Clipping

[splatty]

HELP Some advice please, daughters new pony fantastic in everyway had her bout 3 months, we bought her knowing about her clipping issues, she is so scared due to rough handling in the past, so if its so deep routed would it be better just to get her sedated by vet to clip or try with acp or some sort of calmer (at mo am trying to desensitise with trimmer but she really gets upset and that is before even got near her with them). This is all abit new to us all our previous horses we have just got them used to clippers and have had no problems. Obviously got a bit of time on our hands wont be looking to clip her for a while. Thanks

 

[Sneedy]

If I were you I'd go down the vet route. Its far safer and also less stressful for the pony, it'll also be a lot quicker!!! I had a horse that was petrified of the clippers, I worked with him trying to overcome this but it just wasn't fair on him (and he was 17HH, so a bit big to have bouncing around the stable!!). If I were you I'd certainly have the vet for 1st clip and then spend the time with her trying to de-sensitise her, but if it is deep routed it may never happen? I didn't have any success with ACP paste, but every horse is different so it may be worth a try, speak to your vet tho!!

 

[Harlequin_Ro]

I'd go down the vet reute if you need to clip any time soon but keep working at desensitising her. My coloured mare used to be a nightmare, she's barge anything to get away from the clippers. I brought a over the door manger and every evening when she had her feed I'd stand by the door with small face trimmers on. She soon got used to that as she had to go near the trimmers to eat. I then worked onto having them on in my back pocket when I groom her so she associated the noice and being touched with good things. I then started touching her with the trimmers. If she'd object I'd go back a step back to the grooming just to make sure I didn't upset her. The I'd move on to trimmer her with the trimmers - she soon had lots of lovely hearts all over! And then moved onto those Avalon clippers with the belt. Working the same way back to the feed over the door then grooming whilst on then touching and then clipping. We're not there 100% I can clip her with propper liveryman clippers but she needs about 3 acp and she prefers to be loose rather than tied. Hopefully this year we can try with 2 acp. She isn't going to be perfect but you've got to do it slowly and make sure the pony trusts you. I cant stress any more but dont push her you can make her fears even worse.

 

[gemmaw]

sedalin is very good at sedating them and saves lots of money with the vet coming out to inject. it comes in a tube like the wormers and is really good, it doesnt totally sedate them but i find it works very well

 

[cariadssogreat]

Sedalin is good - but wont touch a horse with a real deep fear. I would certainly go down the vet route - and then generally try to decrease the sedation as time goes on.