Mane Issues. Does anybody have any ideas?!

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I have taken on a project pony recently and having some real issues with him not letting anybody touch his mane. J Howard can vouch for this as she came to see him Yesterday.

Just trying to figure out a reason as to why you cannot touch his mane. Does anybody have any ideas?

He is a 5yo conemara pony with trust issues. i have been able to get him to pick up his feet within the last week and various other things but he just has this issue with his mane.

ETA: you can touch his forelock with no trouble and his tail. Also you can scratch and rub his neck just dont touch the mane. Even the ends of his Mane is unbarable to him.
 
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Some people go rather mental with pulling (last yo went nuts at a m&m ponies mane while she was sedated, good god she would have been sore after). I wonder if that would do it? Some horses and ponies are quicker to forgive than others, it might have only been a 'small' thing but if it was enough to hurt then it can stick in the mind for them?
 
Might sound stupid but do you need to touch it right now?
If you don't need to, I would leave it until he is more trusting.
 
ThePony said:
Some people go rather mental with pulling (last yo went nuts at a m&m ponies mane while she was sedated, good god she would have been sore after). I wonder if that would do it? Some horses and ponies are quicker to forgive than others, it might have only been a 'small' thing but if it was enough to hurt then it can stick in the mind for them?
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Yep, this was my thought too. Plus (I could be totally wrong here), but I'm not sure he can actually see your hand when on the neck, so if nervous - it will understandably upset him.

Just leave the area alone until he's happier and more trusting????
 
With out being able to touch his mane i cannot put on and take off the headcollar. which i will need to do soon as it is rubbing by leaving it on.

I forgot to say that you once there is the initial contact he settles but its the first touch everytime that is the problem.

I dont think that its that he can't see because he is happy to let you sctrach his neck under the mane and ont the actual mane itself.
 
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burness_21 said:
With out being able to touch his mane i cannot put on and take off the headcollar. which i will need to do soon as it is rubbing by leaving it on.

I forgot to say that you once there is the initial contact he settles but its the first touch everytime that is the problem.

I dont think that its that he can't see because he is happy to let you sctrach his neck under the mane and ont the actual mane itself.
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Now I am confused.
I don't have to touch my horses mane to get the head collar off.
 
quirky said:
Might sound stupid but do you need to touch it right now?
If you don't need to, I would leave it until he is more trusting.
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totally agree let him learn to trust you he may just of had a bad experience a mare we bought last year has only just allowed me to put a fly mask on!! there is no rush little and often gently gently he'll soon realize your not going to hurt him x
 
I asked if anybody here had any ideas as to why. As in and medical reasons he may not allow you to touch his mane. because by not being able to touch the near enough the front half of his body could be a problem.

I am not in any hurry but as asking if anybody had any ideas as he is also very quick and has realy learnt that if can invade your space, rear or bite you if he dosent want you to do anything. He doesnt seem to be frightened as J Howard will Verifiy but just doent want you to touch him.
 
This little chap is NOT head shy, the reason the head collar is an issue is it sits across the mane, even if your scratching his neck and nuckles brush the ends he reacts badley.

the headcoller does need to start coming off so it is important.

I cant see that op can leave it to much longer to be honest with out russhing him. barring the pulling, we were wondering if he could have nerve damage along the crest line, he twitches on his withers a hell of a lot as his mane moves about (withers have been x rayed that how big a problem this is..)
 
If it just needs to come off then can you cut the straps off him? With something like this so you don't accidentally take a chunk of ear too?! http://www.hyperdrug.co.uk/Yard-Knife/productinfo/YARDKNIFE/?_$ja=kw:%2bYard%20%2bKnife|cgn:Yard+Knife|cgid:2010015548|tsid:2126|cn:Hyperdrug+-+Equine+Products|cid:77420348|lid:23401132268|mt:Broad|nw:search|crid:7758315908&gclid=CLTEjOWV0KgCFQoa4QodFmr7gw mine was 50p from countrywide, but I can't find it on their website.
 
getting it off is easy, op will really struggle to get it back on. ive suggested that whilst vet is there and he is sedated that she hogs the entire mane off.
my thinking is that she will then be able to freely touch his neck, and can then work on the mane as it grows back. ,

He is not a nasty pony and to a point he is not scared. anticipating yes.
 
jhoward said:
getting it off is easy, op will really struggle to get it back on. ive suggested that whilst vet is there and he is sedated that she hogs the entire mane off.
my thinking is that she will then be able to freely touch his neck, and can then work on the mane as it grows back. ,

He is not a nasty pony and to a point he is not scared. anticipating yes.
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I've had to do that with a similar problem and it did help a great deal.
Not sure if the purists will approve of hogging a native though..
 
lol i know OP was a bit :eek: when i suggested it.. BUT hes not going anywhere so looks dont matter and to be fair its obviousley not been brushed for god knows how long so is matted in places, and it falls either side of the neck., least this way she can re train it as it grows back to lie on the one side :D

op is doing a fab job with the lad but whilst the mane is an issue then neck/head collar etc is a big issue also any attempts to intoduce a saddle etc is just not possible.,

hes odd, he has had a saddle on previous (doped proberly) i was playing with a towel on him he would let it be drapped over quaters/back main neck (yes over his mane) but any where near his withers and he twitched until the towel was sat further back on him!
 
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I have been really stupid i put the clippers in the car as i have the vet coming today.

I got so excited about the rain coming i forgot that pony is out in the field and now soaking wet so i can't hog him today how stupid am i.
 
His mane was dry so i lopped it off.

His teeth have been over rasped in the past so are smooth which is why he drops food. Ears are very clean and vet checked his eyesight. Ho trouble in his eyes. Has had signs of in the past having the equine herpes virus but nothing to worry about.

However his Micro chip number doesnt match the number in his passport. Also he has one on each sider of his neck.
 
got the piccy. am intrested to see how u progress with him now.

re the chips? are they 2 different numbers aswell?
 
jhoward said:
got the piccy. am intrested to see how u progress with him now.

re the chips? are they 2 different numbers aswell?
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No both chips in the pony are the same. He has one on each side of him but they are different to the one on his passport.

I have emailed the connemara pony society as only the last 4 digets are different. The have emailed me back saying that they will check their records and get back to me
 
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