Help, desensitising a horse to clippers

Slightly Foxed

Slightly Foxed

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One of my mare's goes absolutely ape when you put clippers near her. She's fine in every other respect but rears and panics if you try and get near her with clippers.

Sera in doesn't go anywhere near her; we've tried having the vet sedate her but she had an elephant's dose and I still only managed to clip one side of her neck!

She's absolutely fine watching the others being clipped.

Any ideas gratefully accepted. I'm off to do the horses now, so not being rude if you get no response to your advice!
 
Well my mare used to try and kick you (as in cow kick) I eventually got her used to them by firstly buying a set of battery operated harmony clippers these are alot quieter than my other set and no lead to trip over etc. Then I began by just turning them on nr her, then off give her treat, repeat gradually getting closer and giving another treat etc. Eventually she would let me touch her with them so turn off and give another treat etc. I think this is the 3rd year I manged to clip now, she hardly reacts now but I do still give her a treat everytime I stop to clean clippers etc. :)
I think mine didn't like the noise or the vibration, smaller quieter clippers has helped alot, i've not tried with my other set as I cope fine with the smaller ones :) i think I might even be able to do a bigger clip this year as she didn't even lift a back leg when i ran the clippers whilst on along her belly :)
Hope that is of some help. :)
 
Make a recording of clipping and clippers, both starting, running and switching etc then play it non stop for days, Have a break then play it again but either louder or in her box just so she gets used to it and work from there. See if you can borrow some Rex Moser clippers; they're very small but make little noise and start off with them (i've done a full clip with a TB who was just the same; took a while longer but they didn't stress him out and he didn't even need sedating due to the clipper recording, he would climb up the walls before that)
 
I started with an electric tooth brush concealed in my hand (took the head off, of course), while horse ate her dinner from a hook-over bucket on the gate. The first few sessions were from the other side of the gate.
Another way to do it is to keep the clipper on her until she stops moving, then she learns to stop if she wants it to go away. No use if she's cantering away from you.:rolleyes: Also found it is better to introduce scary things in the field - not so hemmed in.
Good Luck.
 
Old electric toothbrush left running in the stable (or start further away dependant on severity of reactions). Once happy with that, pair of clippers without blades left running. Then progress to them touching her etc.

A colleague 'cured' one this way...only he used an alternative to an electric toothbrush. Eventually he had one tied to the headcollar to solve head issues.
 
Start with what she will tolerate. Standing near to you pretend using them on another horse by the sound of it. What happens if you switch them off and approach her? I would approach gently moving them through the air gently until she starts to get agitated. Retreat to a distance where she stops. Repeat. Watch her signs... If she is starting to pull faces, you can back off a little. If you push it too far and she rears back right off (but aim to only push her to a 1-2 on a scale of 0-5). Keep everything safe, use a non-slip surface and have a helper holding her loosely and relaxed. Everyone weara hard hats and gloves.

Progress to rubbing her shoulder with them, rubbing her all over with them, then switch on and start again from step 1. Allow plenty of time, patience galore and be prepared to use as many sessions as it takes. Plenty of praise when she doesn't react, and if treats work well with her by all means use them.
 
My lad was like this. Peeps have made good suggestions but my boy was bribed by food. I ran clippers whilst he was being fed, got them closer and closer and de sensitised in this way. It took absolutely ages though, I mean weeks. He now 'tolerates' clippers but still cannot do his head unless he's sedated. Good luck.
 
Ended up doing a friends the other day for her. She had him tied up very tight in a stable so all he could do was pivot around and squash her to get it to stop. He was pooing liquid and terrified.

I suggested Id have a go to give her a break. Took him outside and walked up and down with them on til he didnt jump every time they went on and off. Then put them on with my left hand on his shoulder, back of my hand to him, holding headcollar noseband with my right. Let him walk around in circles and switch them off and praise when he stood still. Then progressed to actual clipper being moved around on him, then started clipping. Got to the clipping within 40 mins. Ended up with him stood free until I got to his man bits then had to to a bit more pressure and release :D

Friend was astounded ;)
 
I have found that most just don't like the noise. They don't mind the actual clipping part but not the noise so I use earplugs. A big lump of sponge usually does the trick.

I don't have the luxury of time when teaching youngsters to be clipped to get them used to it beforehand so they get tried, if scared then plugged and left for 10mins to adjust to the silence. All the while being brushed and then the clippers go back on and job done.
 
Yes, all the above is great advice - but I found that it wasn't the noise but the actual clippers on my boy's sensitive skin that freaked him out - especially as they get very warm :o:o
Vets have a paste called Dormosedon (sp?) that is 100 times more effective than ACP/Sedalin - it was the only one that worked and had him sedated for 2 hours:rolleyes::rolleyes: You could always try it as a short term solution
 
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