Desensitizing Overly Ticklish/Twitchy Horse

[Fox_Wood_Farm]

I have a 9yo OTTB that I have had for about a year. He had hunted for 2 seasons prior to my purchase last year. He has a problem that I do not know how to “fix”. He is the MOST sensitive TB I have ever seen. He can’t stand any flies or bugs buzzing around his legs and fly spray is even worse. He will get so panicky when I am trying to spray his legs (while he is eating) that he’ll whirl and run away. This maybe sounds like not much of a big deal, but it is. Under saddle, if we are in briars, tall weeds, etc… he is certain that something is trying to eat him and he will stomp and eventually kick out at the foliage. He is NOT a kicker in the normal sense of the word. But I am scared that he might accidentally kick a horse or person or worse - a hound - when he starts this in the hunt field.

He is also one that does not respond well to strong negative feedback. In other words, if he does get himself into a kicking situation, and I whack his shoulder or butt with my crop to say “NO”, he is likely to buck or rear and get more upset. He’s more of a finesse horse than a strong-arm horse. (And I have had both kinds.) I’m so frustrated that I am considering a life of dressage (ugh) or selling him on as perhaps an event horse. He is very sweet, kind and handsome but I can’t have a potential kicker - regardless of the reason - as a hunt horse.

Any suggestions on possible ways to desenstize him or reduce his ticklishness?

[phoebetrainer]

Can you find a yard or standing space with weeds growing in it and put him in there for a few days? What about hanging things off his sheet or rug so that they brush against his legs? Start off in a small space so he doesn’t panic and throw himself over a fence. Get shredded paper from offices and bed him in that - really deep, so that it brushes against him. Take him and stand him knee deep in water - careful when you come out, because he might leap when he feels his wet tail between his legs. All worth a try if there are no other problems.

[Caitlynsmom]

try quiessence supplement.

[Equibrit]

Can you put boots on his legs? You may find his sensitivity is a product of his former career. A lot of race horses spend most of their time in wraps of some kind, or having their legs treated in some way, which may explain why he is sensitive when they are not covered. See what happens if you cover them.

[Fox_Wood_Farm]

Thanks phoebetrainer. Until I mowed the weeds out of my pasture recently, he WAS in tall grass! Actually you could tell he avoided the tall weeds and hung out in areas that were shorter. Somebody suggested yesterday to me to try hanging stuff around his legs. I think I will try that. Seems easy to do and hard for him to hurt himself if he got panicky. Thanks.

[Fox_Wood_Farm]

@Caitlynsmom;3260637

try quiessence supplement.

Interesting that you suggest quiessence. I had been considering it for other reasons. Why do you think it would help this issue?

[Fox_Wood_Farm]

@Equibrit;3260667

Can you put boots on his legs? You may find his sensitivity is a product of his former career. A lot of race horses spend most of their time in wraps of some kind, or having their legs treated in some way, which may explain why he is sensitive when they are not covered. See what happens if you cover them.

Good suggestion. I have been riding him in SMB elites on all four legs, but they aren’t very tall when adjusted correctly on the fetlock. Had been thinking about getting some cheap, plain splint or galloping type boots. Will try that for sure.

[Romany]

What about having him “sacked out,” or whatever the term-du-jour is, by one of the Western trainers who does that sort of NH stuff?

In the meantime, do what I did - keep a rag for flyspray in a ziplock bag, and spray the flyspray on that, and not on to the horse.

The horse in my case did eventually figure out that flyspray is a good thing, not mama firing a mini fire-breathing dragon at his tum - only took us, oh, 5 years :rolleyes: but now when he sees me approach with the spray bottle he fairly runs into my arms and presents his anatomy for the relieving spray

[Equibrit]

I use a 1 gallon pump up garden sprayer and have NEVER had a problem using it. It is silent and a very fine mist.

[2ndyrgal]

I second the pump sprayer. Just got my retired show horse and a new TB last week. The folks I got him from said he “hated” fly spray. What he hated was the application process. I just got a stainless steel 2.5 gallon pump sprayer from TSC with a brass wand and fittings. The wand is about the length of a dressage whip and it has a long hose. It is silent, so once they got used to the mist, they were both just fine. As for the leg thing, I saw some sort of anti fly leg coverings that looked like something fringey from just above the knee down in some western catalog, kind of a velco strap that fit just above the knee and then pieces of material that hung straight down or swung when the horse moved, I thought it looked like something some stripper would wear, came with a fly sheet, mask, just covered the horse almost completely. But the leg things, were just a simple velcro band with strips hanging. Someone clever could make one. Wouldn’t hurt him, and he’d get used to stuff swishing about.

[Well_Worn_Bridle]

You can always use a sheepskin or cotton mitt (try Beval) to apply fly spray. Use something like Endure that can withstand sweating and water you’ll encounter. Have you spoken with his previous owner? How did they handle this situation with him on the hunt?

