Can anyone help me with this. It is cold out at the minute but not actually such a big deal as he is in the stable at night. My problem is that he also has Sweet-Itch and I'd like to get him to accept a rug before April or I will be in trouble!! I just got him a few months ago and he is great with everything else! (plastic bags, traffic, horse-box).The rug I bought is a turn out rug and I know Sweet-Itch rugs are a lot more lightweight but I dont really want to splash out on one just yet untill I make some progress!!
I agree with the previous poster, let him smell it, throw it over his back, rub him down with it...make it seem like its no big deal. If you drape it over him, leave it on for 5 seconds and then take it off, then put it back on for 10 seconds, take it off, ect. The more you do that, the more he will get used to having it around. As for the sweet itch, use a product called EQyss. Its $30 for a bottle (big bottle) and its garunteed to work. I used it on my boy when he got rainrot and it cleared it all up. You can buy the shampoo and then use the spray as well but I just bought the spray and it did an amazing job.
This is something we call at my barn. Sacking the horse i love doing this. You need 2 people. The other person needs to be experienced. take a feed sack and tie it to the end of a lunge whip. With your friend holding the pony, move the sack around him. They may spook, get them over it. Over time you should be able to run the pony's whole body. This way it'll despook them of things like putting a rug on. I do this to my horses because you never know what will hit horse and its to be on the safe side.
I took the no nonsense approach when putting a rug on my 16.2hh Thoroughbred who had never been rugged up before. I just threw it on like i do with my other horses, granted she did have a bit of a dance about, but nothing major, after about 5 or 6 times of rugging her up she was fine with it.
When he is in a stable put it on the back wall so he gets used to it then a week later just move it closer to him if he gets scared put it back on the wall. When he accepts the rug just gently lay it on his back, again go back a step if he spooks. hen when that is ok do it up and leave it there for about an hour, afterwards take it off adn then it should be problem solved. Good Luck!
Maybe while grooming him, hold the rug in your arms and allow him to smell it. Everytime you groom him, allow him to see the rug. He'll become used to seeing it, so he'll think.. no biggie! Next part, after grooming, after allowing him to smell the rug, rub it gently around his body. Tell him he's being a good boy if he's standing still, even feed him treats so that he knows he's doing a good job. Eventually once he becomes familiar with the sound and the feeling of the rug, slowly rub it over his back and rest it there. Pat him and let him know he's doing a good job. And from there? Continue to do this until he's comfortable to wear the rug. It shouldn't take too long! Good luck :)
