Help - I'm shocking my horse!

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starbar

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My new boy is a very nervy chap anyway, but for the past couple of days I have been getting really bad static electric shocks when I groom him. I'm not sure whether I'm shocking him or he's shocking me. Taking his rug off is fine but if I brush him with either a body or dandy brush I am getting shocks if my fingers brush against him. He went to sniff my hand yesterday after I had been brushing him and he got a real belt on the end of his nose. This is a real problem, it's stopping him from trusting me and making him even more highly strung. Any ideas on how to stop this would be much appreciated!
 
How strange i have started doing the same thing !! taking fleeces off, grooming etc and the other day i gave her a kiss on the end of her nose and we had a shock poor horse was not impressed! I think i have narrowed my electricity to wearing crocs on my feet!!
 
Try wearing different shoes....I have one pair of trainers that make me get shocks worthy of keeping stock in a field......
 
I always get shocks off my car but the other day me and horse were passing them to and fro while I groomed with a plastic curry comb. He didn't seem to notice.
 
I'm exactly the same and if anyone can suggest a remedy I'd be grateful too. Rubber gloves? I get shocks off the car, shopping trolleys, headcollars, computers, taps, stair rails in shops, all sorts of things. It can actually be quite painful and the horse jumps too when it happens when I'm grooming. I work with someone who can change channels on the TV by walking close to it. I haven't got that particular skill-yet. I suppose it helps if you lose the remote, but I'm not sure she's quite got it so she can choose channels yet.
 
I have a fleece that makes me static!! I had it on one day thought it had made my hair static when i got in the car so looked in the mirror and i had a huge spider climbing on my face. I know this isnt really relevant but as i read this it reminded me of this!!!!
 
Thanks, I'll try different shoes tomorrow! I am wearing new boots so hopefully back to the old ones might help. Poor boy, he hasn't had the best start in life so is jumpy at the best of times, a new different yard and a new mum that shocks him isn't making for an easy life!
 
Cotton is neutral in the triboelectric series(ooh look who swallowed a dictionary:D)A light cotton undersheet next to the horses coat will help avoid shocks ,rugging. Keep one hand on the horse when brushing,to dump the charge buildup. Changing footwear to one that will leak charge to earth will help.Dry conditions are worse for static buildup.
 
This was happening to my friend when she took of her mares snuggy hood. At one point she was holding a metal rod between the mare and the ground to try and take the static away...don't know if ot worked though :S
 
This happens to me too, even when she isn't wearing a rug (I mean I am not putting one on her, taking one off nor is she wearing one at the time). She gets shocks off of the dandy brush or sometimes my hand and it's not helpful when she's a bit nervy anyway!
 
I've tried the keeping hand on horse; doesn't work. I don't wear nylon or polyester. My footwear outside is rubber wellies. Fleeces are very bad as suggested by others, but mine now are cotton. I do also have an "electric bum" on horses and every time I go to the photocopier at work or the fax it misbehaves. People do not believe me until they see it in action and then they are quite gobsmacked. Please tell me I'm not alone!
 
Nopes me too, i get massive shocks off my car and every time it happens i get so angry, its terrible really. My Tb mare and i get shocks off each other all the time but my welshy never gives them to me! I also have an electric bum maybe its a symptom. I have heard that there is a thing you can do but can't for the life of me think what it is, useless sorry!!
 
OMG. I thought I was the only one!! At certain times I suddenly go all shocky and get and give shocks to everything and anyone! When i get out the car I have to open door put feet down first then stand up and only then can I touch car.

Have given up brushing ponies at the mo!!! All the hair sticks all up my arms and I look like a werewolf and get shocks every 2 seconds!

If anyone can find a solution?!
 
ditto the recommendations above - also try natural bristle brushes rather than nylon ones (if you are using them)
 
thought it was just me!!!have always got shocks from my car but this is the 1st year ive had them from all 3 of my horses.they are wearing the same rugs as other years,same brushes and i always do them up in my wellies so no different to other years,any suggestions please
 
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