Copperpot
Well-Known Member
Mine doesnt mind his mane pulled but i tried the solo comb anyway. I now have a slight bog brush look 
Feeling very disheartened
- Thread starter Footlights
- Start date
Daisy11
Well-Known Member
Do it after exercise ,it opens everything up and makes it less painful
darkhorse123
Well-Known Member
My gelding is one of those that if you get too firm/agressive, everything escalates into all out war in a split second. So I've got pretty good at just staying calm and waiting for the moment to pass. Then once he's ready, I ask him to do something easy, he then does it right and I can end the session on a good note. It seems silly but I think that the 'good ending note' helps when we do our next session (and he is actually coming on very well in his training so I must be doing something right).
I'm quite glad that I don't need to pull his mane because he's bad enough if you use the 'wrong' brush when you groom him!
I wasnt disagreeing with you at all! Agree 100% - its just the way you put it made me chuckle (in a very good way )
Footlights
Well-Known Member
My gelding is one of those that if you get too firm/agressive, everything escalates into all out war in a split second. So I've got pretty good at just staying calm and waiting for the moment to pass. Then once he's ready, I ask him to do something easy, he then does it right and I can end the session on a good note. It seems silly but I think that the 'good ending note' helps when we do our next session (and he is actually coming on very well in his training so I must be doing something right).
I'm quite glad that I don't need to pull his mane because he's bad enough if you use the 'wrong' brush when you groom him!
This sums up my gelding very well too. If I am too firm with him, he takes it completely the wrong way and acts like he is about to be killed, literally like he is fighting for survival. It's sad that he feels he needs to be like this, I hate to think what has happened to him to make his reaction so over the top.
I would be very interested in knowing how you deal with your gelding, and if he has improved at all with time and consistency - please PM me if you wish. Thank you.
Meowy Catkin
Meow!
I wasnt disagreeing with you at all! Agree 100% - its just the way you put it made me chuckle (in a very good way )
That's OK, I just thought that in hindsight, I'd been rather blunt and maybe I should explain a bit more.
I'm glad it made you chuckle though. 
Well he's a two year old (flaxen chestnut in my sig below) arab and he was ear twitched as a foal. The breeder never had the Vet who did it back again because he was so disgusted that the Vet did it. It has definately had a negative effect on him (the horse).
My approach is calm, consistant and slow. He is very hot, reactive and a 'go, go, go' type, I often just have to wait and then ask again. I correct him, but never tell him off, a loud 'OI!' is as tough as I ever get. He is also very wary of whips and gets wound up if you carry one near him.
I'm actually very fond of him and he does try to do the right thing once he understands what you are asking.
I have noticed that strangers are very wary or even scared of him (one is a very experianced horsey lady) but I think that they somehow feed off each others nerves.