Help with clipping?

[bellacharliejane]

Hi there! I was wondering if anyone had any ideas or advice on clipping....
I've had my boy for 3 months now, and he's very calm about almost everything including being shod etc. He had his first clip yesterday as he was getting quite fluffy, and we found that he's not too fond of being clipped!!

Oscar was just very nervous, nothing nasty - just wanting to get away from the clippers. He'd side step and turn around, jerk his head away and try and watch what was going on... no striking out or anything though, thank goodness!

Jenny, the lovely lady that was clipping him and did a grand job considering he wasn't being very co-operative, suggested sedating him for his next clip, perhaps with Domogel (Domosedan Gel). Has anyone got any experience with this? How well does it work? What dosage did you have to use?

Ideally I'd like to avoid sedating him, as the Domogel seems like quite a powerful drug, and it all seems a bit extreme for such a little procedure; but of course I don't want him to be stressed out. I was thinking I could try using a calmer first - any ideas on which calmers are best and most effective?

Similarly, I was wondering if he would be less worried about the clippers if they were quieter and didn't have a wire moving on the ground - perhaps using a set of battery clippers would keep him calm... has this worked for anyone else?

Sorry for such a rambling post, I'm grateful for any advice - thank you xx

 

[Izzwizz]

Domosedan gel is very effective, totally knocks them out. You need to get it from your Vets so it will end up costing you more on top of your clipping costs. Your Vet will advise you on the doseage. Quieter clippers do help so thats an option. Start at the shoulder so they get used to it a a less "scary" level. Could you clip other horses nearby so your horse gets used to the sound? Feed lots of mints, I did this with a horse that didnt like being clipped, seemed to work and after a while he got better and better.
For sensitive areas try some of those trimmers made by Wahl. My mare doesnt like her face doing with the noisier ones but she will tolerate being done with the Wahl ones. Takes a bit longer but a lot less bother.

Hope that helps a little..

 

[dianchi]

Personally its worth the effort in getting him used to the clippers, just stand with them in his stable, have them on him but not clipping the hair, do it so much that it bores him, that's the best way to deal with him, sedation is always a worry, some can snap out of it quickly kick out and be back under again in the blink of an eye-been there!

Domo is a very heavy sedation, although the ACP types are lighter the above is an issue

 

[9tails]

Mine also isn't keen on being clipped. I've found that she really doesn't mind though if she's loose in her stable. I use cordless clippers so that she doesn't have to be in one spot and can walk away if it gets too much. At that point, I stop for 5 minutes to give us both a rest. It's worth a try as he can then have a look to see what you're up to.

 

[mattydog]

I have had my lad for 10 years and he has never been good to clip. For a while I used a calmer on him which isn't a sedative but just takes the edge off. Then I invested in a set of battery clippers. Much quieter and no cord trailing about. Although he is still not perfect he is 100% better. No longer give him anything to calm him but do clip at wharp speed and never attempt anything but a tidy up to his cheek!!

 

[bellacharliejane]

Thanks guys! Your replies are very helpful
I think I'll see if I can track down a pair of battery clippers to borrow to see what he's like before I invest in a pair, but it seems worth doing! x