Re: RC: Colts and Bridle Path Trimming

[Horsestwo@aol.com]

Becky;
What is the routine for clipping ears? Would you teach the head down cue for 
this too? My horse will let me mess with his ears all I want with hands, 
towel etc; but heaven forbid should I bring the clippers near them!
Thanks in advance,
Becky
Yes, the routine for clipping the ears is the same.  Be sure that the horse 
is 100% OK with you messing with his ears BEFORE you start the game. If your 
horse will allow you to put all that STRANGE stuff on his poll, between his 
ears, on his ears, with his head down then he will probably not object to 
clippers.  Try using a cordless shaver or massage unit, maybe a blow dryer on 
lowest setting (turned away from his ears, of course) as some of the items in 
the greater than/less than game.  The important thing is for the horse to 
respond to the head down cue; not for you to hold his head down.  

I don't believe the type of clippers used is any factor.  The noise, the 
sensation, the act of giving over control are big factors and you just have 
to teach a cue that is 100% reliable.  The horse will figure out that nothing 
terrible is going to happen but first he has to learn without a fight 
breaking out.  Trying to baby talk the horse into submission is not going to 
work any better than trying to force his head down.

BTW, I don't clip my horse's ears because they need that hair to keep dirt 
and bugs out.  I loathe the showring requirement of trimming all the whiskers 
and feathers and their ears.  God put that hair there for a reason and there 
is no reason to trim it unless a medical reason.  Think hard before you start 
using show ring standards for a trail horse (or any horse for that matter).  
Still, it is useful training to have the horse accept the clippers on his 
ears as though you intend to clip them.  Good luck and let me know how you do.

Melanie in AZ


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