clipping problem

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toni1234

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hi, my pony hates being clipped he has tried to kick and throw me up against the stable you name it he has done it however when i manage to get them on him he is fine i think its the noise does anyone know of any good silent clippers?
 
Put cotton wool in his ears, get someone else to hold him. The cotton wool really, really helps my mare, but she's nervous not rude.

Have been down the sedation route but its expensive and a right faff on. Your best bet if he really is frightened is to spend the time desensitizing him to them, but no matter what he shouldn't be barging in to you, he has absolutely no respect for you.
 
LouS said:
Have been down the sedation route but its expensive and a right faff on.
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Has your vet ever sugested Sedalin? You can only get it from vets themselves but give it 20-30mins to settle in and it's just as good as an injected sedation :D It's in a wormer like tube and you don't need much to knock them out - great stuff!
 
Was going to try it but apparently it doesn't touch some horses so I just went for the IV to save the trouble if it didn't work enough, she was such a nervous little horse when she came to me. I think she'll be okay without this year, it was just to get it done at the time as I was having to borrow someone else's clippers etc.
 
I'd really recommend Michael Peace's dvd on clipping clipper phobic horses. Good, sound common sense using advance-and-retreat and spot on timing. Sedation, twitching, yelling at them might eventually get the job done once but the horse will fight you every time. Introduce the clippers properly and your horse will stand patiently every single time.
 
My mare was sedated the first time she was clipped as she really needed clipping & she was a danger to herself more than anything (would pull backwards on the lead rope trying to get away). However we then spent the rest the winter getting her used to the clippers.

We used to turn them on whenever she was on the yard, so she got used to the noise whilst doing normal things such as tacking up & grooming. The best thing we got were portable clipper, so then we could hold the clippers & groom at the same time.. used to run them over her when the weren't on then turn them on stood next to her & then just holding them against her whilst on so she got used to the vibrations.

The 1st time we clipped her again we gave her food she's such a porker she'll do anything for food! Now my dad can clip her neck & chest without a real problem, as long as he's patient. Its still not her favourite thing (comparable to the vet! haha) but she bears it as she knows she'll get a pat & a bit of a treat at the end. :)
 
This might sound mad but I used to ride a horse who seriously hated being clipped, would rear up and try to kick you in the knees even when sedated. We stuffed cotton wool in her ears a few times, which definitely helped, but in the long run, I made a tape of the clipper sound and played it in her stable when I was brushing her! she then associated the sound with nice things and was fine to clip!!:D
 
sleepykitten said:
This might sound mad but I used to ride a horse who seriously hated being clipped, would rear up and try to kick you in the knees even when sedated. We stuffed cotton wool in her ears a few times, which definitely helped, but in the long run, I made a tape of the clipper sound and played it in her stable when I was brushing her! she then associated the sound with nice things and was fine to clip!!:D
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That is a brilliant idea :D

Also if he is trying to kick you, get someone to pick up a front leg. Unless he is somehow super horse he shouldn't be able to stand on two legs and kick you!
 
Majority of horses that are frightened of the clippers frighten themselves by acting like brats.

What most of them need is to be more frightened of what the person clipping will do if they act like idiots. I chase them so they are going backwards around the stables until they offer submission. I will arm wave. poke them use my voice and generally keep it up until they think they are going to die. Then as soon as they submit I will start to clip and act as if nothing has happened. Praise for when they are good.

I do use a pair of Laube battery clippers for horses like this. They are expensive but well worth the money, lightweight and good battery charge, adjustable to both wide and narrow blades and relatively quiet.

Boasting I will say that I have a highly thought of reputation for clipping difficult horses and it is exceedingly rare for me to resort to a sedative or a twitch.
 
De sensitisation...leave electric battery toothbrush running ie get use to the noise humming etc??? gradually few mins at a time?? Worth a try??
 
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