Grooming a very grumpy horse

Fools Motto

Fools Motto

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How would you?
Really large mare, 17h + .. Head can and does go well out of reach! (sure she thinks she is 19h!).
Can groom neck, just get the ears back. Beyond that, cow kicking, bucking, trying to squish you against the wall, lunging at you teeth bared, stamping front feet - you get the picture.
I tied her up, short with hay. She then lashed out hard - hit the wall. Got even crosser, and lunged at the wall smashing her teeth (ouch!)

Realising that I would still have a wallowing hippo to groom, and I'm earning serious danger money and stressing her out, I untied her, and did the Gum twitch thing - which I personally hate. Much better, but I can't help but think, it didn't have to resort to 'brutality'. I still had to watch out for the odd flying hind leg, and luckily came away with a much cleaner horse, and no physical injury to me.
What would you have done in my situation to get a cleaner horse, and you were on your own? Just trying to think of any alternatives for next time. Thanks.
 
I've had one of these and hated it. Felt I was putting my life on the line just to brush his got damn mane.

I would do some groundwork with this horse before even attempting to groom it. Make her move out of your space and get her listening to you. That way, went she wants to squish you against a wall, you will be more confident and she is more likely to listen to you and move out of your way.

Good luck!
 
I sympathise, totally - my horse doesn't like being brushed at all, though he's not terribly aggressive - he wriggles, steps on me, stamps his feet and kicks up at his belly and I think if I pushed him, he would go for me - sometimes his nose meets me violently, but he has never bitten. I stopped tying him up to brush him and he is no worse. Some days, he's ok and last summer he was great, but when they came back in overnight in the winter, he reverted to being very awkward. I have tried everything - pimple mit, goat hair brush, hand grooming with disposable gloves etc. etc. Funny thing is, he enjoys having his head and neck brushed and his mane and tail. He's very worried about his flanks and belly but ok between his back legs. Sometimes, he'll turn his bum on me when I try to pick his feet out. I've had him 18 months now, and I think it's a personal space/dominance thing (he was a stallion until a year before I got him aged 6). I'm hoping that when he starts moulting properly in a couple of weeks he will enjoy it again..... He is fab on the ground though and I can lead him with a rope round his neck and he is utterly obedient, turning, stopping, trotting etc. and he is great to ride. Strange, quirky horse he is!! Mind you, he is 14.3 so I don't feel too bad about tackling him
 
My 16hh Draft mare was very wary of being groomed when I first got her, she particularly disliked having her head brushed. This was because her bridle had been too tight for the last 9 months and she had had novices dealing with her, who were very wary of her nd therefore, I think, rough. I also think that she had ulcers, I give her Aloe Vera to counteract that.
I taught her to enjoy a good brush by being gentle and rewarding her with a treat for standing still. She is still picky about which brush I can use.
As for her head, I just rubbed with my hand at first, then used a cloth folded small and now can use a brush. I am always careful not to bang her or to brush her hair the wrong way and I still reward her, although not as much as at the beginning.
Do you know why your horse is so grumpy?
 
She isn't mine, and she is a broodmare. She hates being rugged up, but is now naked, hence the wallowing muddyness, and had to look clean for her visit to the stallion. I imagine she would have hated having her girth done up also.
I don't think I'll ever find a cure, but was just looking for ideas on how to 'manage' her grumpiness!!
 
If this is pretty recent, it could be that she has come into season. Think because it has warmed up recently and mares are starting to come into season now. My mare is very grumpy too, mare supplements are very good. I use moody mare. It is the cheapest but it does really work. And do just tread carefully and hope she settles down soon.
 
Could you at least put her on pillar reins, then she'd not be able to use her teeth on you, nor shove her shoulders into you, just for your own safety?
If you are able to short rack the pillar reins outside in a yard, then even better as no walls to squash/bash you against with her quarters :)
 
Pearlsasinger said:
Do you know why your horse is so grumpy?
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I'm sooo glad someone asked that question:D
There will be a good reason for it from the horse's point of view, they are very rarely aggressive unless something is very uncomfortable and they can't move away.
I thought she was very restrained and considerate kicking and biting at the wall instead of you :eek:
she is shouting as loud as she can trying to get you to listen;)
 
The Fuzzy Furry said:
Could you at least put her on pillar reins, then she'd not be able to use her teeth on you, nor shove her shoulders into you, just for your own safety?
If you are able to short rack the pillar reins outside in a yard, then even better as no walls to squash/bash you against with her quarters :)
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Being a welfare officer for the BHS, didn't this ring alarm bells for you? I felt sooo sorry for the mare.:o
 
Mine LOVED being groomed in the summer, pulled funny faces and loved the rubber curry comb under her belly, but she is an itchy horse. Since winter came along she regularly lunges for me with ears back and teeth bared if I try to brush her flanks, belly and especially armpits. I am not sure why, I think it might be some sort of 'women's troubles' combined with the long guard hairs being uncomfortable when the brush pulls on them trying to dislodge mud. Forget rubber curry comb this time of year she'll have your head off! Dandy brush is acceptable, but really I just keep grooming to a minimum as it doesn't really matter at the mo.

So just thinking it might get better in summer and to experiment with various mud removing blocks and mitts and things!
 
muff747, this was a personal safety issue on a horse that is rarely handled as the OP said.
The OP also mentioned dangerous actions from the horse so to be practical she needs to ensure her own safety.

Pillar reins - 2 ropes on either side of a headcollar is not harming the horse, but will provide the OP a little protection from the front end of the horse.

The OP knows there is a problem & is asking for advice.
I dont think the OP has the time to be able to spend on the horse on a daily basis as its a broodmare & she works on a stud. She needs to ask the YO/YM to get to the bottom of it all or provide the OP with the time to get this problem sorted (unlikely to have the latter as its a business & the horse is probably going to be very rarely groomed).

:)
 
The Fuzzy Furry said:
I dont think the OP has the time to be able to spend on the horse on a daily basis as its a broodmare & she works on a stud. She needs to ask the YO/YM to get to the bottom of it all or provide the OP with the time to get this problem sorted (unlikely to have the latter as its a business & the horse is probably going to be very rarely groomed). :)
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:(:( So sad for the poor mare:(:(
 
Great thread, sadly poor mare ........ I have a mare who is a grumpy bum being groomed. I find she is better once worked when she is 'warm'

I've had her since December and can brush most parts with funny faces and teeth being dragged up the wall threatening etc .... and to brush her belly .... NO NEVER!!! wouldnt do it, couldnt and will not be killed :rolleyes:

She likes her face being brushed and after a bit of a fuss she will practically fall alseep having her legs brushed :confused:

To be honest and i cant believe im admitting to this i dont brush her much ... she gets a once over with a soft brush in the areas i dare touch and i do concentrate on her legs but i find if you leave it they tend to get clean themselves :o
 
Fools Motto said:
She isn't mine, and she is a broodmare. She hates being rugged up, but is now naked, hence the wallowing muddyness, and had to look clean for her visit to the stallion. I imagine she would have hated having her girth done up also.
I don't think I'll ever find a cure, but was just looking for ideas on how to 'manage' her grumpiness!!
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are you sure this isn't a physical problem??? Mine has just been diagnosed with having quite bad muscular back pain by vet and had these symptoms plus a few others. Would be worth having a physio session to see if there's any physical pain.
 
My thoughts were hormonal, or ulcers or hating being brushed can be a sign of - yes, another one - D/E:(
Oh and the rugs could be rubbing, has she got high withers?
 
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