[Foxtrot_s]

I second the “sacking out” - use a lunge whip and stroke him all over, flick it around, etc. Graduate to a plastic bag on the end of a buggy whip (a la NH) stroke, stroke. But never take him more than a smidge over his tolerance level before backing down.

Good Luck

Given that, we had a pony who never, ever got over it and could never be completely trusted. Could not be used in Prince Philip Games because the flags, etc. spooked her. Ran through a whole lot of electric fences set up to make paddocks at one stable. But, in her case, I think it was more neurological - she was just odd. Yet, in shows, she was a winner, in her own comfort zone. She took a stroke, or seisure of some kind and we had to put her down.

[scpezold]

I have a guy who is funny with the flyspray and always have a cloth on hand to spray on first. I also start scratching him on his neck (or near where I am going to spray). This will usually put his mind on the scratching and less on the spraying.

As far as the ticklish part start small and do little things in his stall. Rub his face, body, legs with a cloth or brush. When he is ok with that start walking by his stall with a plastic bag so he can get used to the noise. Let him see and sniff it. Once he is ok with that add the plastic bag on top of the cloth or brush. Let him sniff it and start rubbing his body, legs, face with it. Try hanging things in his stall so he can get used to moveable objects above him. If you have a surcingle put this on him and attach different items to the rings. Start small ie streams of baling twine that are long enough to hit is legs but not to long that he will trip on, you can also attach rubber boat bouies(sp?) to either side of the surcingle to get him used to things banging on his side. You can get them at wal mart for cheap. Start him in the stall and when he is comfortable put him in the round pen or small enclosure. These small things can go a long way in “desensitizing” a horse. Be patient, be careful and be consistent. Good Luck!

[Friss_Levego]

[QUOTE=Fox Wood Farm;3256626]
I have a 9yo OTTB that I have had for about a year. He had hunted for 2 seasons prior to my purchase last year. He has a problem that I do not know how to “fix”. He is the MOST sensitive TB I have ever seen. He can’t stand any flies or bugs buzzing around his legs and fly spray is even worse. He will get so panicky when I am trying to spray his legs (while he is eating) that he’ll whirl and run away. This maybe sounds like not much of a big deal, but it is. Under saddle, if we are in briars, tall weeds, etc… he is certain that something is trying to eat him and he will stomp and eventually kick out at the foliage. He is NOT a kicker in the normal sense of the word. But I am scared that he might accidentally kick a horse or person or worse - a hound - when he starts this in the hunt field.

He is also one that does not respond well to strong negative feedback. In other words, if he does get himself into a kicking situation, and I whack his shoulder or butt with my crop to say “NO”, he is likely to buck or rear and get more upset. He’s more of a finesse horse than a strong-arm horse. (And I have had both kinds.) I’m so frustrated that I am considering a life of dressage (ugh) or selling him on as perhaps an event horse. He is very sweet, kind and handsome but I can’t have a potential kicker - regardless of the reason - as a hunt horse.

Any suggestions on possible ways to desenstize him or reduce his ticklishness?[/QUOTE]

Hi, I was wondering if you were able to desensitize your horse or reduce ticklishness and how? Because a year ago I have bought a horse, which shows the same attitude as yours. And by now I became so frustrated and I’m at the point that it would be better to sell her. Thanks

[dps]

I have a mare that is very skin sensitive, you couldn’t brush her face or legs, girthy and overall not happy being touched. Started her on Mag and she is a different horse. Now she loves to have her face brushed and is no longer girthy. Its cheap enough to give it a try.

[Friss_Levego]

Thanks, I’ll give it a try.

[wateryglen]

I’ve heard… but can not validate that sometimes…hypertouchy horses have Lyme disease…that jumpy, skin hyperrsensitivity is a symptom. Maybe you can investigate that…
And try to NOT apply flyspray when he is hot or wet and his pores are open. It can burn them especially of they are allergic to it. Make sure it’s only on his hair and not his skin. Try different sprays. Try a non pyrethrin blend.
And try a fly sheet instead.
I have a pyrethrin allergy and it burns me sometimes. Plus my midge highly allergic mare itches miserably after I apply flysprays. Makes her itch worse.
And I agree with desensitizing…like so much with horses it’s mileage, mileage, mileage!!
Just my 2 sense! Good luck!

[Friss_Levego]

Thanks for the good idea. I’ve read a few articles about Lyme disease, and it seems possible regarding to other signs that my horse has. So I’m going to investigate that. Thanks for your help again

[bigbaytb]

For a supplement, I just like to use straight Vitamin E/ Thiamin. Doesn’t drug…takes a little time but seems to slow the brain and body down for an over reactive horse. I’ve had success with it with a couple over sensitive horses.

[flashwhitelock]

Make sure you don’t have horse on too much b12.