Acceptance Training Techniques For Clipper Shy Horses
In this video, we’re tackling a common challenge for horse owners: clipping a horse who absolutely hates it! Meet Billy, a lovely chap who usually needs to be sedated just to get the clippers anywhere near him. As I explain, for some horses like Billy, it’s not about being naughty – it’s genuine fear, anxiety, and sometimes even being terribly ticklish that makes clipping a real ordeal.
He’d rather bolt, have a good shake, or even lash out then have those clippers come close. But what if there are ways to make clipping less stressful? In this video, I’m showing you some of the gentle acceptance training (desensitisation) techniques to help Billy (and hopefully your own sensitive horse!) become more accepting of the clippers.
The key takeaway throughout this process is going slowly and incrementally. It’s like a traffic light system: red means too much, orange is just about manageable, and green is the ultimate goal!
For clipping at home, I really recommend lots of short, frequent practice sessions, rather than trying to do it all in one go. Think manageable chunks of around 20 minutes. And even after you’ve clipped a small area (though we don’t see much actual clipping here as Billy is usually sedated), a gentle stroke afterwards can also help reduce any lingering ticklishness.
Key Takeaways:
- For some horses, clipping is a major stressor caused by fear, worry, and even being ticklish. It’s not necessarily bad behaviour, but a reaction to feeling uneasy.
- A step-by-step approach using different sensations– like a plastic bag – can really help them get used to the idea of being clipped.
- It’s so important to understand your horse’s individual quirks and work with them patiently. Getting advice from a qualified intelligent horsemanship trainer can be a great starting point.
