Stopping nasty faces and nipping during grooming?

[Isa7182]

Hey all!

So I have noticed sarge gets a bit nasty when I'm grooming him. He turns to nip me, pulls nasty faces and puts his ears back when I'm grooming him. I've ruled out sores on his sides and back because that's where he's worst, I've checked everywhere for sores but I can't find anything! I push his head away and tell him no and them I give him a little slap on the nose if he persists, but he doesn't seem to stop!

Horses are supposed to love being groomed! I don't know why he loathes it so much!!

Help?

 

[Fides]

Hey all!

So I have noticed sarge gets a bit nasty when I'm grooming him. He turns to nip me, pulls nasty faces and puts his ears back when I'm grooming him. I've ruled out sores on his sides and back because that's where he's worst, I've checked everywhere for sores but I can't find anything! I push his head away and tell him no and them I give him a little slap on the nose if he persists, but he doesn't seem to stop!

Horses are supposed to love being groomed! I don't know why he loathes it so much!!

Help?

He is quite lame and probably associates you with pain

Never ever hit a horse one the face - it will make them nervous and head shy. If you are going to discipline a horse with a 'smack' - the palm of the hand on the flabby bit on the chest (between the front legs) is quite effective

There are other causes of pain other than sores - as he is lame he will be holding himself awkwardly so may well have back pain. One way of testing for pain is to run a coin along the spine - if there is a tender spot they will dip their back away.

A horse in pain will never be a happy or friendly horse The fact that he persists in nipping you could show that he is very unhappy...

Not all horses love being groomed though - some prefer being left alone

 

[Isa7182]

He is quite lame and probably associates you with pain

Never ever hit a horse one the face - it will make them nervous and head shy. If you are going to discipline a horse with a 'smack' - the palm of the hand on the flabby bit on the chest (between the front legs) is quite effective

There are other causes of pain other than sores - as he is lame he will be holding himself awkwardly so may well have back pain. One way of testing for pain is to run a coin along the spine - if there is a tender spot they will dip their back away.

A horse in pain will never be a happy or friendly horse The fact that he persists in nipping you could show that he is very unhappy...

Not all horses love being groomed though - some prefer being left alone

Ohh, I would never hit him hard on the face!! D: I only tap him with a finger really, I probably could have put that a bit better (oops!)

He does like me though. He knows I'm a nice person, but I guess because he's lame, he's had enough of everything! He used to be fine with being groomed and it's not like he's tense when I'm brushing him... also, the new horse Max, he absolutely hates, he's gotten better with him now, but maybe that's put him on edge? He was awful when he first came, running him off the hay and going after him, but now it's more of a 'I'll just pin my ears at you if you get too close" kinda thing.

Hmm

 

[MrsNorris]

He probably knows that being groomed often comes before being ridden, and being ridden hurts. Poor old fella....

 

[EstherYoung]

Some horses are very thin skinned and sensitive. What brushes are you using?

 

[Alyth]

So what does he like? Does he like you rubbing him around his wither area? Along his major muscles? Find out what he does like and work from there. I assume you are brushing gently and with the lie of the hair? Sometimes even brushes are harsh, especially dandy brushes...so you need to take on board what he is telling you and work out what is acceptable, even enjoyed by him and go from there....

 

[Suelin]

Tie him up shorter so he can't get to you.

 

[ImmyS]

Hey all!

So I have noticed sarge gets a bit nasty when I'm grooming him. He turns to nip me, pulls nasty faces and puts his ears back when I'm grooming him. I've ruled out sores on his sides and back because that's where he's worst, I've checked everywhere for sores but I can't find anything! I push his head away and tell him no and them I give him a little slap on the nose if he persists, but he doesn't seem to stop!

Horses are supposed to love being groomed! I don't know why he loathes it so much!!

Help?

If he is lame and in pain then it is possible that the pain and stress has caused secondary issues, such as gastric ulcers which would tie in with the symptoms of not wanting to be groomed.

 

[MotherOfChickens]

could be the type of brushes-try very soft hair ones, could be ulcers, could just be pain and wanting to be left alone or, if you've changed feed recently, a feed intolerance. alfalfa made my horse oversensitive to grooming.

 

[Surreydeb]

My laid back mare became like this when she had alfalfa in her feed. A couple of weeks off it and she turned back into loving her grooming guess it made her skin really sensitive, she was cow licking every time I brushed her sides or tummy.

 

[amandap]

If he is lame and in pain then it is possible that the pain and stress has caused secondary issues, such as gastric ulcers which would tie in with the symptoms of not wanting to be groomed.

Also, hindgut upset may be linked to hoof inflammation in some cases. Obviously I don't know why he is lame, its just a thought. I'd start with assessing his diet (needs to be low sugar and carb with forage always available) and feeding something like yea sacc. Have a discussion with the vet. Here's some info for you.
http://barefoothorseblog.blogspot.ie/search/label/hind gut acidosis

 

[Surreydeb]

​*kicking even!​

 

[Isa7182]

Well, he has been put on some higher energy food, but I doubt that's it (not sure what it's called though).

I use a hard brush (like the plastic ones) for mud and then the soft brush, following the line of the hair. I don't use the hard one very often though, he doesn't get hardly muddy. He doesn't mind his hindquarters or his withers, he however doesn't really like his sides being brushed.Neck, shoulder and back he is fine with. Actually, where his hip is, he doesn't like either, if that helps?

 

[Isa7182]

His poos look fine, they look normal. Not sloppy or too hard.

 

[Isa7182]

Also, my instructor believes the side bone (the lameness) was caused by him being worked too hard too young before her daughter bought him and he came to her, if that's of any help? He used to show jump and do dressage.

 

[brighteyes]

could be the type of brushes-try very soft hair ones, could be ulcers, could just be pain and wanting to be left alone or, if you've changed feed recently, a feed intolerance. alfalfa made my horse oversensitive to grooming.

This.

 

[huskydamage]

My mare is like this when I brush her, I like grooming and faff with her for ages. I find after a while she gives up being moody and just dozes off.
Initially If I go anywhere she doesn't like the ears go back and she will keep kicking out with her back legs and wont stand still. Hates her hindquarters being brushed, I figured she is just over sensitive in some places her summer coat is so thin some parts are almost bald. I just try to be gentle in these areas.
The only bit she really likes is her back and withers, she sometimes will turn and 'groom' me if I brush this part.

She always been like this though, if its a new behaviour that's totally out of character for your horse something is probably wrong.

 

[EstherYoung]

I understand that this is a riding school horse and as such you aren't going to have any input into the management of the horse, instead you're going to have to deal with the horse in front of you.

Well, he has been put on some higher energy food, but I doubt that's it (not sure what it's called though).

I use a hard brush (like the plastic ones) for mud and then the soft brush, following the line of the hair. I don't use the hard one very often though, he doesn't get hardly muddy. He doesn't mind his hindquarters or his withers, he however doesn't really like his sides being brushed.Neck, shoulder and back he is fine with. Actually, where his hip is, he doesn't like either, if that helps?

Keep to soft brushes and take care not to be too vigorous over his bony bits. Use your fingers, too, find out where he likes being scritched and then you can be a bit more firm with your brushes in those areas. Horses generally like being groomed over their large muscle mass in their necks, chests, shoulders and quarters but they can get a bit ticklish round their elbows, girth, stifles, belly and legs.

Take care of yourself, though, as he's not your horse. If you find that he's trying to kick or bite you, ask someone at the stables to show you how best to manage him.