For those with horses sensitive to touch/grooming

[SugarCubes]

I’ve posted about my hates-to-be-groomed/touched gelding in the past and have heard from several of you with horses who act the same way. Most of us have tested for lyme, mineral deficiencies, etc that would explain the behavior and most of our vets have chalked it up to them either being ticklish or just extra sensitive.

For the first time in years, my horse isn’t body clipped and I’m noticing he’s even grumpier than usual when being groomed. Wondering if anyone else has noticed the same thing? Maybe he doesn’t like the longer hairs being “pulled” when he’s groomed or something along those lines? Or maybe the colder weather has made him more sensitive overall.

Anyway, just found that interesting and wanted to know if anyone else has experienced the same thing or has found the root of the issue with their own horse?

I’ve had this horse almost 7 years and he’s acted like this since day one, I’ve had multiple vets try to “diagnose” him with no answers besides “he’s sensitive”.

[Inclined]

My DD’s gelding is sensitive like yours. During the summer, he has learned to like his grooming because he’s itchy from flies and sweat. During the winter, he rarely wants to be touched. I’ve never found out why, but what you mentioned about the longer hair being tangled and pulling may be the cause. We have owned him for 3.5 years, and he has always behaved this way.

[SugarCubes]

@Inclined

My DD’s gelding is sensitive like yours. During the summer, he has learned to like his grooming because he’s itchy from flies and sweat. During the winter, he rarely wants to be touched. I’ve never found out why, but what you mentioned about the longer hair being tangled and pulling may be the cause. We have owned him for 3.5 years, and he has always behaved this way.

Interesting! Now that you mention it, my horse likes scratches in the summer and I know where his favorite itchy spots are…in the winter he makes grumpy faces when I scratch the same areas. Hmm…

[walkinthewalk]

I can’t remember if I posted on your other thread — which I’m amazed I even remember reading it, lollol.

My skin sensitive horse that never liked to be brushed has grain and soy allergies. His tolerating brushing improved immensely when I took him off anything with grain and used soy as the protein source. It helped his environmental allergies too.

What really turned him into the lovable horse, full time that I would only catch fleeting glimpses of, was Magnesium Malate. Not Mag Oxide, Malate. It’s been at least three years since I’ve had to put the riding crop in the bath bucket, lollol

This horse is 24 and has been with me since he was two. I didn’t discover his food sensitivities until 2007 and I didn’t decide to try the Magnesium Malate until four years ago ---- all of which I am still kicking my own beehind for not figuring all this out sooner:(

He only needs half the daily recommended dose of Mag Restore, so a 4.5# bag of MagRestore lasts him around 4-1/2 months.

[islgrl]

My horse hates being groomed in the winter. I do think its because the long hair pulls a bit and the curry can make him staticy. I find he is more amendable after I ride and he’s a bit warm/damp so I do the deeper groom then.

[DunByMistake]

Mine is definitely like this. He does not enjoy grooming in the summer but can tolerate it. He does enjoy hand scratches.

But with his full winter coat, he HATES being touched. I think it’s mostly static for him - I can hear the crackling when I brush him. Static Guard helps with that but he still doesn’t love being touched. Of course he is gray so the dirt really shows. I’ve just accepted I have the dirtiest horse at the indoor in the winter. Trying to make him perfectly clean is not worth the annoyance it causes him. I’d love to clip but lack an indoor wash stall with warm water so getting him clean enough to clip isn’t an option.

[BoyleHeightsKid]

Long winter coat usually means Static Electricity.

[kande04]

Maybe horses can have something like fibromyalgia?

[jawa]

I have two TBs that are sensitive to grooming. The one grooming tool that they both LOVE is the Epona Tiger Tongue. It does a great job of breaking up thick mud patches and also pulls up the dust and dander. Bonus, I hose the horse, “curry” with the TT and then hose again. They come out almost as shiny as if I had given them a shampoo. Double Bonus, it isn’t expensive!!!

[Inclined]

@SugarCubes

Interesting! Now that you mention it, my horse likes scratches in the summer and I know where his favorite itchy spots are…in the winter he makes grumpy faces when I scratch the same areas. Hmm…

This is exactly what our gelding does. IMO, he just doesn’t like being touched at all, but during the summer he tolerates it because itching feels worse than being petted/scratched/groomed. A couple of months ago, I read an article that linked some behavior traits to coat color. The science behind it isn’t complete, but it was interesting. Even if behavioral traits aren’t color linked, I could definitely see how skin sensitivity could be. FWIW, our gelding is a chestnut.

