Huge Horse terrified of the spray bottle!!

Huge Horse Petrified of being sprayed! Here Steve tries to convince this horse he doesnt need to fear the spray

[@gailjordan9250]

I have a fool proof way of introducing the spray bottle that has very minor reaction from the horse. Depending on the horse's background it can take a half day to around a week. After watching Steve with this horse, I realized the great error in my technique. I create a safe space for the horse instead of having the horse find it's own safe space. The more a horse practices finding it's own safe space the less likely it is to have a big negative reaction to what ever scary things it encounters.

[@sarahbiermann5889]

Beautiful horse!

[@MD-ef7nl]

Not a horse owner but love watching your handling of these beautiful animals.🥰

[@lindagibson6088]

Fantastic as always you really are a true horsemen

[@naomiroyle9637]

Always love witnessing your demeanor whilst around you can be chaos. Such a great video. One little note to support Tanya. If you're far away and you ask her a question, she cannot speak in a voice you can hear because of the speaker. She is such a love, and I think she is brilliant for being so patient with many viewers. And Charlotte, too. A friend here in the Pacific NW has been watching your videos too, so we can share how much we love your videos. She is in her 80's, and would love to have a horse again to practice doing what you do. As best she can, but it's fun to see people get excited about possibilities. You are totally inspirational ❤ 👏.

[@KingsMom831]

Thanks for the video! Gorgeous horse

[@sidilicious11]

This technique worked really well. So funny how they’ll willingly stand out in a rain, but bring over a spray bottle and they freak.😉

[@csom465]

About the rain, I thought the very same thing!😊🌧

[@lieke9460]

Mine always come in when they feel rain. Only when it's 39 degrees plus they stay out

[@kidstuff44555]

I honestly think its the sound they don't like, it sounds like hissing

[@megofiachra3247]

@@kidstuff44555 Exactly. it's the sound, not necessarily the water.

[@ccrichey]

I never thought about the sound. That’s a good point

[@suzanneyorkville]

This is the best technique and I just used it myself with a horse that looks much like this one and the results are as awesome. Always pleased to know I'm on the right track.

[@hannithurntwgypsyranch2146]

Going to use this on my horse with the same issue

[@shellyjohnson8491]

I am literally dealing with this right now with my mare! Gonna try this technic. Thanks!

[@MaxNafeHorsemanship]

Timing. Never stop until the horse does or it will continue to freak out. I can be quick if you stop at the right time.

[@louisegogel7973]

Tell us how it goes for you please.

[@lrfox49]

I love the way you explain what the horses are thinking. It makes so much sense. Great video

[@gemma3767]

Bless this beautiful horse! Thank you for helping him. We can all experience phobias and it does take a bit of time or whatever time is necessary to get over them and its hard so this precious horse is doing brilliantly under your expert knowledge.

[@GetReady4LiftOff]

beautiful horses are

[@jansteingold2950]

Quick and effective 👏🏻👏🏻💕

[@veronicasmith1147]

Well done Steve any chance you coming to Ireland 🥰💚💚

[@leonslionessnz6948]

He's lovely the big scaredy cat. It's the sound of the spray bottles they hate, perhaps the sound reminds them of a wasp!

[@debbiehollis5711]

Brilliant Steve as always

[@fburton8]

Steve, with his experience and fine judgement, makes it look easy. However, I would caution against people attempting to do the same and necessarily expecting the same result. All horses are different. This horse wasn't at any point so frightened that his escape response escalated beyond what Steve could safely handle. That allowed Steve to apply a very mild form of flooding with a good end result. The horse wasn't able to escape, but from the start was clearly heading towards acceptance of the spray with gentle persistence. Another horse might go the other way with exactly the same technique, posing a danger to the handler and risking becoming more frightened and sensitized to the spray. It's not that the technique is right or wrong; it's whether and how it is used with each individual horse. I'm sure Steve, a professional, would give a disclaimer for everything he demonstrates.

