Grooming a slightly headshy horse

[Natassia]

I have had my 7 y/o gelding on loan for 3 1/2 weeks, he is a lovely horse and has settled in well, he is timid but I am quiet and sensitive around him. When I tie him up to groom him he does get bored even though he always has a haynet. He is generally good to groom but is slightly nervous and tends to pull back when I do his face. He hasn't pulled to the extent where he's broken the string, and his owner told me that he does this, so it isn't a new problem.
If he pulls back I stop and wait for him to go forward and praise him when he does. Its been a gradual process, especially since he hasn't been handled much recently and he is improving. I am using a 'little and often' approach and it seems to be working. But do any of you have any advice for me, especially about grooming his face?

 

[ajf]

Well I just don't brush my chap!!! I know this sounds really bad, but he's really sensitive and hates it, especially at the mo as hes clipped. He will tolierate it sometimes and sometimes I think he actually likes it, but I just don't hassel him. Yes, I'am the person u see competeing with mud stuck in mane and all over head!!!!

 

[Abbeygale]

I had a similar problem with a TB I had a few years ago. He had always been a little nervy with brushes around his face, and his ears particularly. Then while we was on livery at one point, a really helpful (NOT) yard helper was brushing him, and obviously got fed up of him waving his head around when she was trying to brush his ears (something we just ignored....), so she decided to give him a wallop around the ears with the brush

- then one really head shy horse and one mad owner!

It did take a long time to get him over this - but it in the end you have to stick with the softly softly approach - you can't rush them into something like this - and they usually have a reason for not liking these things - no matter how big or small it may seem to us!

Have patience - my boy in the end would let me clip right up around his ears in the end, and once I even managed to clip his ears as well!!

(although this did take years rather than months! - the working around the headshy-ness - not the clipping!!)

 

[Dreckly]

I had a similar problem in the past, and instead of using a brush to clean mud of the face I use those plastic washing up scourers you can buy in £1 shop - the rolled up plastic net type. V good at getting the mud off and it gets them used to working round the heard and ears without a brush. Works really well.

 

[cavalo branco]

My horse is very head shy and has been ever since I got him 14 months ago, especially on his near side. I slowly and gently edge a soft body brush from under his chin, making silly crooning noises!! Well, it works for him! Can't really do his ears though, I just hand pick a little bit off as I put his bridle on (and have invested in a snuggy hood) All the crooning DOESN'T work for clipping though, he's a nightmare!

 

[paisley]

A pair of gloves with the plastic pimples on the inside can help, especially if you just pretend to be giving his face a friendly rub! Also less chance of accidentally knocking his face with a brush if he suddenly decides he's had enough.Is there any chance you could not tie him up when grooming or even just doing his face- just have a headcollar on? I know it sounds silly but sometimes they feel less trapped and less likely to run back (I assume you have a stable you can use!).

 

[jumpthemoon]

My mare is headshy and I use one of those grooming mits, with a cactus cloth on one side and sheepskin stuff on the other, for her face. It works really well cos it's just like stroking them - doesn't hurt sensitive skin like a brush can do and you can get the mud off with the cactus cloth

Brill

 

[brightmount]

It will take patience as he learns he can trust you. You need to work up slowly from the neck, don't go straight for the head. He may tolerate a cactus mitt, which has coarse knit string type stuff on one size and sheepskin on the other and you put it on your hand so it's less threatening than a brush, and surprisingly effective at removing dried mud.

 

[Natassia]

Thank you for the advice, people at the yard have suggested using one of those grooming mitts so will buy one of them, he is an affectionate horse and doesn't mind me stroking his head so that should work. He is a naturally sensitive horse I think, I don't think he's been terribley mistreated or anything like that. Also he hasn't been handled much in the 4 months he's been off work for (before he came to me) so even if he was good to groom before, its still a bit new to him.

 

[Tinker_Belle]

I had a pony who had been left to run with his mother from birth. I bought him as a yearling & the only time he'd been touched was to be grabbed by the ears as that was the only way they could lead him!!

It took ages & ages to get his trust, strangely he adored having his rear end scratched, just above his tail & would turn his rear end on you to 'ask' for it to be done (very unnerving at first!)

Anyway, the way I got him over his head shyness was 'groom' his head with my hands & once he was happy with that I worked up to very very short sessions with a goat hair face brush, literally seconds at first.
He didn't mind headcollars or anything like that once he'd settled but I just think it was bad memories. He was completely happy with his head being touched eventually but like everyone else has said, it has to be slow, little & often & you have to gain trust but it will happen.

Good luck!

 

[Jomanser]

My boy isn't headshy but really dislikes the feel of the brush on his face, so I do the rest of him tied up and then when he is in his stable I do his face. No headcollar just my hand on his nose to bring his head down (he's 17hh). I also find if I am the same height as him he is more compliant, so I use a little footstool. I also get the big clumps of with my hand, and then use a really soft brush for the leftovers. Still not 100% happy but much better than with a headcollar and tied up.