My horse doesn't like being brushed but is perfect in every other way

[Waffles]

I've had him since August 2011. We've progressed to being able to brush him without tying him up, but he really doesn't like it. He's got a fairly tickly belly, so I am gentle but firm, but some days he just doesn't want me in his space somehow. Anyone else had this happen? He's 7 and great in every other way - doesn't kick or bite, but objects by flicking his tail, looking a bit grumpy (no serious ears back) and kind of wriggling to get away. I've tried pimple mits, soft brushes, hard brushes, finger grooming. He's fine with his head and ears and between his back legs, but legs he stamps his feet, chest and shoulders he can get a bit edgy to say the least at times. I thought I'd cracked it in May and he was ok all summer, but once he was back in his winter coat he started objecting again. I wish I could see inside his mind....It's not a major issue, just somewhat puzzling.

 

[PandorasJar]

I know a couple that hate it. Give them a quick firm brush before riding and fine. Take your time or tickle them with a brush and can't stand it.
I don't bother doing it unless they need it or riding with horses like that.

 

[tallyho!]

When my friends mare started to not like grooming, turned out she had hindgut ulcers.

 

[Waffles]

I've heard of the ulcer thing and brushing and it's a plausible cause, but it wouldn't account for him not liking his legs brushed. He's a funny sort of horse - the other day I was picking his feet out and he willingly held up 3 of them for me - come the last one - one of the fronts, he point blank refused and looked at me as if to say "go on, make me!". I'm always very patient and quiet with him - I know it makes him worse if I tell him off. He responds well to gentle treatment. He was entire till 5 and was used for breeding before I had him - though I had another horse before who was entire till nearly 4 and you could do anything to him.

 

[Waffles]

I'm not too proud to go out muddy, by the way, but some days just getting the saddle area brushed can be slightly difficult..
The weird thing though, is that some days he seems to enjoy it!

 

[tallyho!]

Perhaps it is just a tickly underbelly....

 

[Waffles]

Perhaps it is just a tickly underbelly....

Hmm... I keep coming back to that one, but some days when I get the brush under there his top lip will go long and he clearly likes it. Sometimes I wonder if he's playing games with me.

 

[Pale Rider]

I used a softer brush on one that seemed a little sensitive. That worked.

 

[Dry Rot]

One of mine will happily be brushed, but won't let me use a wisp! It probably tickles!

 

[Black_Horse_White]

I had a horse that hated being brushed too, I even used I hand muff but he still hated it.

 

[twobearsarthur]

When I had Herbie he would try and kill you rather than be groomed and I mean teeth snapping 360 degree high kicking crush you against a wall drama I lost part of my shoulder blade to these antics!!!! We carried on just grooming him quietly as required with a firm brush ignoring his tantrums (it was purely behavioural all physical ruled out) never got to the point you could trust him enough to do it with him untied but he tolerated it. Odd thing was he loved having his mane and tail pulled and being clipped!?!?!?

 

[Waffles]

I'm convinced it's behavioural with mine. although he doesn't like his personal space invaded when he feels like it - other times, scratching under his dock makes him go all gooey.

 

[Darcydoo]

Darcy hates being brushed dances round like a total div,have to be extra cautious to do between legs and belly. Have tried all brushes she's just really ticklish so only do what needs doing. Loves an all over body scratch with a plastic curry comb strange girl.

 

[Waffles]

I've had some success with one of those magic horse block things - the black hard scratchy thing which claims to remove mud, dust and scurf. Also wearing latex free gloves and doing it all with my fingers isn't too bad depending on how he feels...

Sometimes it's like "not tonight, love"

 

[kirstyl]

My horse doesn't enjoy having mud brushed off which is difficult as he is a lover of mud and is filthy every day! I have a soft pimpled rubber curry comb to get off the worst of it and use a body brush on the rest of him or my hand wearing rubber pimple gloves. Can't believe I just used the word 'pimple' twice in short succession!!

 

[twobearsarthur]

"Not tonight love"
Tickled me

 

[Skipadeedooda]

My boy hates being brushed and always has but he loves rolling and getting muddy. I've had him 17yrs and he's always been the same, he bites and kicks so I've become excellent at dodging both ends. Some days he's worse than others but I wouldn't say he ever enjoys it. He's better in summer as he does like a good scratch so is fine if he's a bit itchy and he enjoys getting bathed. It seems to be a family trait though, full sister was the same, sire was the same and even grand sire but thankfully the trait seems to be a bit more diluted as it comes down the line. He's a little bit more tolerant after bring ridden, doesn't run around as much but still bites/kicks out.

He's brilliant to ride etc and love him to bits and ironically he's never yet caught me with the back legs (touch wood). Just one of his quirks but still wouldn't change him for the world.

 

[Skipadeedooda]

Should add similar to Twobearsarthur my both like getting his mane pulled...strange!

 

[Clodagh]

I'm in much the same boat my new boy hates being groomed. Funnily enough he doesn't bite me he just makes horrible faces but when I kept him at a yard another couple of people groomed him and he bit both.
My theory is he is very 'closed down' he doesn't even have itchy places that I can find and he always looks at you distrustfully, you have to be very quiet and calm around him. I have owned him about 3 months and now he is at home he is improving. he will rest his head against me and we talk by breathing on each others noses. He still isn't keen on being groomed but is more accepting. He is thin skinned and fine coated which probably doesn't help.

 

[AmyMay]

My grey horse hated to be brushed, so I used a cactus cloth and sheepskin mit on him instead.

 

[Waffles]

I'm in much the same boat my new boy hates being groomed. Funnily enough he doesn't bite me he just makes horrible faces but when I kept him at a yard another couple of people groomed him and he bit both.
My theory is he is very 'closed down' he doesn't even have itchy places that I can find and he always looks at you distrustfully, you have to be very quiet and calm around him. I have owned him about 3 months and now he is at home he is improving. he will rest his head against me and we talk by breathing on each others noses. He still isn't keen on being groomed but is more accepting. He is thin skinned and fine coated which probably doesn't help.

The closed down thing sounds the same as my boy - thought sometimes he isn't.It's like a sort of frigidity.

 

[Spotsrock]

I have one a bit like this. A soft goat hair brush is ok or a mitt with fleece one side and hessian the other for getting the mud off.

 

[Pinkvboots]

My arab hates brushes and he is a real mud monster I use a large wire pan scourer to get the mud off works better than any brush I can do any bit of his body or face and he is fine with it.