[@Goldenhawk583]

Good thing Steve adapts to each horse then:)

[@BBnSam1215]

Agree, you have to be able to find the right amount of challenge for the animal to overcome the step and learn from it, wherever that is. If it’s too much, you need to start from a smaller step.

[@flaviasollecito8760]

LOVE HOW YOU DESENITIZED, AND AMAZINGLY IT REALLY WORKED ON THE PUP TOO!

[@maryg3143]

You're really just amazing!

[@wendypeckinpaugh1078]

Always love seeing you've posted a new video! You guys remind me of watching the 70's educational nature/animal tv shows on the weekends when I was a kid! I couldn't wait for Jacque Cousteau!

[@sallyr.6891]

Such patience!

[@dixiebozung9763]

I have now seen ALL of your videos! I don't even have a horse, but it is inspiring and interesting. Love to see good people doing good things. - Dixie Nashville Tennessee (You even have me watching Buck Brannaman)

[@MegF142857]

I'm always amazed that the horses circle you that way, though it is in a closed space. My horse would spin & then take off & yank rope out of my hands. Some said "Use a chain" or "Use a rope halter". Well, that only made things worse. -- So I gave up on that form of training for most part & switched to positive reinforcement methods. My horse responded to it very well, plus also having choice with doing such training at liberty. -- Curious, how do you get a horse to not just spin & pull & yank ropes for a person not as strong as you. I've seen trainers dragged using this method, but most men seem able to hold a horse enough to get that first "ah-ha". With good timing of release, like you have, then can get these results. But... still requires a more physical ability of trainer (imo). Positive reinforcement methods require good timing too. I really goofed at first & my timing was training for wrong things, but I improved. ;-)

[@kidstuff44555]

While men are stronger physically than women, they are not anywhere near as strong as a horse. A horse could pull both easily if he really wanted to. The trick is in the angle. You can't let them go straight, you need to quickly get at a right angle to their shoulder and pull their head that way. Sometimes when they go to take off (a horse who has learned he can pull away from people) you really need to be quick to position yourself at a right angle. And good timing to just pull and release, don't pull and hold. Just pull them enough to get them off balance, then release. Women are perfectly capable of using this technique

[@kayBTR]

In a video he did at a clinic, w few videos back, a white horse was able to get away from from him by pulling straight away from Steve, like your other responder mentioned, it’s all about the angle

[@hybridmems]

Positive reinforcement is always much much better than whatever this is, good job 👍

[@Goldenhawk583]

@@hybridmems a nice treat from the hand, to show the horse you are friends ... one spray, and a treat, and repeat?

[@hybridmems]

@@Goldenhawk583 would be good first start with rising the bottle without spraying, then spraying the ground, slowly the feet until the horse is comfortable etc. Also using positive language and treats

[@swansonganimalcommunicatio4207]

I love your videos because you show Al, of it. So many follow the videos of others and wonder why their un backed colt isn't under saddle in 20 mins xxx

[@leec5170]

Horses crack me up! The nervousness about the silliest thing...and then when they figure it out they are like, "Scared? Me?? Never!". They are so smart.

[@dd3wc]

Right oh ... okay I won't attempt it ... I'll just send them to you! 😁 Just kidding ... your methods are full proof but most of all, they're kind. No anger or hostility towards the horse and you don't allow them to treat you like a doormat ... kindness certainly goes a long way and allows for trust to build up in the relationship. Brilliant as always Steve and it's such a pleasure watching your VLOG. TTFN!

[@gavottchengavottchen9246]

Hi from Hohenlohe 🐎

[@viviengreen7486]

Not a horse owner just love how you treat horses and seeing the respect these beautiful animals deserve. X

[@marianharris441]

What a beautiful horse

[@slomo1716]

Steve you and your methods are AMAZING AND BRILLIANT!!! Keep up saving horses from themselves and their fears! I especially LOVED the video on the horse no one could catch until you entered the picture. Hope to hear an update on that horse! GOD BLESS!!!

