Overcoming Static with horses

[rosie gall]

Hi, I have encountered a serious static problem with my mare and after 2 years of working with her and building my trust, she now backs in to the corner of her stable and when I touch her she won't let me touch her head. Has anyone else come across this? If so what can you do to help prevent it? I have a Mark Todd fly rug though this has nylon inserts. Now always fold and lift off the rugs. I am careful now to wear cotton myself, if possible, and always wear rubber gloves, but her sad eyes tell it all. I've heard Show Shean would work? Any thoughts or advice please. I just dread it happening when I go to load her in the trailer for example she will go balistic

 

[cobgoblin]

You need to let the static earth, so stop wearing the rubber gloves and wear leather soles.
Grabbing something metal that is touching the floor whilst touching the horse may help, but don't just touch with your fingertip or you will get a shock.. Use whole hand.

 

[milliepops]

when I'm taking a rug off a horse I almost always then touch something else before touching the horse again, it's habit now. no gloves. so if there's been static build up I get the shock and not the horse.
i find synthetic materials make it worse, and esp when it's been really dry weather.

I once combined a grazing muzzle with a fly mask on my old mare and it must have given her terrible static shocks all day because I couldn't get near her head by the evening... never repeated that error!