HELP PLS! How to clip the ears of my ear-shy horse?!

[Hollyhorse]

I've had my horse for just over a year now n I think he must have been ear-twitched in the past as at first I could barely touch his ears at all. Now I can rub and squeeze his ears n he doesn't mind at all! However when it comes to clipping him the one place I can't do is his ears - the rest of him is fine, he's very sensitive so I have to be careful when doing around his belly n armpits but I can at least get the rest of him fully clipped including his head pretty easily - but I have to leave his ears fluffy! I've tried using my razor around his ears which he doesn't mind but it doesn't do anything! Any ideas on what I can do or use as I'd rather not sedate and sedalin paste doesn't make any difference.

 

[MontyandZoom]

Does he twitch? Zoomy is a bit funny about her ears. She is perfect to clip everywhere except there (she's got a bit scar on her poll so think she's been clonked over the head).

Sedalin doesn't touch her but if you put a twitch on her nose it sends her to sleep so you can quicky do her ears.

 

[Prince33Sp4rkle]

echo twitch, and use small trimmers rather than heavy duty clippers.

 

[letrec_fan]

Why not just do a half face clip? That way you can completley avoid the ears and ensure she has a good clipping experience - especially if she is nervy around her ears. Unless you are working her extremely hard I see no benefit to having her ears clipped. Just make sure you brush/sponge off where the bridle sits.

 

[PennyJ]

^^^^^^
Same as he says. Seems the easiest option all round really.

 

[Hollyhorse]

Was hoping to avoid twitches...but maybe the thing to try. Can't do a half face clip as he's in a lot of work and gets a very hairy head n drips around his ears that I practically have to hose his head after taking the bridle off!

 

[Fairynuff]

agree absolutely with last 2 replies. Apart from the over all appearance there is no need to clip ears nor heads. I will only do a half face clip and cant see the need to fight with a horse to strip his whole head-in fact if they dont allow me to do the half face clip I leave well alone. A hairy head doesnt hinder performance nor drying time

 

[Sit_Up]

Dont bother clipping the ears, just trim the fluffiest bits with scissors to tidy.

 

[Fairynuff]

[ QUOTE ]
Was hoping to avoid twitches...but maybe the thing to try. Can't do a half face clip as he's in a lot of work and gets a very hairy head n drips around his ears that I practically have to hose his head after taking the bridle off!

[/ QUOTE ]
use a towel or some hay to dry what you can. It could also be a good way to get him used to having his ears touched

 

[letrec_fan]

Just allow the sweat to dry and then brush off the day after. Brushing sweat into the coat will only irritate the skin. I think you'll find very few people clip their horses ears. Hosing the whole head is also unnecassary and will only make your horse more head shy! A damp sponge will do it if you want to after you ride - even if she is dripping!

 

[Hollyhorse]

I obviously didn't literally hose his head! I was trying to demonstrat how sweaty he gets. When I first got him he was v head shy but now couldn't care less about you touching his ears, even v roughly. The prob only comes back when I have the quiet clippers vibrating on his ears, I can easily clip all around them, just not the ears themselves. I normally just leave them n most ppl don't notice but I was wondering if there's something I could use for his ears which makes no sound like a heavy duty razor?!

 

[stellaartwar57]

have a horse with two scars on his poll at present !!"!!!!!!!!! some knid of evil has happend he is bad to clip his ears but i have found cotton wool in the ear and a twich to be the best thing ever much nicer than sedating them !!!!! the natural endorphins are much kinder on the horses liver and kidneys than sedation !!!

 

[Fairynuff]

could someone please explain to me the necessity in removing hair from horses ears. Dont we put wooly hats on (or scarves) to cover the same organs when its cold? I really dont understand the human mentality sometimes

 

[Abbeygale]

A horse I used to look after was really bad with his ears - but his owner liked him to have a full clip

So we used to clip his head, but just leave him with fluffy ears. You can just trim up the worst of the fluff with scissors if you want to, as someone else said.

That's what I would do anyway, if I really felt the urge to clip my horses head off....

 

[Luci07]

I clip my horses ears all year round - he will make a song and dance unless I put a twitch on him but if I do, he immediately goes to sleep. Its my personal preference to clip his head out but he isn't that worried - he just likes to make a point from time to time! if he was really freaked, then I would go for a half head..

 

[Rudey]

Sammi my bay use to go mental when I first got him. Turning a pair of clippers on whilst stood away from him and he would go berzerk!!!! After 13 years of time and patience, oh and lets not forget getting squashed and head smashed off the wall, I can clip him anywhere!!! Admittedly if he is in a hissy mood, around his ears and the very bottom underneathe his jaw, he will constantly jerk away, I twitch him to make it a quick and less stressful as possible - but then other days, he won't bat an eyelid!

Horses - you gotta love 'em!! xx

 

[flowerlady]

[ QUOTE ]
could someone please explain to me the necessity in removing hair from horses ears. Dont we put wooly hats on (or scarves) to cover the same organs when its cold? I really dont understand the human mentality sometimes

[/ QUOTE ]

what ^^^^^^she said also I hate it when people cut off whiskers they are there for a reason

 

[MistletoeMegan]

Don't clip them!

The hair doesn't need to come off, just clip the rest of his head if he's really that sweaty that he doesn't cool down properly.

 

[wysiwyg]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
could someone please explain to me the necessity in removing hair from horses ears. Dont we put wooly hats on (or scarves) to cover the same organs when its cold? I really dont understand the human mentality sometimes

[/ QUOTE ]

what ^^^^^^she said also I hate it when people cut off whiskers they are there for a reason

[/ QUOTE ]

Ditto both of the above

 

[oldvic]

If you feel the need to clip them, try those very small pocket trimmers - they cost about £10 and while they are not perfect, they do a job, are very quiet and get the horse used to a tiny bit of vibration.