My pony won't let me clip him!

[eeyore)tigger82]

I have owned my 7yr old NF gelding for 3 1/2 years and have a really strong bond with him. He is very strong willed though & if something is bothering him, you'll soon know about it.

Being native he has grown very wooly with the pending winter and I need to clip him if I'm going to ride him through the winter months... but can I get near him?! He is desensitised with them switched off, but with the clippers switched on and in the stabled with him he is snorting, backing himself into a corner and if they come any closer he starts rearing and cow-kicking. This is the 3rd week I have persevered with him and today I gave him Sedaline but deep down knew we wouldn't get far - he now has a bold patch on his shoulder and thats as far as we could get!!

He is by no means afraid of the clippers, I really feel he just doesn't want it done because its new and he feels he can probably get away with it with this dangerous behaviour. He's not showing the whites of his eyes, hes not sweating with anxiety, his heart rate barely increases, hes just not showing any signs of when I know he is genuinely worried about something. I really don't want to call the vet out ti IV sedate him because of the cost each time but I'm at my wits end...does anyone have any suggestions???

[Manda]

My first thought would be to let someone else, such as your trainer, or someone with horse knowledge try to clip him and see what happens.

I've never had the problem, so I'm not really sure, sorry.

[beth_agnew]

I argree With Manda...But try Tieing your horse up in the yard and get someone else to do it...I let My dad do it..He is fully trained to!

[lottatot]

I have 4 NF ponies and they all take the mickey like professionals in different situations!! Have you tried walking around him with the clippers on but not touching him at all, at the same time run your hand over him.Then have the clippers switched off but touching him,running your hand along the path that the clippers have already gone, move the clippers off of him but keep the hand pressing firmly and switch them on, see how he reacts and you may make some progress. I would do all of this outside and being held by someone, not tied up or in a stable. Best of luck but now he know he's got you wrapped around his hoof it may take a while!!!

[HappyHorse13]

Maybe show your horse that clipping won't hurt or anything but putting him up in the cross-ties and making him watch another horse (that is good with clipping) stand there and be clipped. Many times, horses learn by example. Or, have someone clip the good horse for clipping while you clip your pony.

[muckout-fairy]

I have owned my 7yr old NF gelding for 3 1/2 years and have a really strong bond with him. He is very strong willed though & if something is bothering him, you'll soon know about it.

Being native he has grown very wooly with the pending winter and I need to clip him if I'm going to ride him through the winter months... but can I get near him?! He is desensitised with them switched off, but with the clippers switched on and in the stabled with him he is snorting, backing himself into a corner and if they come any closer he starts rearing and cow-kicking. This is the 3rd week I have persevered with him and today I gave him Sedaline but deep down knew we wouldn't get far - he now has a bold patch on his shoulder and thats as far as we could get!!

He is by no means afraid of the clippers, I really feel he just doesn't want it done because its new and he feels he can probably get away with it with this dangerous behaviour. He's not showing the whites of his eyes, hes not sweating with anxiety, his heart rate barely increases, hes just not showing any signs of when I know he is genuinely worried about something. I really don't want to call the vet out ti IV sedate him because of the cost each time but I'm at my wits end...does anyone have any suggestions???

hi ive een yout problem before try starting with him calm turn the clippers on outside the box so he gets used to the sound talk to him give him his favourite treat, slowly enter the box leave the clippers on outside box put headcollar on, iedally use a monty roberts anti rear head ollar a humane way to use pressure against them rearing, step by step bring him out of the box place a haynet by him let him relaxe turn the clippers on, get somebody else to hold him. other suggestion u could use a twitch (bat with loop of string on a bat which u twist string arounf upper lip holding bat} this can be distressing for him so use with caution. good luck!

[NWBraider]

Hi,
I have bodyclipped hundreds of horses. A horse exhibiting the behaviour you describe can be really, really dangerous to you and him. Yes, he has your number about this but at the same time some horses/ponies will not allow you to clip them because of instincts. I suggest you either hire a professional body clipper and have the horse tranquilized or you clip him yourself with him tranquilized. I have clipped many horses season after season who the first season need to be tranquilized but the next season will not need it. You can train them to accept the clippers by medicating them the first time so that when you are finishing the clipping they are no longer medicated at the end. If you can time it this way they will learn that the clippers are okay and will not hurt them. However, there are some horses that cannot overcome bad experiences with the clippers or their instincts and will always require medication for clipping. I suggest if you do it yourself that you clip the areas the horse is more difficult for first, i.e. ears, head, legs.
You should use an I.V. cocktail for the best results for the meds. A cocktail is a mixture of sedatives. Ask you vet to use a cocktail he would use to keep himself safe when doing a difficult procedure. A cocktail will cost more but in the end you are training your horse to accept the clippers for a lifetime and you are protecting yourself from injury. You should do everything you can to make sure it goes easily for you both. :cool: Hope I have helped you!
Jenni