Too ticklish to clip?

[DawnS]

My TB is a nightmare to clip. The problem is not fear, or at least not noise fear. I can turn on the clippers right next to him and even run them over him. The issue seems to be that he finds the sensation of them incredibly unpleasant - he is a thin skinned chestnut.
Last year he had a full clip when he was sedated for mouth abscess treatment and had, in the vet's words, enough dope to knock out an elephant. We then managed to bib clip later in the year with a very experienced groom and some very very small quiet clippers. He is in work and will sweat, but I really want to not rely on sedation to clip, and wonder if anyone else has managed to overcome this issue? Should I insist that he just sucks it up, as it's presumably not actually painful? I have considered getting Michael Peace out, but unsure if he is a good candidate given that he doesn't seem to be bothered until you actually put the clippers on him.

Before anyone suggests it, he is genuinely terrified of a twitch. He came from Ireland and I believe at some point he has either had his ears twitched, or some other bad experience around his head, as he has odd symmetrical scars.

 

[meleeka]

if it tickles could someone try standing nearby and itching him so he focuses on that, rather than the sensation of clipping?

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

One of mine is tickilish under his belly and near the flank area I find putting my other hand on his body near the clippers helps a bit but he will still fidget and quivers his body as soon as I go to those areas, I try to get those bits done really quickly rather than keep going over the same area.

I think putting your hand near where your clipping helps as it stops so much of the vibration which is often what makes them feel it more.

 

[Flowerofthefen]

I had a tb that was absolutely bombproof in every respect, just the best horse, apart from clipping. Again a chestnut!! We used to point to point him so he had to be clipped, we did it very carefully!! When he retired we just didn't bother. He absolutely hated it and he was so gorgeous we left him alone.

 

[alsxx]

My old TB used to be so ticklish to clip, it was just a very slow process and I'd use my other hand sort of scratching through his fur in front of the clippers. Eventually he became OK to clip.

 

[DawnS]

Thank you all, he is not a horse that likes to be scratched or fussed in general, but reading these suggestions it has just occurred to me that the one kind of tactile contact he does enjoy is the equilibrium massage mitt (I borrowed a friend's to try). Wondering if the good vibrations of that might cancel out the bad ones of the clippers?...

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

Is it just bits of him that are ticklish or all over?

I'm not going to lie I would just dope it at work. If it was just underneath then I would do as much as I could safely. No one sees underneath them and they go too quickly for the elbows and flanks to be seen if I leave a bit on.

 

[Hormonal Filly]

One of my geldings was major ticklish on his belly. He would actually lift a leg and threat to kick which was so unlike him, then he would panic.

I had him sedated several times to be clipped and like yours, he needed a lot of dope.. but in between I had the clippers out just training him to cope. I remember one livery saying ‘your never clip that horse without sedation!’

It took months, while he was eating having them on his belly, grooming him and resting them on his belly as well. Just as often as possible so he could get use to it. I always had a hand next to where the clipper was and I did treat him, that really helped because he loved food. Eventually that winter I could fully clip him without any sedation.

It probably is easier to just dope them.. but it’s much more cost effective wise to train them to get use to it if you have the time! Sounds like even though he’s ok with the noise, he doesn’t like the feel of them on his skin.

 

[Barton Bounty]

Thank you all, he is not a horse that likes to be scratched or fussed in general, but reading these suggestions it has just occurred to me that the one kind of tactile contact he does enjoy is the equilibrium massage mitt (I borrowed a friend's to try). Wondering if the good vibrations of that might cancel out the bad ones of the clippers?...