[@parryan1800]

My condolences to Steve and family for the death of her Majesty Queen Elizabeth.

[@pattallant2398]

Thank you for another great lesson Steve! 👍

[@Trapezius8oblique]

Brilliant

[@lindagentile2380]

Good Job Steve 👍

[@leahharbison4932]

Steve you are the Man

[@euladearing5774]

Awesome 👍

[@bettelovelace4456]

👏👏💜

[@p4radigm989]

cute horsy and funny video

[@mollyLouM]

A couple of my horses were touchy about spray bottles but that wasn't why I never sprayed if I could help it -- I'm too cheap to send a bunch of expensive fly repellant into the air (and my eyes) so I wet a cloth and wiped the spray on (kept cloth in plastic bag to re-use).

[@vickichristiansen1336]

Good show!

[@SpooksMin]

My horse was also quite terrible with a spray bottle. We found that weirdly he doesn't care really at all when he's eating feed and we spray him. But if we try without distraction he does this same thing. I've been working on it in a similar way in our paddocks (with fly spray) and he's getting a lot better. Still can't spray without having him on a lead rope out in the paddocks but we are getting there, he stands mostly still now at least.

[@suzyamerica4679]

The ones I work with don't particularly like the bottle, even when I've introduced it slowly and let them see it and sniff it. Seems to help if I am standing right next to them, with a hand on them, offering some reassurance. Or I spray the stuff on my own hands in order to get it all around their eyes carefully.

[@Dean_tat2]

Would this be the same principle with things like clippers? Keep them moving until they accept what’s happening,making it there idea.? Also could you do it another way spray the horse if he moves move him until he offers a stop then spray again and continue untill he decides standing still is a better option…. Thanks

[@3_times_mum520]

Hi I understand the reason for why you keep doing different things over and over again. When it's necessary for taking good care of the horse. But I don't really understand why you keep doing something that is so terrifying for the horse, when it is unnecessary. Can you try to explain.

[@MaxNafeHorsemanship]

Steve seldom reads comments, but I understand what he is doing. He is teaching the horse to stand still. If he stopped a second sooner, the horse would learn that freaking out makes things stop. That would spread into many other behaviors. He is using a principle that applies to most of what he does. If may seem mean on the surface to scare the horse like that, but it can keep him from being scared of everything for years to come. He's not scaring him. He is teaching him he doesn't need to be scared of something. Look past the surface.

[@toscadonna]

The horse is already scared, so he’s sacking him out and showing him that he doesn’t have to be afraid of the spray bottle and that to stand still makes the spraying go away.

[@louisegogel7973]

It seems that horses in captivity cannot run away from the biting of flies etc, so fly spray is really a necessary thing, esp in severe fly biting times. Helping a horse not to be afraid of some thing which is actually not harmful is always of benefit. If you could have a discussion with the horse mind to mind, and work out the issue that way, that would be awesome, but even humans sometimes cannot always work out issues verbally and need some physical action to help move them through a remembered trauma. I helped my very young children get over a fall off the bench by holding them and brining them through the fall to the ground with a soft touch. The first few times they would tense up, but by the end they were asking me to do it again and laughing. The reenactment of the motion, not the trauma, helped release the trauma around the motion. I believe Steve is doing the same here… and the horse finally realizes, hey, I’m not getting hurt or dying! I’m okay!!

[@3_times_mum520]

@@MaxNafeHorsemanship i am looking past the surface, if you read my first line. But I don't understand why it is necessary to learn the spray bottle.

[@MaxNafeHorsemanship]

@@3_times_mum520 Well, personally I don't use fly spray, but if I ever need to treat a wound or such, it is necessary to be able to spray the horse without risking injury to the horse or human. It's about safety and well being for both. Like most forms of desensitizing, it is seldom about the actual item you are using. It is about all the similar things the horse may be exposed to at some point in it's life.

[@vibeskouenborg6842]

F*** this oldfachion streess method- making horses shut down.