Post by pamz on Mar 15, 2009 11:42:02 GMT -5
One of the threads on the EquinFriends board got me thinking that this would be a good subject here. I've trained lots of horses to allow clipping and here's what works for all of them....
When teaching a horse to accept clippers, you must use the approach/retreat method. What this means is that you approach the horse until you start to move past his comfort zone, then retreat until he relaxes. It works for lots of things besides clippers too. Here is a step by step to get your horse to allow you to clip him.
A few general things to remember:
Don't try this training the night before a show. It takes time to get a horse relaxed and comfortable with a machine buzzing around his muzzle, eyes and especially his ears.
Don't try to do too much too soon or you'll risk setting him back in the process. As you move forward thru each step, the process usually speeds up. There is no timetable. With some horses, it's a matter of hours, with others, it can take weeks. A lot depends on the horse's personality and his previous training, but if you follow each step without pushing the horse, it WILL work.
Most important, even with a seasoned horse, keep track of how hot the clippers are. Especially around the ears, eyes and muzzle horses are very sensitive. If the clippers get too hot and you burn him, he'll actually have reason to avoid them besides just not being properly acclimated. You don't want that to happen or you'll be starting all over again.
With these things in mind, here's how to train your horse to stand like a champ.
Step one: Start during a regular grooming session when the horse is really relaxed. Bring the clippers with you and allow the horse to check them out when they are not running.
Step two: Again during a grooming session, turn the clippers on and let them run. Let the horse look and listen without touching him with them. IF he's so inclined, let him reach out to sniff them.
Step three: Once the horse is relaxed with the sound and sight of the clippers running near him, try rubbing them on his body. If he moves away, don't force the issue. Try again in a few minutes. Generally you can rub the clippers on their body within minutes of trying the first time. Continue to rub the clippers on only his body this first time.
Step four: Once the horse is TOTALLY relaxed with you rubbing the clippers all over his body and legs (being especially careful of the back legs at first), start SLOWLY moving up his neck. Many horses will tolerate the clippers all over the body and legs, then become convinced the clippers are going to eat them when you move towards their heads. This is where the approach/retreat is really the clue. Move up the neck only until the horse shows signs of apprehension. IMMEDIATELY retreat back to where he is comfortable. Continue this approach/retreat until he relaxes at one consistent point. Then quit for the day.
Step five: Each day, start by reviewing the body rubbing followed by moving up the neck a little at a time. You will generally find that with each session you are able to move further and further up the neck before the horse gets apprehensive, until you are near to the horse's ears and he is totally relaxed. On some horses, you can go all the way up the neck the first day. With others, progress takes longer. Let the horse tell you his comfort level and don't push past it. Make sure you work on both sides equally.
Step six: Skip past the ears and work on moving down the face from the jowls, then up the front, all the while continuing the approach/retreat method. Once the horse is relaxed with the clippers all over his face, it's time to move to the ears.
Step seven: Again starting each day with a body rub, up the neck and around the face, move from the forehead to the poll area, trying to not touch the ears at first. Once you can go over the poll from both directions and both sides, you can add in the ears. Rub the outside, inside, tips, etc until the horse is again, totally relaxed.
Step eight: NOW you can actually start the clipping process with a relaxed, comfortable horse.
When teaching a horse to accept clippers, you must use the approach/retreat method. What this means is that you approach the horse until you start to move past his comfort zone, then retreat until he relaxes. It works for lots of things besides clippers too. Here is a step by step to get your horse to allow you to clip him.
A few general things to remember:
Don't try this training the night before a show. It takes time to get a horse relaxed and comfortable with a machine buzzing around his muzzle, eyes and especially his ears.
Don't try to do too much too soon or you'll risk setting him back in the process. As you move forward thru each step, the process usually speeds up. There is no timetable. With some horses, it's a matter of hours, with others, it can take weeks. A lot depends on the horse's personality and his previous training, but if you follow each step without pushing the horse, it WILL work.
Most important, even with a seasoned horse, keep track of how hot the clippers are. Especially around the ears, eyes and muzzle horses are very sensitive. If the clippers get too hot and you burn him, he'll actually have reason to avoid them besides just not being properly acclimated. You don't want that to happen or you'll be starting all over again.
With these things in mind, here's how to train your horse to stand like a champ.
Step one: Start during a regular grooming session when the horse is really relaxed. Bring the clippers with you and allow the horse to check them out when they are not running.
Step two: Again during a grooming session, turn the clippers on and let them run. Let the horse look and listen without touching him with them. IF he's so inclined, let him reach out to sniff them.
Step three: Once the horse is relaxed with the sound and sight of the clippers running near him, try rubbing them on his body. If he moves away, don't force the issue. Try again in a few minutes. Generally you can rub the clippers on their body within minutes of trying the first time. Continue to rub the clippers on only his body this first time.
Step four: Once the horse is TOTALLY relaxed with you rubbing the clippers all over his body and legs (being especially careful of the back legs at first), start SLOWLY moving up his neck. Many horses will tolerate the clippers all over the body and legs, then become convinced the clippers are going to eat them when you move towards their heads. This is where the approach/retreat is really the clue. Move up the neck only until the horse shows signs of apprehension. IMMEDIATELY retreat back to where he is comfortable. Continue this approach/retreat until he relaxes at one consistent point. Then quit for the day.
Step five: Each day, start by reviewing the body rubbing followed by moving up the neck a little at a time. You will generally find that with each session you are able to move further and further up the neck before the horse gets apprehensive, until you are near to the horse's ears and he is totally relaxed. On some horses, you can go all the way up the neck the first day. With others, progress takes longer. Let the horse tell you his comfort level and don't push past it. Make sure you work on both sides equally.
Step six: Skip past the ears and work on moving down the face from the jowls, then up the front, all the while continuing the approach/retreat method. Once the horse is relaxed with the clippers all over his face, it's time to move to the ears.
Step seven: Again starting each day with a body rub, up the neck and around the face, move from the forehead to the poll area, trying to not touch the ears at first. Once you can go over the poll from both directions and both sides, you can add in the ears. Rub the outside, inside, tips, etc until the horse is again, totally relaxed.
Step eight: NOW you can actually start the clipping process with a relaxed, comfortable horse.
