Those of you with horses which are difficult to clip...

S

spotty_pony

...
Joined
29 July 2005
Messages
12,552
Visit site
Is ACP strong enough to sedate them enough for them? I know it depends on the horse, I'm just wondering how successful it is as my pony is difficult to clip and my vet has given me some ACP to give him before I clip him next week.

Any advice much appreciated.
smile.gif
 
works well with some, doesnt touch others!!!make sure you give it 1 hour before you start and keep him unstimulated for that hour and see how it goes! Good luck
 
i have given my gelding 28 acps before (on vets instruction) not for clipping and it did nothing, my gelding who can kick with all 4 legs when you try and clip him reacts best to twitching
 
Have a 13.2 that rears when you go near him with the clippers, used half a tube of ACP and got a bib clip done, could probably have done more but didn't need to as lives out. He was definitely better, didn't rear just fidgeted a bit but was ok once clippers were on and running and not too near his head as this is the spot he particularly dislikes. perhaps you could also use a twitch if the ACP doesn't work well enough? Someone else on the yard used to do this and it worked for them. I gave the ACP in the feed an hour before clipping and just left him to his normal routine, I believe this is an important part to it working as if you get the horse's adrenaline up it can counter the effect of ACP.
 
I think it really does depend on the horse as toto is very difficult and the lady that clips him for us doesn't trust it as it can be unpredictable and she's seen how he reacts if the vet doesn't sedate him enough so wouldn't risk it. Maybe worth a try tho if the vets given you them
smile.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
It depends how difficult the horse is, my mare is scared stiff of clippers, nothing works for her but intravenous sedation from the vet.

[/ QUOTE ]

When my husband's hunter was at livery, he was the same. Hell, sometimes they didn't finish clipping him before iv sedation wore off - so it was TWO vet visits for one clip (made itdamn expensive!) When I got him home I decided enough was enough, and he WOULD learn toacceptclippers! With him it's the noise - high pitched engine noises have the same effect!

I bought super quiet Moser clippers, and we ran them outside his box a couple of times a day for a few days. then inside his box (him loose) for a couple of days. On the day of the clip, I gave hima full tube of Sedalin an hour before. Ran the clippers in his box - still had him loose, wearing a headcollar but with lead rein looped around his neck so he knew he could 'escape'.

Started towards the rear and only went as far forward as he was happy with and got most of him clipped that day. If he moved away, just brought him back quietly and started again. Made the whole thing as stress free as possible. Got most of his body and half his neck done and called ita day.

Next day, half a tube of Sedalin an hour before - still untied - ran clippers lightly over the clipped bits and started on the unclipped bits! Finished him off.

The next time we used NO Sedalin for body clip, and half a tube for top of neck and head, and the time after that, no sedation at all. The following winter, first clip, no sedation for anything and he'd been fine ever since. We now use the quiet Akita powered clippers, still leave him untied, and take our time.

The NOT tying up or holding is the most important part of getting a 'difficult' horse to accept clipping. If a horse thinks he CAN escape, if necessary, he is far less likely to panic.

We clip all our youngsters - for the first time - the same way. Use quiet clippers - and with horse loose in the stable. Never have a problem with them. Horses who are BAD to clip have been made that way by bad clipping at some stage.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I would rely on something more mild like a sedizine, ACP like mother_hen says is very unpredictable.

[/ QUOTE ]

Sedalin and Sedazine ARE ACP, just in paste/gel form. It's exactly the same drug and ACP is unpredictable - some horses only need a little, others are normal after massive doses.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top