Clipping

[Rarah]

Well - I know it's sad but we are planning for the winter.

Last year Monac had a trace clip (if I remember correctly). This was his first time and it was an awful experience. Monac was terrified and we had to use a twitch in the end which horrified me.

Our instructor was taking him to a show and insisted on the clip otherwise we probably wouldn't have bothered.

Now that I am working Monac harder, I'm wondering if we need to clip him again this year? Even on coolish evenings, he comes back from hacks quite hot and sweaty.

Does anyone have tips for desensiting Monac to the clippers?

(Can't get hold of the clippers on a regular basis, was thinking of buying something battery operated just to start with).

Thanks for reading.

[Trimmer]

Get a cheap vibrator and toss it on his feeder. soon hunger will overcome his fear and the noise will be only that noise. Also use the vibrator on him, when you find that sweet spot with the vibrator and he starts to melt the problem is licked. Don't use a twitch that only makes things worse. He'll get used to being clipped with a little patience and training

[Big Ears]

only clip if you really have to - if he isn't going to be doing much in the winter then don't - i don;t clip my cob and she hacks out for up to 2 -3 hours - sure she sweats up a bit but she comes home, put her in stable with cooler rug and hay for an hour to dry her off and out she goes.

this means that during the week when she might not work much, if it is a nice day she can go out naked etc. and only be rugged when she really needs it.

otherwise with clipping, run the clippers next to him for a few weeks before even trying to clip, just get him used to the noise/feel of it (perhaps cotton wool in ears). also try rescue remedy, lavender to calm him.

twitching, while it sounds cruel, actually can work really well as it sends them to sleep and they don't take as long to do.

maybe try clipping a little patch, 10 minutes or so, do more next time, often i clipped when they came in at night and were sleepy/hungry/chilled out. my mare used to be hard to do legs, so i would do a little bit each night and get her done in about a week - she was fine anywhere else just legs.

then i decided just not to do it at all and manage her other ways.

if it is a real major issue, then do you want this hassle every 6 weeks? sometimes it is best to manage the issue in another way.

[Jessey]

HaHa, I love the vibrator trick, never thought of that one :D Someone suggested to me to just put a shaver in your pocket and go about your normal routine until they don't react anymore then start to put it on the skin etc. to behonest I have never had to do it, just being calm and persistant without force has always worked for me, even with a known clipper-panicker.

J x

[Rarah]

Trimmer - :eek: Great idea - but I think I'll pass on that one.

I like the idea of keeping a shaver in your pocket and acting normally.

AND there is always the chance that he does not need clipping - we only did it once last year though - do you really need to do that often?

Through the winter he will probably be hacked out (1½ - 2 hours 2-3 times a week and probably 2 x 30 min schooling sessions a week).

I guess it would be worth trying to desensitize him now in case he does need clipping.

[Stella2]

Hi,

If he gets sweaty when ridden, he probably will need clipping.

I really recommend the Moser Avalon clippers, they are rechargable, quiet and yet efficient (which apparantly many earlier recharables were not). I got mine off Ebay, they were about £180 last year.

Then I'd suggest working with him each day before you need to clip (October). Just turn it on standing on the other side of his box whilst he eats, then turn it off and approach him talking quietly, let him investigate it, stroke him with it (turned off), switch it on a move it over your arm(they sound different when they are moving over a body). If you do this and build up to rubbing it over him without clipping, whilst you still have a good month before you need to do it, there need be no rush and no pressure on either of you. If eventually he will stand quietly whilst you run the back of the clipper over him, you might want to consider trying to clip him yourself without the fuss and pressure of other dogmatic people around. There is no shame in doing a little each day over a few days if need be (even though the traditionalists will say there is)!

[Big Ears]

i think doing the clipping yourself, a bit at a time, when he is in a mellow mood and calm, tired, relaxed, is the best way.

i did my own and really it was a case of doing 10 minutes when they came in at night and within a few days it was all done, not making a drama of it.

with rosie, i don't clip her and she hacks out 2-3 times a week inw inter, so i dry her off with a cooler, give her her bucket and a haynet, then turn her out again in about 40 minutes, when she is dry and can be re-rugged. this works fine.

[Kira657]

Going with the idea of something vibrating on him, how about using the vibrator on your mobile if you have one, i do this to my two all the time and they quite enjoy it!especially up against their muzzles!

[atillathefun]

I got my horse used to being clipped by doing a little at a time with cordless trimmers and he is now fine with it and can be clipped with big clippers. I originally started off just leaving them running on the side while I was grooming him and then moved onto brushing him with them so that he got used to the sensation. I prefer cordelss round nervous horses as its 1 less thing you have to worry about. You could buy some trimmers I noticed Robinsons have got cordless rechargeable trimmers complete with 2 sets of blades for £20. Trimmers are always handy to have.

[BeckyC]

Get some clippers and leave them running for a while for your horse to get used to the noise, then just place them on your horses side whilst they are running so she can get used to the vibrating feeling, then as above try a small area at a time.. Good Luck

[sidesaddlelady1]

The only advice I'd offer on top of everyone else's is to get on with it - if you dither about and take ages the horse gets bored and restless and then can be a nuisance.