Patches
Well-Known Member
(For those who didn't see my post on AHHO, whilst the forum was down)
My clipper phobic horse has outshone herself.
I know I went to great lengths to dessensitise her last year, but it must be about 8 months since she's had clippers anywhere near her. I thought I might be in for a rough ride again until she got re-acquainted.
How wrong was I?
Turned them on, walked up to her and away we went! I was so pleased with her.
Anyway, here's my pictures. I clipped her on Saturday.
Before we started, the hairy yak.
Half way through, change of blades were required for her bum.
As you can see from this pic, I'd gone from doing her free to tying her up
The finished article!
Can you see the best bit of all?
Yup.....she even let me clip out her head! Ok, left ear was dodgy but I didn't want to push it anymore.
Trimmed her legs up a bit. She did let me put the clippers on them and I did tidy up behind her knees to help with the salanders and malanders. However, the clippers just can't cope all that well with her coat, especially on her legs.
So, ready to go in the stable for a treat. All prim and proper.
Munching soaked hay. Must say, her head is finer than I thought it was. That fluff hid her head.
Lines aren't perfect I do accept that. She kept flinching when a fly landed on her, right when I was doing the lines around her stifle (hence why it got lower and lower!)
All in all I couldn't be more proud of her. To take such a violently clipper phobic horse to a full body clip, including her head, feels such an achievement. No twitches, no sedation, no cotton wool in her ears. Nothing.
A little addendum....
I CLIPPED OLIVER TOO!
I really thought he'd be nervous of the clippers and react. I won't say he wasn't bothered, as he did wander about a bit and flick his head at me in disgust for about five minutes.
Just gave him a little bib clip to help with the sweating whilst schooling. I don't think a bib clip will make him too sharp for Hannah either. It was just freehand as it was a very impromptu clipping session, so the lines aren't great at all. Didn't help that it was dark either! He did let me trim up his jawline with them as well.
I just decided to give it a whirl as they were still in stables from clipping Patches the day before.
My clipper phobic horse has outshone herself.
I know I went to great lengths to dessensitise her last year, but it must be about 8 months since she's had clippers anywhere near her. I thought I might be in for a rough ride again until she got re-acquainted.
How wrong was I?
Turned them on, walked up to her and away we went! I was so pleased with her.
Anyway, here's my pictures. I clipped her on Saturday.
Before we started, the hairy yak.
Half way through, change of blades were required for her bum.
As you can see from this pic, I'd gone from doing her free to tying her up
The finished article!
Can you see the best bit of all?
Yup.....she even let me clip out her head! Ok, left ear was dodgy but I didn't want to push it anymore.
Trimmed her legs up a bit. She did let me put the clippers on them and I did tidy up behind her knees to help with the salanders and malanders. However, the clippers just can't cope all that well with her coat, especially on her legs.
So, ready to go in the stable for a treat. All prim and proper.
Munching soaked hay. Must say, her head is finer than I thought it was. That fluff hid her head.
Lines aren't perfect I do accept that. She kept flinching when a fly landed on her, right when I was doing the lines around her stifle (hence why it got lower and lower!)
All in all I couldn't be more proud of her. To take such a violently clipper phobic horse to a full body clip, including her head, feels such an achievement. No twitches, no sedation, no cotton wool in her ears. Nothing.
A little addendum....
I CLIPPED OLIVER TOO!
I really thought he'd be nervous of the clippers and react. I won't say he wasn't bothered, as he did wander about a bit and flick his head at me in disgust for about five minutes.
Just gave him a little bib clip to help with the sweating whilst schooling. I don't think a bib clip will make him too sharp for Hannah either. It was just freehand as it was a very impromptu clipping session, so the lines aren't great at all. Didn't help that it was dark either! He did let me trim up his jawline with them as well.
I just decided to give it a whirl as they were still in stables from clipping Patches the day before.
