[Abigail]

Okay, when you've done all of the above and it still doesn't work, what then????? My mare is the same. I have now got to the point where I can get the clippers on her (she's 17 - been doing this since she was 4) but I get about 5 mins before she completely loses it and tries to kill us both. I dread this time of year every year and every year its the same, weeks of desensitising her followed by flying hooves, broken feed buckets and floods of tears. One of the main problems with her is that she doesn't respond to treats. She will take or leave apples, carrots, mints, mix etc. She's really not that bothered. HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

[RIDINGisLOVE]

Hmm, its not your fault hes scared of them at all.
I agree 100% with Amigos idea and advice, just keep at it , he has to know that they are not going to "eat" him lol.
They may eat his fur but they won't hurt him....have you tried getting someone to hold, talk, and stroke him while your doing this?
It might help him be a bit calmer if someone else is there relaxing him and taking his mind off of the scary clippers.
Also is there something he loves doing? Try to associate the clippers with that a bit so he knows "clipper time is fun time"
I would say continue on with all the advice Amigo gave you and mabye some of this?
Hope it helped.

[AQHA Hunter]

Abigail, if she flips out at 5 minutes, maybe only try clipping her for 3 minutes, then reward her with something she does like. If not food, then grooming, or being turned out with her buddies, etc. Next day, try 4 minutes, and reward again. Even if she's not a big treat horse, I find giving some grain is helpful because if the horse is distressed, the chewing seems to calm them down. With one that's that distressed about clipping, I wouldn't treat and then try to clip again. I would just clip for a short time and try to finish before she freaks, reward, and go on with positive and neutral things. Hopefully after a while she will allow 6 minutes, then 10 minutes, and maybe 1/2 and hour eventually.

[cowgirlnat]

I agree with AQHA...if you can get any clipping done on the horse before he/she flips out then quit clipping before the horse flips. Even if you only get 1square inch done...do 1 square inch the next day...in a couple months you'll have a fully clipped horse...but chances are you'll also have a horse who doesn't freak out when you clip them.

[Bex]

Have you tried clipping another horse outside his stall? One who is ok with clippers??

Bex

[RIDINGisLOVE]

Originally Posted by Bex

Have you tried clipping another horse outside his stall? One who is ok with clippers??

Bex

Thats probaly acctually a good idea..let him see that when other horses get clipped they don't freak out so its not like its hurting them right? Then mabye he will get it in his head that they are not scary. Of cousre this won't always work your horse may not even pay attention to the horse outside of his stall and he may just not let you clip him, but everything is worth a try.

[Amigo]

Originally Posted by Bex

Have you tried clipping another horse outside his stall? One who is ok with clippers??

Bex

yea, that could be an idea.

What you have to try and do is to stop clipping BEFORE he freiks(sp) because otherwise this is what happens :

hes Ok with clippers, starts off for 5 mins
decides he doesnt like them anymore
starts to prat about
you stop clipping
he thinks - yay!! no more clipping, if i mess up, i dont get clipped!!

If it were something else, like a plastic bag i would say keep it on him until he stops moving and clams down (alot easyer said i know) and then when he stops, take it away as his reward, however, if you do this with the clippes, be VERY careful, i wouldnt reccomend it, as it is quite dangerous.

[PaintedRocket]

Originally Posted by cowgirlnat

First method I use...take a vibrator to get the horse used to the noise and sensation. Work w/the horse every day until you can rub it all over the horse's body. Then the transition to clippers will be easier w/fewer chunks of hair missing, lol.

LMAO!! I'm glad BW pointed this out to me.. !!

.. Natty you crack me up!!!


But hey.. Whatever works!

Or what about using the vibrate on your phone?

[Amigo]

i noticed that.. decided to keep quiet

[Blistering Winds]

see, I didn't want to point it out in public goof ball.

LMAO

Now miss b is going to delete it!!!