Bathing

Question
How can I teach my horse to stand for a bath? She will cross water,but spooks if I try and bathe her-I have tried having someone hold her with a lead rope and slowly moving the hose (water) up her legs,but she freaks out-I have tried the same while the helper is giving her a carrot,I talk to her in a calm voice, She sees the other horses getting bathed and seem to want to know what is going on but will not let me bathe her-thanks

Answer
Keep her on a lead rope that you have a hold of. This will enable you to move with her, and keep from having a pulling battle.  I never like to cross tie, or tie off until I feel like the horse won't get into a pulling contest.  The less people the better.  Have the water hose at a bare trickle laying behind you, where you will not get tangle up in it, and also have a bucket of warm water with a big sponge in it.  Use the sponge to wet her barrel, chest, and neck, and let the water run down her.  

It also may help to not have sprayer head on hose, and just let water trickle out, sometimes a sprayer makes an odd sound, you can try it both ways, and see.  The trickle seems calmer at first.

Every so often, pick up the hose and rinse your hands off, and rinse off her hooves.  Work with the front end first, no further than hooves, and stop if she gets nervous, going back to the sponge bath.  Do not do a lot of talking to her, just be very matter of fact, and alternate between the sponge and the hose on her hooves.  If she moves tell her to be still, or to quit, but again, stay mostly silent, and business like with her.  Repetition is key here.  

Move the water up to her pasterns, and on up front legs, and back to her back hooves.  When she moves away, as most likely will, tell her again to be still, and continue her bath.  The more low key you are, the faster she will settle down.  If you jabber at her, and make a big deal out of this, she will too.  With each pass of hose, and swipe of sponge, move hose gradually higher until you are rinsing on barrel, and neck.  Don't spray into eyes, and make sure water stream isn't harsh.  If you want to see what a full jet of water from hose feels like, aim above your kneecap.  It hurts which is why I like sprayer/mister setting on hose head.

The switching between the hose and sponge will give her time to relax, and the different sensations will give her something to think over.  Forget the treat thing, as she is getting a reward for acting the fool, and you are not expecting her to cross the Andes, just to stand still.

Again, be very matter of fact about this, no petting, praising or chattering to her.  Treat her like a bratty little brother, who is getting this done period.  

You can also offer her a sip of water from the hose from time to time.  This may take a time or two, but should have her bathing well in no time.  Just remember to stay low key yourself, and to keep mind on business.  The less you have going on around you the better.