I have one of those they are great! It could work

 

[Nasicus]

When you ticklish, what does he do as a result of that? If he's dangerous with it then I'd say just sedate him.
I have one like Ferns, bombproof in all ways except to clip, except a thick skinned piebald cob who has clearly had a bad time being clipped in the past and is quite frankly dangerous to do so. Loses her nut the moment the clippers clip the hair itself, kicking, striking, rearing, head throwing slamming you into walls, stamping on your feet, you name it. Can't twitch either, and suspect she has been roughly ear twitched in the past as you cannot go in her ears at all.
I've tried my best, but after many bruises and most recently a cow kick straight to the kneecap (that was very nearly an A&E trip), I've decided that life's too short and I'll just pay to have her sedated. £100odd is small change compared to being seriously injured.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Gentle brushing from a body brush held in one hand and the clippers working away held in the other hand can work well with some ticklish horses. I've one that I have do just that with when I trim her heels.

 

[DawnS]

Thanks all - he's never dangerous but he will throw himself around too much to be able to clip. Funnily enough I took my husband's old beard trimmer down today to see what he was like. The battery was fading, so it was very slow and quiet. Managed to get that blade side down on his neck without issue though his belly would clearly have been a different story. So I have hope for getting a couple of bib clips done with a little trimmer, and then sedate once for someone faster and neater than me to do a full clip.
p.s. I don't mind him being sedated, it's just the cost!

 

[tatty_v]

Mine is ticklish in certain areas (armpits, near his ears, inside of his back legs etc). I just leave those bits because they’re largely not visible. However, we have had success with a helper holding a lick whilst I’m doing the more tricky stuff (apparently molasses overcomes the tickling!) I also make sure I’m quick, reasonably firm with the pressure and keep the clippers cool and well oiled.

 

[Lucky Snowball]

Giving Bute the day before sometimes helps

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Mine is ticklish in certain areas (armpits, near his ears, inside of his back legs etc). I just leave those bits because they’re largely not visible. However, we have had success with a helper holding a lick whilst I’m doing the more tricky stuff (apparently molasses overcomes the tickling!) I also make sure I’m quick, reasonably firm with the pressure and keep the clippers cool and well oiled.

Those molasses licks work wonders alot of vets use them now to keep a horse occupied.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

My TB is a nightmare to clip. The problem is not fear, or at least not noise fear. I can turn on the clippers right next to him and even run them over him. The issue seems to be that he finds the sensation of them incredibly unpleasant - he is a thin skinned chestnut.
Last year he had a full clip when he was sedated for mouth abscess treatment and had, in the vet's words, enough dope to knock out an elephant. We then managed to bib clip later in the year with a very experienced groom and some very very small quiet clippers. He is in work and will sweat, but I really want to not rely on sedation to clip, and wonder if anyone else has managed to overcome this issue? Should I insist that he just sucks it up, as it's presumably not actually painful? I have considered getting Michael Peace out, but unsure if he is a good candidate given that he doesn't seem to be bothered until you actually put the clippers on him.

Before anyone suggests it, he is genuinely terrified of a twitch. He came from Ireland and I believe at some point he has either had his ears twitched, or some other bad experience around his head, as he has odd symmetrical scars.

I sedated my late mare as she was ticklish

 

[kathantoinette]

A bit of sedative? I had one that was super ticklish and this just took the edge off.

 

[jumbyjack]

My Shetland becomes dangerous the minute the clippers go anywhere near her, I sedate her with the gel I have just forgotten the name of!!! Begins with D if that's any help. Works wonderfully, I can give her it under her tongue, 15 minutes later she's nodded off. Clip achieved with no stress to pony and person doing the clip.

 

[Abacus]

I’ve definitely found that chestnuts are more sensitive. My old boy used to squash me against the stable wall, and in every other way he was a sweetheart. We got there eventually, I had to use trimmers for ages to take off some neck and belly, and gradually worked up. I never sedated him (more because I couldn’t be bothered getting the vet out) but he was ok to twitch.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

My Shetland becomes dangerous the minute the clippers go anywhere near her, I sedate her with the gel I have just forgotten the name of!!! Begins with D if that's any help. Works wonderfully, I can give her it under her tongue, 15 minutes later she's nodded off. Clip achieved with no stress to pony and person doing the clip.

Domosedan.