Grooming question

Horsemom2 · 12-12-2007, 08:13 PM

Does anyone have a horse that doesn't like to be brushed and fussed over? I have a mare that just will not relax and truely enjoy grooming like some of ours will. Even if that is all I am doing. She is not a touchy feely mare to begin with and I have tried to work on this problem for years. She is more of the crabby old lady that just wants to be left alone. She stands okay for it but she is just kinda figity with her ears and you can tell she just doesn't want to be messed with. I would love to spend an hour doting on her and brushing and loving but she is not agreeing with it.

Of course being a mare she does get jealous if I spend that time with another horse.

Horsemom

p.s. I have had her checked for pain and ruled out anything physical.

Pixiefly · 12-12-2007, 08:18 PM

I have one gelding who HATES grooming. and saddling. and if you fuss with the saddle/girth after its on.

Vet said he just has really sensitive skin.

He'll swish his tail and dance abit and pin his ears. He's never tried anything with me, I think just b/c he loves me and we get along great, but he has kicked and bitten trainer!

KitKat · 12-12-2007, 09:08 PM

I have a gelding who could live without it. I don't think it is actually the grooming that he doesn't like, it's just that he is REALLY opposed to sitting still for more than 2 seconds at a time. His brain just is incapable of relaxing at all and I think it just comes across that he doesn't like being groomed. My other gelding though, oh man, he loves nothing more.

Jade · 12-12-2007, 09:20 PM

Yep, my TB is the same way. He could definitley live without grooming. If I have a brush in my hand the other horses in the pasture practically fight over who is going to get brushed but my guy walks off.

Horsemom2 · 12-12-2007, 09:41 PM

I am glad it is just not her then. LOL I just want her to be the biggest cuddle bug in the world but unfortunately she is never going to be that. I am extremely grateful that she is the super trustworthy mount that she is. The first time I let her really go fast, i started slipping and she adjusted herself to help me balance and made sure that I didn't fall off of her. I am sure that she loves me as she is extremely tolerant of just about anything that I do to her. LOL My new favorite thing to do is when I am done riding, I like to position myself behind the saddle on her butt and then slide off. My mom says that if a horse could roll her eyes she would be doing it. She has the look of ugh what is mom doing to me now! LOL She lets me put hats on her. She lets me put my kids on her and she takes good care of them. She does speed (my friend also rode her in the classes and she made sure that I had the best time

), she attempts WP, she goes trail riding. She is an all around great horse and I feel bad that I don't pamper her the way the others get it but she just doesn't seem to like it. At least hearing that others are the same way sure makes it easier to not worry that she is hurting.

Thanks and I would love to hear more of the quirks that other horses have.

**taelesean** · 12-12-2007, 11:18 PM

You could try changing the type of brushes and curries you use.

I've met a few horses that didn't like soft brushes, and few that didn't like hard ones. I've met a gelding who disliked all brushes except the shedding blade - he loved the shedding blade, even when he wasn't shedding.

Or, just all business with the brushing and try a little massage instead. Maybe she'd prefer that.

TxHorseMom · 12-13-2007, 05:09 AM

I agree with Mr T. My mare Mercedes doesn't like the hard brushes. I found the softest brush I could and she is much happier. I would try different brushes.

Carri · 12-13-2007, 06:53 AM

Anna's new pony Portia is just like that, she has the most sour look on her face when she is being groomed. Any time you go near her hind end with a brush, she puts her ears back. She is also really nasty about being messed with in her stall, so for her, I think she just doesn't like being messed with. Which is not a good thing when you are owned by an 8 year old girl! We have tried all different kinds of brushes on her, she just doesn't like it... Poor thing!

GAGIRL · 12-13-2007, 06:56 AM

Carrie,

Her pony might come around. I have a mare that when I first got her she was horrible about grooming. She just didn't like it. Now she absolutely loves it. It just took her an adjustment time to get around someone who wants to love on her and didn't just want to saddle her up and go.

Carri · 12-13-2007, 06:57 AM

That's what we are hoping, especially since even on days we don't ride, we still go out and groom and love on the horses.

KatieMae · 12-13-2007, 06:58 AM

The Thoroughbred mare I ride for my barn owner is a very non-touchy-feely horse... If she's eating, she doesn't care... But if you're grooming to ride, it's a different story... However! She's a different horse in and out of her stall... In the stall, while being saddled, she pins her ears and looks at you like "Um, excuse me?" But out of the stall, she stands like a complete dear.... I honestly just think she's moody.

seerfarm · 12-13-2007, 07:46 AM

I have found in my years, that it is common in especially horses that are boarded or have a particular quiet spot. I am not saying all are this way, but many that are in or have been in groups or herds associate stall and that quiet spot with personnal time. There only little private spot for rest, relaxation and me time. How be it, I always teach and promote that I can come in your stall at anytime safely, mess with and handle you if need be, but try to do it as little as possible. I also like to find a fairly alone area, maybe away from other horses with a small bag of hay secured up to make it "us time". If and when possible keeping tacking and doctoring spaces seperate from love and affectionate places. Some horses just don't care but some it does make a difference.

Slim Pikkens · 12-13-2007, 07:53 AM

Have you tried not tying her up to groom? I just flip the lead over my shoulder. She may feel vulnerable while tied. Soft brushes are more readily accepted as well.

