Getting a horse used to clippers when you don't have any clippers.....

Kat

Kat

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Any suggestions? Horse was supposed to be clipped today but apparently wouldn't stand still. She has been clipped before, but only once and was apparently ok about it and done without sedation. This would have been last winter with her previous owners.

What do people do?

Or should I just acquire a shedload of sedalin?
 
I have a Mighty Atom!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/HOMEDICS-Ma...1_fkmr1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1319210165&sr=8-1-fkmr1

Good to have in your first aid kit for if your horse ever has a sore back as they really do appreciate a nice massage with it. And the sounds and feel of it is excellent for getting them used to clippers. I rub it up and down my boys' necks and praise them. If they fidget I keep it on them until they stand still, THEN I take it off.... and they get the odd treat fed too for being extra good.
 
haven't got an electric toothbrush, and I'm not sure I'd want to use one after it had been round the horse anyway!

I have got a massager thing that sort of vibrates and makes a noise, could try that, although I couldn't plug it in.......... hmmmmmm......
 
Ha sometimes I wish there was a like button , go and buy some trimmers for 20 quid , you'll get your use out of them for years trimming fetlocks ears under the chin or getting a well bang'd tail
 
Lol! OH who was holding her while she was done said he suggested using his shaver and one of the ladies on the yard suggested a rampant rabbit!

Anyway now thinking about getting some small cordless clippers so that we can get her used to them and then do a small clip in our own time in her own box where she feels comfortable.

So any recommendations for something, small, quiet, cordless and cheap that could do a chaser clip one one horse each year?
 
domane said:
I have a Mighty Atom!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/HOMEDICS-Ma...1_fkmr1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1319210165&sr=8-1-fkmr1

Good to have in your first aid kit for if your horse ever has a sore back as they really do appreciate a nice massage with it. And the sounds and feel of it is excellent for getting them used to clippers. I rub it up and down my boys' necks and praise them. If they fidget I keep it on them until they stand still, THEN I take it off.... and they get the odd treat fed too for being extra good.
Click to expand...

i second this :)
i got mine at the local garage for £3 when i spent more than £20 on petrol :D there so good i bought 2 but did get a funny look

they are really good as they sound and feel just like clippers but have smooth edges so you can even rub around eye/face without the worry of nicking them
 
Electric toothbrush as suggested, is the best option. (you're not going to use it on the horses teeth and the heads of the toothbrush can be changed!):) Its just to get the horse used to the buzzing sounds. Failing that, Ann Summers sale was a good suggestion:D
 
I used my husband's beard trimmer (he doesn't know...:p)

That said, horses seem to react to cordless and mains powered clippers very differently - Merlin is now fine with cordless after getting used to the beard trimmer, but when the vet turned up with some mains powered ones he went "AAAAAARRRGGHHHHH!!!!! SNAKE!!!!!!!" and did his best boggle-eyed Riverdance impression.
 
I was advised when I had a horse who wouldn't be clipped to use an electric toothbrush (as everyone else has said) but to put it in a feed bucket with your horses feed bucket on top so your horse gets used to noise and vibration while eating. Then go onto the rubbing all over with it. The lady who told me to do this then, using cordless clippers, spent an hour (more patience than me!) walking around the stable while the horse moved away until he eventually gave up and said ok, I'll stand still while you clip me!
 
Carolinej I wonder if that is part of the problem. Oh did say the clippers were huge and noisy and mains powered.

Hence I am thinking of getting some small cordless ones. She was also better when OH held the clippers so perhaps we would be better doing her ourselves.
 
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