Re: Problems putting sun cream on a pink nose - any ideas please?
Hi,
We have a 17.2hh grey tb mare at home with a pink nose too, so I know your pain - especially with the giraffe impressions! I semi-fixed it with her by holding a handful of pony nuts in one hand, and the cream spread over my other hand thick! I then offer her the food, keeping my hand behind my back until her head is down so she hopefully never sees the cream, and then slowly bring my hand up (back of my hand towards her face) and stroke down her face, and try to only put the cream on by flipping my hand in a smooth, controlled, downwards stroke... thats the plan anyway, but its always a little messy!! So long as she never sees the cream on my hands, it usually works well enough to cover her! And I also do the same thing at random times, with just food, no cream, so she doesn't learn to associate it with cream.
You can also try waiting it out. Put some food on a high surface (I use a mounting block) and then hold her in front of it and show her the cream on your hand. If you are always very slow and don't force her, she should just put her head up. Let her and wait! It also helps if you put a bit of pressure on her headcollar. Eventually she'll get tired and put her head back down. When she does, release the pressure, tell her she is a good girl and give her a minute. Then slowly try to move the cream near her nose again. If her head shoots back, then just repeat. Eventually she will get tired of putting her head up all together. The important thing is not to put the cream on as soon as she puts her head down. She needs a reward first for doing the right thing. Sometimes it takes ages, so you may want to make sure you have a couple of hours spare!!
Its basically the same as desensitising, just you are desensitising her to cream instead of plastic bags. I'm kinda thinking off the top of my head here! I've never actually tried it, but I'm going to give it a go as soon as I'm back home! No worries if you don't think it'll work for you mare!
Sorry if I haven't explained it well. Hope any of it helps at all anyway! xx