Clipping horses..

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Sunny_Star

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Bought new cordless clippers recently, so went to the yard today to try them out. My horse is great about everything, but the one thing he can't stand are clippers. At the moment he has to be sedated to be clipped, but we're hoping to eventually be able to clip him without sedation.

I didn't want to force the issue with him, so just came into his box (he was loose, didn't want to tie him up in case he got stressed out) and showed him the clippers. Even just seeing them he started snorting and looked really worried. When I switched them on he got even more worried, and tried to hide in the corner of his stable. In the end I managed to use them on his shoulder, but not switched on if you get what I mean, I just stroked them across as if I was clipping him. I think it's the noise that really scares him.
I'm not sure what to do now, does anyone have any advice on how to get him calmer around clippers?

The YO will clip him sedated next week, but it would be nice if we could do it without sedation.
 
I think you just have to keep persevering and try not make it an issue. My sister's horse had not been clipped as far as we knew when we first got him and he was not keen at all but just keeping going calmly and he just got desensitised i think. Have them switched on near to him when you are doing general stuff and especially when grooming, don't put them near to his neck/head as obviously they are louder to him there but maybe try hold them whilst you are brushing him so he associates it with something 'normal'/ pleasant. The best thing to do is just not make it an issue and just be calm.
 
My Haflinger was also really nervous when I first introduced clippers - so I just had them in my grooming kit and everyday as I groomed him I had the clippers on in my other hand and he got use to the noise of them without actually using them. I then got an experienced patient kind clipping lady to give him just a low trace clip while I held him - he totally trusts me and I felt it worked well that I talked to him and let the experienced lady get on with the clipping. We have now clipped him three times and he is 100% better although I still hold him.
If he always has a good experience during clipping he will get use to it - don't over clip either - just do as much as he can manage and then do a little more the next time etc.
Hope this helps
 
just stay quiet and calm.. possibly best to hold him in-hand rather than tie him up, twitch him as it'll calm him down (and NOT cruel it will release happy thoughts!)
personally id just get on with it and be quiet, thats the only way hes going to get used to it, stay quiet and almost ignore him fidgeting and try to keep him still


xxx
 
Thanks for the advice everyone, I think I will just let him get used to the noise as you suggest, by making the clippers an everyday thing so he doesn't get so worried. I'll let my YO clip him for now though as she's much more experienced than me and was able to clip him before.
 
This may sound daft but my eldest daughter had the idea of gettin an electric toothbrush which makes the same noise of the clippers and holding it in the horses stable. Gradually with a bit of time and patience stroke him with it when he is used to the noise this will get him used to the sound and feel of it so u should be able to build slowly up to the clippers good luck.
 
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