From: dabay@morse.cns.vt.edu (Marian Dabay)
Newsgroups: rec.equestrian
Subject: Re: horse doesn't like to be groomed
Date: 23 Nov 92 17:53:34 GMT
Organization: Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA

In article <4252@unisql.UUCP> wrat@unisql.UUCP (wharfie) writes:
>
>There's this horse, Dollar, who doesn't like to be groomed.  When 
>I try to brush or curry him, he lays his ears back and tosses his head
>and his skin moves like there's flies on him.  I've tried all different
>curries and brushes, too.  
>
>	What could I do to get this horse to trust me enough to
>groom him, or make the experience more tolerable to him?  I've tried
>bribing him with carrots...

I'm glad to see that you've taken this as your "personnel challenge".
It sounds as if maybe this poor guy hasn't had enough (of the correct
type) of attention.  Because he isn't easy to groom, people have
probably not spent enough time with him.  Instead, he probably
gets a quick, rough grooming which just re-affirms the idea
that grooming = discomfort.  

A few years ago, I leased a horse I was thinking of buying.  He was
a big, beautiful TB who had extremely sensitive skin.  The owner
told me that a lot of TBs are very "thin skinned" (anyone else ever
hear of this??).  Anyway, I had to be real careful as to what kind of
grooming tools to use.  Absolutely no metal curry or stiff brush!!  Also,
there were areas that were more sensitive than others, like right
along the spine.  I found that if I took my time, used a nice clean,
SOFT brush and brushed very GENTLY, he really enjoyed it.  On the
really tough dried dirt, I used one of those big, soft rubber things
(Grooma??) and, again, gently rubbed the area in a circular motion.
All of this was done while I talked gently and reassuringly to him.
After every minute or two, I would stop, praise him and give him
a few pats or hugs.

After just a few sessions, he stopped being so paranoid about it.
Unfortunately, he was a much more advanced horse than I was looking
for, so I didn't buy him, but he taught me that patience and under-
standing are the keys to a horses heart.

I would suggest starting out very slow.  Just groom him until he starts
to show his displeasure, then stop.  Talk to him and pat him a little
till he relaxs.  Then groom a little more.  If you stop every time
he tells you that he doesn't like it (i.e., his skin twitches or he
pins his ears), he won't feel threatened, and pretty soon he will
learn to trust you.  He may never really LOVE being groomed, but if
he knows you aren't going to hurt him, he will learn to tolerate it.
Be sure to REALLY praise him if he behaves himself for even a few
minutes at a time.  And listen to what he "tells" you.  If everytime
you touch a certain area, he tenses or twitches his skin, chances
are this is a very sensitive area.  If you find a good, "itchy" spot,
reward him by scratching there often.  A few areas that my guys love to
have scratched are:  between the eyes, under the chin, behind the ears, 
on the withers, and their most favorite, on their, uhh, bottom(??), right
beside/under their tail.  Whenever I scratch them there, they raise there
tails and stretch out their necks and get this really stupid look
on their face - I guess you call it "horse bliss".

Anyway, good luck you Dollar.  I hope the two of you get to be
best friends.

Marian Dabay