needle shy

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Echo Bravo

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How many of you have a horse or pony that is needle-shy. I found out on Wed when I had my young 3 yr welsh sec d microchipped. I've owned him since late March and he was in very poor condition and what I call an anxious little soul, he's put weight on over the summer and I've done very little with him just wanting to get the weight on. But I've never in my life and owning horses for 35 years seen a pony whip round sooo fast and kick out and them chip hadn't gone in, so had to sedate him and that was traumatic for him,me and the vet. Now this is a lovely gelding who was shown as a foal, he does have problems when having his tail brushed as he clamps it close and his back feet picked out which he is getting better over, also my vet says he was cut late as a 2 year old in Sept and then sent to the Oct welsh cob sales 2008. The person I bought him off had turned him out with about 15 mares. so could this be accumulation of his previous life. I have asked my vet to get in contact with the previous vet who has treated him in the past and also gelded him.
 
My horse isn't a fan of needles, hence we can't nerveblock her lameness.... but she's getting better since having to be doped for the farrier
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QR- My horse is a nighmare with needles too. He's 17 and tries every trick in the book when faced with a needle (biting, threatening to kick, thrashing about). I know only about 2 vets that can jag him.
 
We have a youngster that we have to twitch for injections. Her trick is to rear at us..
ETA: The reason she is needle shy is because we found her in the field having sliced her armpit open, vet put in 3 layers of stitches and 4 hrs of work, we thought she would need to be put down. Thankfully shes recovered however she was poked and prodded and sedated etc and is therefore needleshy.
 
Mine hates needles. I find the best way is to twitch him first, then needle (whether it's for jabs or sedation). He's getting better though as he's had 2 courses of Adequan in the last 2 or 3 months which means he's had to have an injection every 4 days until the course ran out. He didn't have much choice but to get better - I stick his nose in a bucket of feed to do the Adequan which helps.
 
My TB is awful to inject, throws his head and neck up and down very fast so that vet has no chance of getting needle in or will rear up and run round the stable. Last time he was sedated for his teeth in June, vet had to hide the needle and then pinch his skin and stick the needle end in quick before he realised what was happening.
 
Poor pony.

My horse is brilliant with injects, he has his vaccs in the field without a headcollar on.

He has had nerve blocks, joint injections, joint aspirations and hasnt so much as raised a leg.

What he cant stand and it makes me laugh is cold ultrasound gel. He goes ballistic at this and has to be sedated for application! He is 16.3 clydesdale x highland and he can inflict a lot of damage.
 
I've never met a needleshy horse - I suspect much of it's to do with the competence of the vet tbh.

But, having seen the size of the bleddy needle for microchipping - I'm amazed that most of them seem to tollerate it so well.

Not suprised your 3yr old reacted.......
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My youngster used to be terrible, she used to leap around, kicking out so you couldn't get near her, it was so embarassing! About a week before she had her flu jab I thought I would try and desensitise her. Every time I brought her in I pinched a bit of flesh on her neck in the way the vet does. She wasn't happy at first but then after a few days she wasn't bothered. When the vet came I warned her how bad she normally is and that I had attempted to desensitise her. She injected her without any problem whatsoever and my horse stood there as though nothing had happened! I couldn't believe it. It might not work on all horses but it's worth a try.
 
Only 2 vets from my practice can jab my boy, he is 17.2hh and rears up lol!
All because about 5/6 years ago a different stupid vet jabbed him very wrong.
 
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