New pony doesn't like to be groomed

S

stanley101

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Hi

The new pony we have doesn't seem to be liking being groomed. He's okay (just) with his back. But shoulders up and he really struggles to get away from you. He doesn't like your hands anywhere near his facr. Does anyone have any tips? I have to wash his eyes as they are a bit weepy but can't get anywhere near them.

Thanks

S
 
Sounds like he has had a bad time at some point
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You'll need to do some desensitization work with him, get him to learn that you aren't going to hurt him.
 
Time, allow time and do everything VERY slowly. You have to be patient. Is he food orientated? give him a few pony nuts when you get close and when you can touch his face. Just use your hand to start with, and leave the brushing for a bit.
As he is new, he has to gain your trust and get to know you.
Good luck
 
Just groomed, or touched at all? What is he like for haltering, is that a fight too?

As said above, time and patience will do the job.

If he is OK with his back then just work your way slowly up his neck, inch by inch if you have to, when he resists stop, but DON'T take the brush (your hand, whatever) away until he stops fretting. There is, of course, the hand on a stick, but if the pony is scared witless of sticks that could work against you.

It is up to you, as you know the pony best, how long you take to do this. I have spent an entire day working my way up the neck of head shy ponies before now. Some horses figure out that you are OK and not going to bash them in a short time, others do need space to think about it.

How desperately do the eyes need washing?
 
If your ponys skin is sensitive to touch then I would suggest you groom him with soft, slow, long strokes of the brush, as if you were stroking him. Certain areas may be more sensitive than others, so use a soft body brush for those. Regarding his head, start by his withers and gradually more up towards the ears. Get him used to your hands on his face and ears to begin with then progress to using a soft brush. It will take time, groom daily and you will soon see progress. The moment you get a negative reaction with the brush, go back to area of his body he will tolerate. Remember to praise him generously when he stands for you! Hope this helps.
 
Must have had bad experiences before, poor pony. It will just take time and patience and you should get there.
You could try and feed while you groom, i.e give him a haynet and gently start, food can often help take their minds off these things.
The vet managed to shove a hosepipe into my mare's uterus and flush her out, all with the aid of a bowl of feed, as soon as food was gone she wanted out, but thankfully we were done, h the powers of food
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Good luck with your pony
 
Systematic Desensitisation

Week 1 - Stroke with hand and reward with food while pairing with a voice command, like "good boooooy" (but only when you see the behaviour you want, and timing is everything), while avoiding eye contact. Do this for a week and forget about grooming.
Week 2 - Same again but this time with body brush, be gentle and just use the "good booooooy",phasing out the food.
Week 3 - Do the same, phasing out food altogether, increase eye contact.
Week 4 - Do the same, using body and dandy brush with food and voice command
Week 5 - Phase out food totally.

Tie up throughout with constant haynet availability.

That's the ideal that I'd use, going back a stage, where needed. Keep a written record so you don't forget which stage you're at in the hierachy. Ideally, use a variety of different groomers who keep to the plan.
If you can't get the timning right, you might want to think about clicker training instead of the voice command - the voice is better though
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cos you can use it in a variety of other contexts while training,and if you're anything like me, you'll mislay your clicker constantly.

Hth's
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Thanks for the tips.

Enfys - he's fine for haltering. He's fine if you stroke him on his back, but always seems on edge and watching your hands.

His eyes aren't too bad but would rather sort them earlier than later if I can.

I know this is a bit of 'how long is a piece of string' type question - but in your experiences how long does it take for a new pony to settle into his new surroundings? He spooks a little in the school and out hacking but when we look to see what he has spooked at, there doesn't seem to be anything obvious so I assume its more nerves than anything else.

Thanks

S
 
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