and its a different story.
sue |
Sue
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george
Gold Member
Wales
1353 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jun 2010 : 7:40:59 PM
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Nabil is getting better at the bathing thing except it really cocncerns me when he likes the underbelly rubbing a bit too much  the noises he makes havemy sister in stitches |
George xxx
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pintoarabian
Gold Member
Scotland
1242 Posts |
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Fee
Platinum Member
2601 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jun 2010 : 8:24:54 PM
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Definitely a myth! Mine love getting bathed and like the others I heat the water up first. It's not the breed the handlers, as always.
Po also adores going into deep water and she will always stop and paw and paw and ducks her nose under then she always poos!  Even if she doesn't need one she squeezes it out, don't know why she always does that in the water?
Fee |
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MinHe
Platinum Member
England
2927 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jun 2010 : 8:40:11 PM
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It isn't so much bathing that is a 'thing' with Arabs, but many will not *walk through* water voluntarily.
If you think about it, it is a sensible attitude if you live in the desert and water is scarce - why make it nasty to drink by stirring it up with your feet?!?
I do though believe there is a *physical* reason why some horses at least will not cross water - my chestnut mare is fine with dirty puddles, but gets upset when asked to walk through/by reflecting pool. The only way she will do it is by not looking at the water (hiding her head between my shoulders, for example, if led). In short, she behaves very much like a human with vertigo, so I think the reflections of sky/clouds, etc induce a similar sort of sense of insecurity (maybe even vertigo itself?). It may be that the placement of the Arab's eyes makes this more of a problem for them, in that they have a slightly different view of the world.
OTOH, I have read that donkeys are not keen on crossing water, so maybe it is a desert thing after all?
Keren |
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Callisto
Platinum Member
6905 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jun 2010 : 8:49:54 PM
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| Lily is fine through rivers, but will do anything to avoid a puddle...I think it's the reflections too. |
Zahkira (GR Amaretto x Taffetta)
Linda
East Sussex |
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Fee
Platinum Member
2601 Posts |
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Pauline
Platinum Member
England
3185 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jun 2010 : 9:13:15 PM
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Mine all love a bath and in this hot weather they love standing under the hose pipe.I can put the jets on from a strong jet to just a shower.
I often take them down the river to cool off.
As endurance horses they have to get use to being sloshed.
I think going through water may be the fact they feel they can not see the bottom, so do not know where they are putting their feet.
I have a gelding that is blind in one eye so the glint of the sun sometimes makes him think twice about water.
Pauline |
Pauline Higgs
Equine & Human Holistic Therapist
www.thegentlestouch.co.cc
www.endurancegbmidsouth.co.uk
Berkshire / Hampshire Border |
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LYNDILOU
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
13976 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jun 2010 : 10:47:56 PM
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| If you watch wild herding animals at a drinking hole you will see they all appear nervous and quiet rightly, as many generations of animals have been taken by Crocs from beneath the water ! I have watched wildebeests by water and any herd animal acts the same so maybe it is with our arabians who's wild heart still beats in his chest even though we think we have domesticated them , think again , when you walk past a puddle next time look into it , you will see movement reflected as you walk , our arabians see this but no one explains to them it is not a predator ! be understanding when they spook sometimes, after all they are protecting you as well as themselves ( in their eyes anyway) |
www.dreamfield-arabians.com |
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MinHe
Platinum Member
England
2927 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jun 2010 : 09:15:29 AM
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"Hole in the world" is definitely how my mare reacts...
Keren |
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Kazzy
Platinum Member
England
3335 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jun 2010 : 09:36:14 AM
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Mine loves a bath He actually stands there without being tied up pawing at the ground he loves it that much.
1st thing he does though is goes and has a roll also we have well we did have till this drought dried it up, a pond in the bottom of the field and he goes in there for a splash about
Janet |
     
Sunny Cheshire |
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Caro23
Gold Member
United Kingdom
617 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jun 2010 : 1:11:17 PM
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| My girl loves water and is fine to wash and ride in to water - there are too many myths about breeds and their likes and dislikes. I think its down to the individual. I have a Fjord who hates being in mud and she's a tough native! |
Caro
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pinkvboots
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
3290 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jun 2010 : 2:50:08 PM
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I don't have any problem now Arabi is 6 didn't like it much when he was two but has got better, I wet him with a sponge and bucket and use a rubber massager with the soap as he loves it, then just use the hose to rinse not full on though if your getting them used to it,and I put my hand where the water is running from I find if they can feel your hand with the water they are better.
He is very wary of putting his feet in large puddles it has taken me a while to get him through some and he will go round the edge. my other horse non Arab loved water and would love to splash about in it. |
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LYNDILOU
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
13976 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jun 2010 : 6:10:20 PM
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| I think with all things arab , if its done sympathetically they are quick to learn and to trust, I know that although they may not like something if there is enough trust there ,they will walk through fire for you , so getting them used to bathing should be a doddle in the right hands (mine are still wossy about getting their faces wet though, even with no tears bathtime baby wash if you hold the hose over crimbos face he tries to drink it |
www.dreamfield-arabians.com |
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debsnboz
Bronze Member
202 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jun 2010 : 11:14:47 PM
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I gave borris his first bath on Saturday. Filled every large container I could find at home with piping hot tap water, drove it to the field, carried it up the field to near the water bath, then used a mix of clean cold from the trough and hot to make a perfect temperature for his bath.Spoilt..............?
I used a sponge at first to wet him, and shampooed and rinsed a small area at first to make sure he was ok with it all and I wasn't left with a freaky bubbly boy. Then he chilled out, and enjoyed the pampering. Buy the end he was fine with me pouring water from the 1 litre plastic bottle over him to rinse. I even rinsed his face and forelock this way. It was warm water to rinse too.
So I am dead pleased with him, and am glad i took it slow with him, and used warm water from start to finish, to make it a nice experience on a hot day.
He looks fabulous now Shame we have nowhere to go to show off!!!! |
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Nichole Waller
Gold Member
England
1168 Posts |
Posted - 30 Jun 2010 : 2:51:32 PM
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Ozzy loves a bath, especially when you give his mane and tail a really good scrub, he spreads his legs and drops his head down and pulls some really funny faces...
I use warm water at first, then the cold hose to get most of the soap out (on hot days only) and then finish off with warm water and a sponge. He had a mane and tail wash yesterday and smelt lovely this morning when i had my morning snog... |
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debs
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
3218 Posts |
Posted - 01 Jul 2010 : 01:29:08 AM
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| Ali will follow me through deep puddles.... but bath, he no like! Giz loved it. used to stand waving his head under the hose! |
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Arabs and water
and anyway, why would she walk into it when she can go round it!