@walkinthewalk , thanks for the heads up about the magnesium malate. I’ve wondered before if he might have some chemical deficiencies, and I’m going to look into this more.

[danacat]

@jawa

I have two TBs that are sensitive to grooming. The one grooming tool that they both LOVE is the Epona Tiger Tongue. !

I don’t know what it is about the Tiger Tongue, but my two TBreds who hate to be groomed love it too. Stand like statues.

[SugarCubes]

@Inclined Mine is a chestnut too…interesting!

@walkinthewalk I’ve tried Magnesium, and a magnesium/selenium combo with no noticeable difference, but I might have to try the magnesium malate. Thanks!

@jawa My horse doesn’t mind the metal curry if I’m scraping mud off of him, and doesn’t seem to mind those slick n easy shedding blocks, but any other curry or brush seriously offends him! I’ll have to try the tiger tongue!

I keep him doused in healthy hair care “the pink stuff” all winter long to prevent static, and never notice any static when I change blankets, so I don’t think that’s his issue. Has anyone’s vet ever had them try gabapentin for this issue?

[jawa]

@SugarCubes I find these work better than the slick and easy grooming blocks. And even better, it doesn’t break apart when using it.

[endlessclimb]

You know how if you wear a hat for a long time, your scalp kind of hurts when you take it off from the constant pressure?

I wonder if that’s what’s happening with the blankets.

EDIT: my horses are similar. The pressure from the blanket would also explain why they don’t mind a more thorough grooming after a ride - the hair has had a chance to normalize without us roughing it up, making the groom more pleasant for them.

[quietann]

@BoyleHeightsKid

Long winter coat usually means Static Electricity.

I was going to say this. My mare gets very unhappy about static electricity.

[LookmaNohands]

I find long, slow rhythmic strokes with a soft brush works well. I don’t worry much about getting them clean at first but really focus on making them feel good.

Wait.

Did that sound weird? Works well on horses.

[IPEsq]

It’s static mostly for mine, but there is also something to getting the blood pumping through the muscles. He is not exactly cold backed, but the vets say to treat him like he is. He gets a quick brush off before a ride while standing under the heater and maybe wearing a BOt back pad. More thorough grooming after. If he is especially gross, I hot towel instead of curry/brush.

I did just just get a Tiger Tongue and he tolerates that ok. It’s just about the only thing I can use on his face. Belly is still mostly off limits with it.

[Trot_On]

My boy is not a fan of grooming in any season, but winter is worse if I make a mistake and allow static shocks. I got in the habit of making sure my brushes were static free and starting on the legs and working up. He grew to like the grooming hands gloves, but there was a short learning curve as I found out where I had to float the gloves across and where I could use a bit of pressure. I like the gloves as I could really learn his body preferences better then with even a soft rubber curry. The fat cat REALLY loves them.

We both love the Tiger Tongue, does a great job of swallowing up dust and I like that it is effective wet or dry. He prefers the TT for the clipped areas, seems I use it more often then brushes lately… I also do more through grooming after riding, and if the slow feeder hay net is filled grooming is happier for both of us. It may be coincidence, but since I started him on Outlast for ulcer prevention/management grooming is easier. It could be that the ulcers are under control, or he just likes the hit of magnesium it contains.

Even if he doesn’t love the Tiger Tongue, you will find it useful. Great for using on filthy legs, bathing, and does a good job on your boots. My boy’s idea of pampering is food, and the chance to rummage around in the tack box throwing things around until he finds hopefully more food. Grooming is Not on his list for pampering.

[SugarCubes]

This thread has convinced me to buy a tiger tongue ASAP! I also bought a tub of MagRestore and am hoping that makes a difference too. My boy was covered in mud yesterday and didn’t mind the metal curry, in fact, he seemed to enjoy it, especially on his neck and his itchy spots. But, as soon as I brought out a soft brush the grumpy faces began.

So, explain this tiger tongue more to me. In the pics, it reminds me of the slick n easy blocks so what is it best used to replace? Currying? Or can you skip the brushes too? And you mention using it wet or dry? Do tell me more

And for those of you with static issues, I SWEAR by Healthy Hair Care. In winters past, we had awful static to the point that removing blankets resulted in a lot of anxiety and a few times broken crossties :no: Once I started spraying him with the pink stuff liberally before putting his blanket back on, I’ve never once had a static shock. Even his polar fleece cooler and quarter sheet don’t zap him any more. I think it’s even better than static guard.

[IPEsq]

The Tiger Tongue is more like if you crossed a rubber mitt with a cactus cloth. I have used it like a curry (horse likes it for the sweaty spots after riding) but also have used it more like a brush for one I couldn’t brush at all.