Trickey clipping - tips?

[monica987]

Well Sparky is a pain in the bum to clip - apparently. I had the clippers out today just getting him used to them, I help them in one hand and a scoop of nuts in the other, I got closish but was wondering if there were any other tips so i dont have to have him sedated?
Thankies

 

[_OC_]

Found cordless clippers easier to use on worried horses,as don't have a cord to worry about,if I was you I would every night turn them on and run them for a minute building up each time and then try to clip,easier to have stick type treats in your pocket and reward if the horse is OK about it...sorry long process,but, does work!

 

[custard]

Try putting your hand on the shoulder and the clippers on your hand so's he feels the vibration thru your hand first.

 

[monica987]

Thanyou! Have started doing that tonight and he has been standing beside other horses ebing clipped- Have just bid on a pair of clippers
x

 

[MillionDollar]

Patches is the expert on this and I hope she doesn't mind me cutting and pasting this from a thread on AHHO-

[ QUOTE ]
I used to try and clip her in the stable (as I'm sure most people do). I turned clippers on and she would freak rearing and bucking as well as barging into me. I tried outside with her tied up (silly idea) and she did much the same thing.

I watched Micheal Peace's DVD about clipping and tried his approach.

Firstly, I bought cordless clippers to use. I then took her out in the field/school on the end of a lunge line. With her stood at the end of the line, I switched them on and allowed her to walk/trot/canter in a circle on the lunge. The clippers only get switched off when she realises that she has to stand still first.

The process is repeatedly over and over, edging closer each time. The exercise is to make sure that the horse never makes the gap between you larger and the clippers are only switched off when they are calm. They must learn to accept them. If you turn them off when they play up, they soon realise how to get you to put them away!

The whole process is repeatedly until you make contact. Initially you touch them with the back of your hand that's holding the clipper running. Then you turn them over and finally you start clipping.

For me, it took 30 minutes to get to start clipping. Other horses it can take 3 weeks to get to that stage.

The whole theory behind the idea is that horses wish to utilise their flight or fight reflex. If you allow them to move about when they're nervous they are far less likely to stand and fight (rear/kick etc).

I thoroughly recommend the DVD if you can get your hands on it. It explains the process in far more detail.

[/ QUOTE ]

 

[lifeslemons]

If you use some chalk and draw the clip on first, it means you can get straight on with it in the quickest possible time, without having to waste time planning your lines half way through!

 

[monica987]

Thankyouu Tomo!!