I meant to talk about both the Mustangs in yesterday’s post about shaving, but got carried away with just how bad Levi looked. Eugene actually looks worse, but there’s an excuse in his case.
Poor Eugene is terrified of clippers. When we shaved him before the Quicksilver ride he was so bad we only managed to shave a bit and even that was with 2 ccs of Ace, a XC vest and helmet, and getting kicked. It was a nightmare.
Eugene’s opinion of shaving
Over the winter, my husband has been carrying around the small, battery powered clippers that I got as a secret santa gift 2 years ago. He has varied between actually touching Eugene with them and just having them running in his pocket while grooming to further desensitize him. It has certainly helped, but Eugene is not a normal horse when it comes to fear. He still has a lot of wild horse instincts and reacts in a way that is unlike most domesticated horses I’ve known. This isn’t to say he’s a bad horse or untrainable; but he is different.
This time around, he was so much better. He was still absolutely terrified, but he really wanted to be good. He did not try to trample either of us, he didn’t need any drugs, and we got a lot more done. He was actually so terrified, he spent the whole time shaking. It’s a little hard to see in the video because of the heavy breathing, but his poor muscles are all quivering.
Poor little Mustang. Because he wouldn’t let us touch some spots, he really looks like he was shaved by a complete idiot. There are random unshaved patches and I don’t think a straight line on him.
I love how he now has a dorsal stripe and some wiggly lines up his back legs (because no touchy)
But we did get it done and he will be a lot happier for it. He’s been sweating a lot lately as the temps have been in the 80s and he’s in work being conditioned for an endurance ride (that has since been cancelled b/c the rain just will not stop). He was really so much better this time it was a marked improvement. We’ll continue to desensitize him to the clippers over the summer and I hope he’ll eventually get over it.
The clippers in the pocket are a good idea. He’s obviously learned to trust you.
Actually, he trusts my husband. I’m still very suspicious.
What a good boy trying so hard to be good this time around! Says a lot about the work y’all have put toward helping him with his fear. He’s lucky to be in your care.
He was trying very hard to be good.
I have a set of those small clippers. I’m totally going to try having them in my pocket with William. He’s awful about clipping.
We did some actual touching/exposure with the clippers, but just having them on occasionally without them ever touching him seemed to help him realize that noise is not always a bad thing.
Poor Eugene ha! I do have to say he does look worse than Levi, thankfully it is just hair right!
Eugene looks bad, but there’s actually an excuse there.
I like the desensitization idea! Poor guy. He’ll definitely like it when he’s not quite so hot.
I know he’ll enjoy the effects.
The difference between a bad clip and a good clip – about two weeks. ;D Helped a friend do the first clip ever on her cushingoid mare a few days ago. There was a pony under all that hair lol.
Eugene is such a good boy!
I’m not sure even 2 weeks will be enough, but I know it’ll be better eventually; I’m not worried.
Poor Eugene! I would love to hear more about how you are working with him on it. There is a long way for Murray to go with clippers too, and it is still an uphill battle for me.
Lots and lots of constant exposure. And some treat/food association with the clippers. Carrying the little clippers around has helped a lot. Every time we do it he learns that he will not actually be killed and that he cannot actually get out of this so he becomes more and more okay with it.
Poor guy! I love how hard he tries for you guys <3 I think he looks fine, all things considered. We had a horse come in once that was only clipped on one quarter of its body.
http://orig05.deviantart.net/7cb3/f/2009/103/8/1/81bf405ac8e2fdd1ca5aba861a3e1d7e.jpg
He really wants to be good.
Poor Eugene! That’s impressive that you saw so much improvement though. And that you’re so patient about it. Most people I know (probably myself included) would just get something heavier to sedate him. I like his new dorsal stripe 🙂
I actually would just do more drugs too if he weren’t also very difficult to stick with a needle.
Awh poor dude! I’m glad he is trying