Horse really dislikes being brushed!

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dark_prince

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My TB really does not like being brushed. I've had him around 8 months now and we've gotten to a point where he will tolerate me brushing his legs and neck. He still hates being brushed on his shoulder to his bum. I tried brushing firmer in case he was just ticklish, but that made things worse. I found he preferred being brushed if I barely touched him with the brush. I have also started tying him up with a net to distract him, which worked at first but will now only work if he's starving!
I've now bought a goat's hair brush and 90% of the time he will carry on as normal..no pulling faces or lifting legs or pawing at me. However I can't really get any mud out, especially after he's covered himself with mud.

Any suggestions? He is great to pick feet out, loves his head being brushed with a dandy brush and isn't bothered by me using my hands to remove dried dirt.
 
My horse especially when clipped doesn't like anything more than a body brush, I hardly use any brushes though, I usually use one of those cactus mit's with sheepskin on the one side and the hesian stuff on the other, I also use a floppy rubber mitten, he doesn't mind either of those at all, the cactus one is especially good for getting mud off
 
I have an arab who hates being groomed and is unfortunately grey! I have yet to find any brushes to her liking but she loves the shedding blade and tolorates a cactus mitt. Sometimes you just have to try different brushes and do the bare minimum:)
 
One of my boys hates being brushed, if he had a choice he would never be brushed.. tried all sorts of brushes, he is 9 and was like this when we got him at 3. We just have to persist, he stand still to be brushed, but makes it obvious he doesn't like it...
 
I always compare grooming to going to a spa. Some people love it, but some couldn't think of a worse way to spend an afternoon. I think horses are the same with grooming ;)
 
Mine hates being groomed, the only thing he will tolerate is being grommed with a hair brush and even then it's only tolerating he doesn't enjoy it. My other one and the other I ride adore being groomed but him, nope not at all.

In all honesty I persevered at first but now I just do the bare minimum, he doesn't like it and quite clearly stresses him. Not ideal as he's meant to be my show pony haha :o.
 
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One of my horses doesnt like being brushed, he paws when i try to take mud off his front legs, walks about the stable and raises his head as high as he can, etc.. however once he's been ridden and untacked he's quite happy to have a good brush down.

Ironically he loves nothing more than getting his rugs off for a good scratch, he points with his muzzle to the itchy bits and lifts his leg, protrudes top lip & stretches his neck when I hit the spot(s).

I put it down to one of his little foibles, I tend to take the worst off areas where tack or boots are going if just riding at home and if I really need to tackle the dirt he's tied up with a net, given lots of praise and carrots for being good and I ignore his drama queen antics :D
 
Oh thank goodness! I thought mine was the only one!

She's actually worse in winter, running to the back of the box, pawing and generally being a PITA. And tying her up is a last resort, usually when she's out on the yard.

She'll let me brush out her mane and tail, and I can brush her over her quarters and shoulders, and surprisingly for a headshy horse, her face, if I'm very quiet when I go in and very gentle with the brush - she really likes it once she relaxes into it.

The rest of her body is a nightmare! As I said, she's more forgiving in the summer, but unless she's going to a show I generally use was of those big micropore mops you wash your car with - she absolutely gleams when she's wiped over with one, but they only get the surface dust off.
 
My pony loves being brushed, his favourite is the metal curry comb!

Is your horse happy to be touched all over with your hands as if not then could he be a bit sore or tense in places so finding being brushed uncomfortable. Did his previous owner have the same problem.
 
My horse is the same and has been since he was little (now 20), his full sister is the same, sire is the same and grand sire. He will tolerate (kind of) plastic curry comb to get mud off but absolutely hates body brush and he is a mud monster. He is better in summer cause he gets a bit of a scratch but he's still a nightmare. I find he's much better after he's been ridden so I brush minimally tack up and ride then proper groom after. The stroppier he is to groom the better he is to ride, if he's quiet to groom it's not a good sign so I usually either give him that day off or lunge now (I've learnt my lesson).
 
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