Clipping under sedation

[Toast]

We're going to have to get our little pony clipped under sedation, we had to acp her for her feet last week but she threw it off in about 5 mins after she realised what was going on.
Is there a chance she'll throw off full sedation? I dont want to start clipping and her flip out with only half of her done!!!

Also, shes never ever been clipped, this is a 9yo rescue pony who freaks out at mini clippers which is why we're having her sedated!!
x

 

[Starzaan]

I worked on a hunting yard with a horse who needed two rounds of sedative to be clipped. The vet stayed with you while you did one side (20 mins maximum per side for a full hunter clip) and when it started to wear off he got another jab!

I'd get the vet to stay with you while you do the first clip, just in case you need another dose, and see what happens!

 

[pastie2]

it depends on the horse as how long sedation lasts. They can sweat which makes clipping difficult, they can also go down, so be carefull. I clipped a horse on sedation a month ago, he collapsed, then came round very quickly before I had finished.

 

[PonyFeet10]

If possible get one person on each side both clipping? Makes it quicker and less likely to have to sedate twice

 

[Toast]

Oh heck its been hard enough trying to get hold of one set of clippers nevermind another!! I only want to do a high chaser.. but leave her bum on... shes only 13hh so shouldnt take too long! Ive never had her sedated either so its all new!
x

 

[ofcourseyoucan]

firstly if going to clip under vet sedation make sure she is really clean, would recomemend a thorough shampoo and rinse the day before. the vet should assess her and give her a good dose of dope then after 5 mins crack on! if you are a slow clipper then get a fast clipper to do her. make sure you have good clippers, sharp blades and plenty oil.topping up the dope half way hrough never gives the same effect as a good dose first hit. part clips when sedated are often hard to get even as the horse doesnt stand square and head is often drooped. going to the expense of a fully sedated horse i would opt for a hunter clip and rug well. NEVER trust a sedated horse.......... yes it can and does frequently explode........... in all directions.. be careful. good luck

 

[Colleen_Miss_Tom]

Last year was the first time my 16.2hh 4 year old mare was clipped, She near crapped herself when I went near her with the clippers, so decided for her safety and mine and it being first time I would sedate her, before this shes had sedalin and it never worked at all, the only thing that works is for the vet to come out and sedate, it knocked her clean out . Although she did sweat abit towards the end, I normally do the tricky bits first ie elbows .

Good luck

Col x

 

[horsecrazy25]

Last year was the first time my 16.2hh 4 year old mare was clipped, She near crapped herself when I went near her with the clippers, so decided for her safety and mine and it being first time I would sedate her, before this shes had sedalin and it never worked at all, the only thing that works is for the vet to come out and sedate, it knocked her clean out . Although she did sweat abit towards the end, I normally do the tricky bits first ie elbows .

Good luck

Col x

Agree, we used Sedalin this year didnt have any effect, until the end of the clip! So make sure vet gives injection!

 

[Angelbones]

We had the vet out today to sedate our 13.2hh, 18 yr old, pony for clipping. This is his second year being done (we only do one clip so try to leave it as late as poss). You can't get within a foot of him holding scissors, and he'll run through walls if he hears clippers normally. We have to resort to using Immac on his feathers (not down to the skin obviously). He isn't malicious, he is 110% terrified and has had some awful homes in the past. Some days you can't pick out his feet, and you never ever brush his ears but he will accept a cactus mitt if you take your time. I'm just trying to set the scene here

Last time the vet said to give him 15 acp before he got there - when the vet arrived the pony whinnied over the stable door as if to say "right then, here I am, not at all dopey, are you up for a challenge"?. The plan was to literally drop the pony to the groun in the outdoor school if we had to, and then flip him for the other side. The vet then had one hell of a struggle to get the jab into his vein and it took ages for the sedation to kick in, and the pony was topped up 3 times and he was still flying legs at great speed from all angles. We managed in the end but the pony took ages to come round afterwards and I was really worried about him. I said I'd never do it again but found a new vet recommended by friends.