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12-12-2007, 08:13 PM
Horsemom2 Yearling Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 537	Grooming question Does anyone have a horse that doesn't like to be brushed and fussed over? I have a mare that just will not relax and truely enjoy grooming like some of ours will. Even if that is all I am doing. She is not a touchy feely mare to begin with and I have tried to work on this problem for years. She is more of the crabby old lady that just wants to be left alone. She stands okay for it but she is just kinda figity with her ears and you can tell she just doesn't want to be messed with. I would love to spend an hour doting on her and brushing and loving but she is not agreeing with it. Of course being a mare she does get jealous if I spend that time with another horse. Horsemom p.s. I have had her checked for pain and ruled out anything physical.

12-12-2007, 08:18 PM
Pixiefly Started Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Eastern Iowa Posts: 2,992	I have one gelding who HATES grooming. and saddling. and if you fuss with the saddle/girth after its on. Vet said he just has really sensitive skin. He'll swish his tail and dance abit and pin his ears. He's never tried anything with me, I think just b/c he loves me and we get along great, but he has kicked and bitten trainer! __________________

12-12-2007, 09:08 PM
KitKat Long Yearling Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 1,389	I have a gelding who could live without it. I don't think it is actually the grooming that he doesn't like, it's just that he is REALLY opposed to sitting still for more than 2 seconds at a time. His brain just is incapable of relaxing at all and I think it just comes across that he doesn't like being groomed. My other gelding though, oh man, he loves nothing more.

12-12-2007, 09:20 PM
Jade Long Yearling Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 1,159	Yep, my TB is the same way. He could definitley live without grooming. If I have a brush in my hand the other horses in the pasture practically fight over who is going to get brushed but my guy walks off.

12-12-2007, 09:41 PM
Horsemom2 Yearling Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 537	I am glad it is just not her then. LOL I just want her to be the biggest cuddle bug in the world but unfortunately she is never going to be that. I am extremely grateful that she is the super trustworthy mount that she is. The first time I let her really go fast, i started slipping and she adjusted herself to help me balance and made sure that I didn't fall off of her. I am sure that she loves me as she is extremely tolerant of just about anything that I do to her. LOL My new favorite thing to do is when I am done riding, I like to position myself behind the saddle on her butt and then slide off. My mom says that if a horse could roll her eyes she would be doing it. She has the look of ugh what is mom doing to me now! LOL She lets me put hats on her. She lets me put my kids on her and she takes good care of them. She does speed (my friend also rode her in the classes and she made sure that I had the best time ), she attempts WP, she goes trail riding. She is an all around great horse and I feel bad that I don't pamper her the way the others get it but she just doesn't seem to like it. At least hearing that others are the same way sure makes it easier to not worry that she is hurting. Thanks and I would love to hear more of the quirks that other horses have.

12-12-2007, 11:18 PM
taelesean Administrator Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Virginia Posts: 6,319	You could try changing the type of brushes and curries you use. I've met a few horses that didn't like soft brushes, and few that didn't like hard ones. I've met a gelding who disliked all brushes except the shedding blade - he loved the shedding blade, even when he wasn't shedding. Or, just all business with the brushing and try a little massage instead. Maybe she'd prefer that. __________________

12-13-2007, 05:09 AM
TxHorseMom Greenbroke Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 3,029	I agree with Mr T. My mare Mercedes doesn't like the hard brushes. I found the softest brush I could and she is much happier. I would try different brushes.

12-13-2007, 06:53 AM
Carri Pasture Pet Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Alpharetta, Georgia Posts: 13,652	Anna's new pony Portia is just like that, she has the most sour look on her face when she is being groomed. Any time you go near her hind end with a brush, she puts her ears back. She is also really nasty about being messed with in her stall, so for her, I think she just doesn't like being messed with. Which is not a good thing when you are owned by an 8 year old girl! We have tried all different kinds of brushes on her, she just doesn't like it... Poor thing!

12-13-2007, 06:56 AM
GAGIRL Started Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: GEORGIA Posts: 2,567	Carrie, Her pony might come around. I have a mare that when I first got her she was horrible about grooming. She just didn't like it. Now she absolutely loves it. It just took her an adjustment time to get around someone who wants to love on her and didn't just want to saddle her up and go. __________________ GAGIRL

12-13-2007, 06:57 AM
Carri Pasture Pet Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Alpharetta, Georgia Posts: 13,652	That's what we are hoping, especially since even on days we don't ride, we still go out and groom and love on the horses.

12-13-2007, 06:58 AM
KatieMae Seasoned Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: C.FLA Posts: 4,195	The Thoroughbred mare I ride for my barn owner is a very non-touchy-feely horse... If she's eating, she doesn't care... But if you're grooming to ride, it's a different story... However! She's a different horse in and out of her stall... In the stall, while being saddled, she pins her ears and looks at you like "Um, excuse me?" But out of the stall, she stands like a complete dear.... I honestly just think she's moody. __________________ You can only blame your problems on the world for so long Before it all becomes the same old song.

12-13-2007, 07:46 AM
seerfarm Bombproof Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Out with the Herd! Posts: 9,633	I have found in my years, that it is common in especially horses that are boarded or have a particular quiet spot. I am not saying all are this way, but many that are in or have been in groups or herds associate stall and that quiet spot with personnal time. There only little private spot for rest, relaxation and me time. How be it, I always teach and promote that I can come in your stall at anytime safely, mess with and handle you if need be, but try to do it as little as possible. I also like to find a fairly alone area, maybe away from other horses with a small bag of hay secured up to make it "us time". If and when possible keeping tacking and doctoring spaces seperate from love and affectionate places. Some horses just don't care but some it does make a difference. __________________ "One must be a god to be able to tell successes from failures without making a mistake".

12-13-2007, 07:53 AM
Slim Pikkens Seasoned Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 4,047	Have you tried not tying her up to groom? I just flip the lead over my shoulder. She may feel vulnerable while tied. Soft brushes are more readily accepted as well.