Getting my horse used to clippers

Barbara F · Grand Prix

Getting my horse used to clippers

Nikki Salo · Grand Prix

Hey Barb, one of my favorite topics!

I find when I'm working with horses that are scared of clippers, you really have to go slow but the pay off in the end is worth it. I know there are some people who say to throw the running clippers in the bucket and let the horse freak out until it realizes it is fine, scary! disbelief

If you have a pair of cordless clippers it is easier, but if not that is fine too. I'd start by having your horse somewhere where he is comfortable but you can help to control him with a halter on, if you have a helper to hold the horse that works, otherwise if he is good in the cross ties that is your best bet. I'd start with the clippers after a good grooming, so he is nice and relaxed. Then I'd introduce the clippers, turned off, by holding them in your hand and rubbing his cheek area with your hand, then the clippers, then your hand, then the clippers (they are still off at this point), if he is behaving and staying relaxed you can verbally reward him and that is the end of lesson 1. Clippers go away, end of story. Lesson 2, if he is good for the briefing on the cheek with the clippers, you now move to more sensitive areas like his nose/muzzle, doing the same as before, rubbing with your hand holding the clippers, then with the clippers and then hand etc. until he is calm with this all over his head (talking in a calm manner of course will help the whole time).

Once he is really good with the clippers being off, lesson 3 is with them running. Turn on the clippers and wait for him to relax, don't approach him with the clippers right away, stay at his head, hold the clippers running, but carry on with talking to him or petting him with your free hand. If you don't run at him as soon as they start up, and if you stay calm and act like this is normal and no big deal I find it goes a long way. When he is fine with you just holding the clippers running, and he is relaxed with this, then head to lesson 4. Lesson 4 is approaching him with the clippers running in your hand, but rubbing him only with your hand while holding the clippers. Again, starting at his cheek, so he can feel the clipper vibrating through your hand and hear it running, same as lesson 2 only with the clippers running.

Lesson 5, you'll move onto rubbing the body of the running clippers along his face, if he isn't calm with this, go back to the last lesson where he was in a comfort zone. Lesson 6 will be a trim! Reward along the way for calmness and I hope this gives you some ideas to try with your boy biggrin

Barbara F · Grand Prix

Thanks Nikki, i'll start along this route!

p.s. Gotta love theses emoticons!

Nikki Salo · Grand Prix

Hey Barb, I've had good success using this method, although sometimes it has to be broken down over a month (depending on the horse). Curious to read how other people approach this training topic, as I think it is a vital part of a show horse's training.

P.S. the smilies are great, lots of funny ones!

FancyTrot · Yearling

Excellent advice. I believe Micheal peace has a similar method, talked about in his book creating the 100% horse :)

misbhavan · Foal

My horse was terrified of clippers until a very nice lady showed him the error of his ways.
He was haltered and standing quietly. She stood about 10 feet away from him and turned the clippers on. He looked, didn't like the sound, but didn't react more than that. She turned them off. Then on, then off, etc. until he didn't react at all to the sound.

Then she went behind him (again a good 10 feet away....close enough for him to hear but not to get injured if he spooked). Again she turned them on and off and on, etc. He had to stand quietly without turning around. He could turn his neck/head to look behind him, but not his whole body. He only looked a few times and then ignored the sound.

After that she let him sniff the clippers and then rubbed then all over his neck, back, barrel and butt...then let him sniff again.

As long as he stood quietly for this she then stood along side his but with the clippers resting on him and turned them on. He wiggled a bit because of the vibration, but didn't freak from the noise. Then she did the other side of his butt. Turned them on and off and on and off...all the while they were laying flat against his butt.

Then we moved up his body and did the same thing to his back, barrel, shoulder, and neck. By the time we made it up to his face, he could care less. I can clip this horse now without him even being cross tied.

And we did this all in one sitting!

When I got a vaccuum cleaner last fall, I did the same thing...and never had a adverse reaction to the noise or the suction/blowing of the cleaner at all.

Good luck!

DressageLeggy · Yearling

We body clipped my boy for the first time last year - let me say it was an excellent way to start half steps (lol!).

He was quite simply terrified so we just went very slow and skipped the belly (he was far too twitchy) and the head an neck. His second clipping he stood far, far better (because of previous positive experience I'm assuming) and we got everything incl. the head done.

I also clip his lower legs and face during show season - so he was used to the little cordless ones, but the huge shears for body clipping are a whole 'nother experience. Make sure you have tons of time and 2-3 people to help. It is also useful to have someone that knows what they are doing clip him the first time - it's hard to learn on a a nervous horse!

Good luck!

Barbara F · Grand Prix

DressageLeggy wrote:

We body clipped my boy for the first time last year - let me say it was an excellent way to start half steps (lol!).

Hahahaha! I know just what you mean!

Oh, can someone tell me more about Michael Peace? who is he?

SoftTouchTraining · Well Schooled

Nikki, that is exactly the same way I start my horses with clippers. Slow and patience is best. Once they get use to it, some find it as relaxing as a massage. My one gelding falls asleep when I body clip him.

Roka · Well Schooled

I read an excellent example in one of Mark Rashid's books, try reading that. He got the horse loose in a roundpen and worked on its fear by using a cordless drill to get it used to the sound. Worked a charm, but I suggest you try reading it for yourself in his book (I think it is the latest one).