This time the new vet came but with the old file notes. He didn't use the acp (he said not all ponies take acp well, and it can hamper things), just walked in and jabbed the pony who was out for the count in minutes. We managed a full clip (half face, not legs and no way of going whiskers) in 40 minutes and only had to dodge legs once. The pony recovered within an hour.

What we do is have new blades, and spares at hand (we do have spare clippers should we need them, both battery pack ones), pony is hot clothed with dettol and vinegar and a small shot of detergent for a few days prior, one person at the head, one person back behind the pony at a safe distance, tail bandaged and folded up.

We do the leg lines first, then dive in for the main body. We find it easier to do this than to worry about symmetry of sides with a blanket clip for example. We only have one person working at a time as two tends to be overload for this pony. The person at the back directs the clipper person as to symmetry of rear legs as the clipper person stands close to the side of rear legs so as to minimise the likelihood of being kicked. We don't do right up between his hind legs and his tail covers this anyway. Clipper person wears crash hat, body protector and shin pads (we've needed them with this pony in the past). The vet stays throughout or at least until he can see we've done the worst bits. This vet was great, he twitched the pony's nose by hand once or twice when the pony started to be nervy.

It sounds like a lot of fuss but it went really smoothly, and most importantly the pony was remarkably calm and wasn't at all upset afterwards, recovering well.

I think you just need to take your vet's advice, don't take any unnecessary risks, make a plan and have a back up. My theory is that if it all goes wrong and you have to abandon it mid clip, don't worry cos it will all grow back soon enough!

Good luck with it.

 

[honetpot]

Wow!

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

I know this is easy for me to say but sedating for any procedure that is done regularly isn't ever getting to the heart of the problem. If you can get to the position where your horse makes his own decision to allow himself to be clipped, it's done for ever. I had a rescued gipsy cob mare that started to lay down her own rules. She wouldn't let me within a metre of her with even a tiny pair of thinning scissors. And she could keep refusing for far longer than I could keep trying. In the end, she was sent to a respected trainer for manners + backing and though she gave the trainer a good few grey hairs, she sorted the mare out just by consistency and determination.

I'd recommend Michael Peace's dvd on clipping the clipper phobic horse. It's brilliant. You don't need any fancy kit, just a safe enclosed school area and a lunge line. Common sense and immaculate timing will turn any horse around in a surprisingly short time and it's done for ever then x

 

[Lyle]

Yep, I've had to get my ISH clipped under sedation before. Things like ACE didn't really work when he got too stressed, and it tended to cause him to sweat and twitch still.

Got a nice jab in the vein, and within 2 minutes began to droop his head and splay his legs. It can be a little nerve wracking when they sway a little bit It makes for such a painfree clipping, and it is done so quickly when compared to when they spend the whole time doing the riverdance! Make the most of it and give them a big hug on the head, but watch out for the dribble!

 

[sjmcc]

i had my lad sedated last year bought him in the july last year then came winter for hair cut got his body off then for half his face he went wild picked me up off the floor ect ect so the vet sedated him no probs this year as all year iv been clipper training

 

[julieleach9]

Sometimes sedation is the only sensible way to avoid injury and distress. What I found with my old mare, a fiery chestnut welsh D who had 'issues' from her past, was that sedation worked brilliantly (we also had two of us clipping at once when possible) but that eventually I WAS able to clip her body without sedation. This was after about 4-6 sedations. She was always clipped twice as she was such a hot and sweaty mare and I couldn't get away with one clip by leaving it as last as possible.

The vet said the sedation in the past had allowed her to get used to it. The remaining 'no-no' areas were legs and head/ears but eventually she would allow these to be done too, with only a twitch needed for these bits. This is a long way from the horse who would rear, run, lash out and ram people into the wall.

This horse also had bad sweet tich and I took the decision to hog her. I would do this every 3-4 weeks to keep her looking smart and she became so cool with being clipped. The hogging really helped the sweet itch, along with a fly rug as soon as she came out of her lightweight turn out (with neck).

Good luck with your pony, and above all keep everyone safe. Any good vet can sedate a horse easily enough that you will be fine. ACP/Sedalin is just not up to the job when they are REALLY scared; they just fight it. We tried this with my mare once and never again... she had the dentist pinned against the wall in seconds!