Just about given up with grooming... :( HELP PLEASE!!

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maxine<3froggy

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Hey guys,

I have a 21yr old Selle Francais called Froggy, and i seriously need your help!!

I know that as horses get older they get thinner hair and get more sensitive but this is ridiculous!! everytime i go near him with a brush (no matter how soft it is) he throws his head about, kicks out, bites and throws himself around. Not to scare me, just to tell me he doesnt like it. Now im no push over, but i know he isnt just doing it to get out of being brushed. It's like he is genuinely telling me it hurts, please stop. It's getting to the point where he doesnt like being stroked!!

The vet has checked him over and there is nothing wrong in that sense, they just say hes a sensitive horse.

I was just wondering if anyone had any suggestions?... if there are any lol, because i am seriously thinking about just giving up grooming altogether!!

Thanks,

Maxine

xXx
 
I find it strange that a vet has ruled out any problems but your horse behaves aggressively when you go near him with a brush. Does he react this way no matter where you try to touch him??? If so then it sounds more to me like defiant behaviour. You say you are firm with him,but how do you react to this behaviour?
My horse was like this when I first got him and in the end I tied him up short so he couldn't swing round to bite me and pushed him back to where he was if he tried to bum barge me. I also had trouble with doing his back feet as he would cow kick and mean it.It did take time and firm consistent handling to overcome it.I also used a rubbery curry comb as for some reason this seems to get less of a reaction.Someone told me it's due to the fact there are no bristles and some horses do react to them.I wonder if it is like a build up of static in their coat perhaps?
 
Giving up grooming might not be good but what about giving up the brushes for a while? Even a lightly pimpled riding glove (you know the cheap cotton or woolly ones with little rubber spots) can be used for grooming, you don;t have to get a fancy mit thing straight off. I know it isn't very correct to wear gloves to groom but if you use the glove to do the grooming you might be able to get him back into the idea that it doesn't hurt. Also, probs no /real/ harm in him having a few days off and you slowly building up from just using the gloved hand to scratch the base of his ears (or wherever you know he likes best) and building up to a 'full' groom from there.

Do you know what has caused this if it isn't medical? Is he itchy with new coat coming through? Got a food intolerance? (Can cause sensitivity & itching, there is someone on here with a mare allergic to heaps of things which used to itch I think.) Share horsey is very sensitive after clipping but I'm assuming it isn't that at this time of year...
 
also make sure that its not the opposite prob; my horse is sensitive to grooming but the part he really hates is the tickling, so he prefers a very spiky plastic curry comb OR a furry mit but hates anything in between...odd but true
 
How about a good rough old towel or nappy (obviously not the disposable type) rub down as you would with a stable rubber (feeling like I sound very old). Should clean the coat and get out any dead hair without hurting!
 
Is he OK for you to massage him vigorously with your hands?

If so, he might just be very ticklish? I have found TBs can be very ticklish and if they are not keen on being brushed, then they are happy with a gel massage brush. The one I use is this type

http://www.onestopequineshop.com/images/products/112230(1).jpg

All the tack shops near me sell them. They are excellent for grooming and quite cheap, and ticklish horses don't seem to mind them.
 
Thanks for the suggestions. i thought it was strange that the vet found nothing wrong and he doesnt have any rashes or anything. He has been like it for quite some time now, with weather, seasons, rug/unrugged not affecting it. he quite likes his face and his bum being being brushed but everywhere else seems to be a no go area. ive taken the route of ignoring his fits, tying him up shorter (like you said) and just getting on with it, being as gental and quick as poss but still getting the job done because i know that grooming is very important. just wish i knew the reason behind it because he is brilliant with everything else.
xXx
 
Could it be static electricity ? Perhaps he is getting a shock when you brush him, one of my previous horses used to be very prone to it.
 
thanks for the suggestions. i tried the rough towel and riding glove option and it didnt bother him one bit!! thanks for suggesting it!! grooming times are soo much easier now :)
xXx
 
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