Clipping a nervous horse

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JoanneLangford

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Whats the best way to deal with my seven year old (usually chilled out) Connamarra X cob, he freaks when he gets sight of the clippers. I bought him Nov 09 but didn't have him clipped last year, with the bad ice and snow, then he was poorly after I stabled him (very allergic!) This winter we are now going great guns, the ice and snow are gone, so lots more riding, but he sweats up so much, I am worried about him losing salts and minerals etc. His coat is fairly thick, he lives out and is rugged, should I not bother or persevere with sedatives and can I do this without a vet? I would appreciate any help on this, thank you sooo much.
 
My pony was just like this when we were going to clip him, so we took him to our friend for a week or two and everyday she would go in the stable with the clippers and gradually get nearer until he was able to stand and have her run the clippers over him without clipping him. It took a ling time but he was clipped in the end and was much happier. Hope this helps :)
 
I've had a lot of tricky ones to clip. I find the tranquillizer given IV by the vet brings them out in a sweat, which is not ideal when clipping! Sedalin also can sometimes have no effect at all. I use Valerian tincture which I get from a homeopathic practice. I find if I give it about 30 mins before clipping, it seems to just take the edge off the nervousness. Another tip is to put driving blinkers on the horse. Sometimes its seeing the clippers coming towards them sets them off. I've done several "unclippable" horses this way.
Make sure your blades are sharp and get the coat off asap, to reduce stress to the horse. Hope this helps.
 
Snowy Snaffy said:
My pony was just like this when we were going to clip him, so we took him to our friend for a week or two and everyday she would go in the stable with the clippers and gradually get nearer until he was able to stand and have her run the clippers over him without clipping him. It took a ling time but he was clipped in the end and was much happier. Hope this helps :)
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Yes I was trying that route, looks like I have been too impatient, Thanks :)
 
cundlegreen said:
I've had a lot of tricky ones to clip. I find the tranquillizer given IV by the vet brings them out in a sweat, which is not ideal when clipping! Sedalin also can sometimes have no effect at all. I use Valerian tincture which I get from a homeopathic practice. I find if I give it about 30 mins before clipping, it seems to just take the edge off the nervousness. Another tip is to put driving blinkers on the horse. Sometimes its seeing the clippers coming towards them sets them off. I've done several "unclippable" horses this way.
Make sure your blades are sharp and get the coat off asap, to reduce stress to the horse. Hope this helps.
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Thanks for all this, was going to try Sedalin, will try your methods:)
 
Steeleydan said:
Personally I would not struggle and risk getting hurt, get it sedated by the vet and have done with it.
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Personally I would do the opposite, why administer sedative if you don't have to?

10 days of turning clippers on everytime I was in stable worked wonders. Started holding in one hand & brushing with other, moved to clippers over my hand, to directly onto horse. A quieter model of clippers helps too.

Horse has gone from 'freaking out' at the sight/sound of clippers to standing to be clipped with even being tied up.

Why have the cost and hassle of sedation every year when a couple of weeks work & perseverence now may solve the problem? :)
 
I would get a copy of Michael Peace's dvd about clipping anxious horses, watch it a couple of times and do what it suggests.

I did this with Ron when I got him (previous owner had sedated him with a syringe and he's now really funny about his mouth even to worm, and he'd still put his head through the stable roof). This year I managed to clip him loose in his stable with no problem at all, even his ears and face which was the bit he was most worried about.
 
I've seen Kelly Marks do a good vid on this. Various techniques:

-Turning clippers on for short periods for days in advance of clipping
-have a radio on also, to veil the sound of clippers
-substitute a battery powered toothbrush to introduce horse to clippers - rub all over!
-When starting to clip, hold clippers in non clipping hand, switched on, so they are well away from horse, but the vibration can be felt through your body (put your free hand on the horse). Gradually move clippers along your free arm up towards the horse before finally starting to clip.

And finally, if you have mains clippers on a flex, make sure you have a circuit breaker in case horse jumps on the flex. It could save your life :)
 
gonebananas said:
What dosage did you give the horse?
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Usually approx 10-15 ml for a horse less for a pony. It seems to work better on TB crosses than cobs, but cobs aren't usually too worried anyway. I clipped an "unclippable" Dartmoor who used to literally climb up the wall with his front feet. I said he should be in a circus!! The blinkers worked a treat on him, and I started at the back and worked forward.
 
BoxingDayHunt said:
I would get a copy of Michael Peace's dvd about clipping anxious horses, watch it a couple of times and do what it suggests.

I did this with Ron when I got him (previous owner had sedated him with a syringe and he's now really funny about his mouth even to worm, and he'd still put his head through the stable roof). This year I managed to clip him loose in his stable with no problem at all, even his ears and face which was the bit he was most worried about.
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I've found that a lot of horses are worse in their boxes as they feel they can't get away, which may trigger a panic. If possible, and on a dry day, I clip outside as long as they are tied up firmly. Most owners stress their horse more by their behaviour, and I usually get on much better by doing the work by myself. At the end of the day, keep very calm, know when to give the horse a break, so that they don't feel too stressed, and you'll be fine. The one thing you don't want is a nervous person clipping, or handling the horse. They pick up on things SO quickly!!
 
I have thought about starting further back. the people who have tried to clip her have just started at the neck :confused: so this week its valerian, blinkers and bananas :eek: should be fun! :D
 
cundlegreen said:
I've found that a lot of horses are worse in their boxes as they feel they can't get away, which may trigger a panic. If possible, and on a dry day, I clip outside as long as they are tied up firmly. Most owners stress their horse more by their behaviour, and I usually get on much better by doing the work by myself. At the end of the day, keep very calm, know when to give the horse a break, so that they don't feel too stressed, and you'll be fine. The one thing you don't want is a nervous person clipping, or handling the horse. They pick up on things SO quickly!!
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I quite agree! I just don't have anywhere really to tie up to on the yard and he'd just walk about! But, he's better loose in the stable than tied up, or even held, so there's definitely an element of needing to move about when he gets nervous (not that he really does any more).

I've since clipped a few horses who have "had" to be sedated, and found the technique to be really effective - you just need to be calm and methodical and consistent, they soon understand and settle. I have been known to send the owner off on a wild goose chase for something I don't really need, just to get them away and stop the horse stressing!:D
 
I got a horse whisperer out called Paddy Gracey, he trained with Kelly Marks and Monty Roberts. My Cob was not good to clip and he had to be sedated by the vet and it got expensive as he is clipped about 3 times. Paddy came out to him and did some work with him and us. To cut a long story short he can now be clipped loose in his stable or stood on the yard not tied up with a head collar and lunge line. We do use cordless clippers as they do not vibrate as much. We are still working on doing his full face and his ears but I am sure we will get there.
 
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