Horse hates being brushed and tacked up

[DunByMistake]

Gelding I’ve owned for a year has displayed this behavior to some degree as long as I’ve owned him. Basically he is very antsy while being groomed and tacked up. Not a lot of ear pinning, showing whites of eyes or kicking - just a constant motion machine. Back and forth while being brushed and saddled. He is definitely worse during winter months when he is extra furry. He has disliked every brush I’ve tried on him. The only spot on his body that he seems to tolerate being brushed is the top of his hind end - he hates having his neck, legs, stomach, back etc touched. He is ok if I just use my hand. I’ve tried soft touching and hard - doesn’t like any of it. When I pull out saddle pad, he will constantly move around. I put pad on and off until he stops moving. When he stops, I step back. When he remains still, I put on pad and keep tacking up. Do the same with saddle. However, once girth is done up on one side, he is still. I can do up and then tighten once I’m in arena with no reaction. So not girthy.

I know most obvious guess is ulcers and/or hind gut issues. I’ve been through both with him and have a really good handle on when his guts are bothering him. I truly don’t think it’s that. His most common symptom with digestive issues is weight loss and he has put more (needed) weight on over the last month. Plus he becomes a grumpy jerk to handle on ground. He is not exhibiting any of that behavior.

Next guess is saddle fit. I got a new saddle this year fit professionally. I know that’s not a guarantee of a well fitting saddle but horse goes really really well in saddle. His transitions, lateral work, trot quality, and canter have improved drastically since I got saddle. He was seriously undermuscled when I got him and he has put on a lot of muscle in the right spots since I’ve got this saddle. He had what I called ‘the pits of despair’ on either side of his withers and his hind end was so weak, if you looked at him from behind he looked like a tent. His back has significantly improved and his butt is roundish now. I had a lesson last weekend after a month off and he was moving so well from behind, over his back with beautiful rhythm. My coach could not believe how awesome he looked.

This is a horse who does not push through the pain. He has temper tantrums until you figure out what is wrong. He genuinely seems to enjoy his work and is happy to be caught.

I’m just wondering if there’s anyone out there who has a horse who hates to be groomed and tacked up but is game once their rider is on. I know I’ve read about horses on Behind The Stall Door who hate being groomed and tacked up but are all business once they know it’s go time. I think Eric Lamaze’s Fine Lady was described as regularly trying to kick or bite her groom but was ready to go once tack is on and she’s clearly at the top of her game.

If anyone has a suggestion for a supplement, I’m game to try also. If you have a horse who hates being brushed and tacked up, how did you determine that’s all it is and how do you deal with it?

Thanks!

[ChocoMare]

Sounds like the classic symptoms of EPSM. Research the diet needed, change said diet (it won’t hurt) and watch what happens.

[S1969]

Some horses are just more sensitive. I have a mare that hates to be groomed. My other horses will line up and try to push each other out of the way if I take out a brush in the paddock, but not her. She is a thin-skinned TB.

Your horse might also object to static if he is worse in winter.

Not saying there can’t be other causes, but just not wanting to be fussed over or touched isn’t necessarily a symptom of anything other than personality.

[Sparrowette]

@DunByMistake

Gelding I’ve owned for a year has displayed this behavior to some degree as long as I’ve owned him. Basically he is very antsy while being groomed and tacked up. Not a lot of ear pinning, showing whites of eyes or kicking - just a constant motion machine. Back and forth while being brushed and saddled. He is definitely worse during winter months when he is extra furry. He has disliked every brush I’ve tried on him. The only spot on his body that he seems to tolerate being brushed is the top of his hind end - he hates having his neck, legs, stomach, back etc touched. He is ok if I just use my hand. I’ve tried soft touching and hard - doesn’t like any of it. When I pull out saddle pad, he will constantly move around. I put pad on and off until he stops moving. When he stops, I step back. When he remains still, I put on pad and keep tacking up. Do the same with saddle. However, once girth is done up on one side, he is still. I can do up and then tighten once I’m in arena with no reaction. So not girthy.

(…)

Thanks!

Like #S1969 said, some horses are more sensitive. My mare will allow me to groom more parts of her with a pair of “Hands On” gloves than she will with any sort of curry, especially around her face. With the gloves, I can get to her face to grooom her there with the smaller finger nubs, and with a curry, it’s no dice at all.

[Palm_Beach]

You might want to try desensitizing him. You are doing nothing to cause pain, and it’s not a good idea to go through life trying to please your horse. I routinely go through this with my racehorses that come to the farm for some r&r. They can be pretty bad about stuff, and I need them to stand still while I pick feet and put on blankets. They get over being grumpy pretty quick.

[TMares]

If you take him out and hand graze him, just farting around, does he object to brushing in that environment? I have a gelding with a known-to-be troubled past who is a bit of an evasive, high-headed pill to brush from the shoulder forward in the cross ties or straight tied, but he’s fine if I hold the lead rope/don’t tie him. If the horse is fine in a grazing-type set up, then it’s just a wiggly habit he has and I wouldn’t accommodate it too much- in other words don’t get run over/smooshed but don’t over analyze it either. If he’s still, praise him, maybe offer a tidbit, and get him ready to ride and get on with it.

I am betting he won’t care about being brushed while he’s grazing

[zakattack]

In same boat as you - horse just HATES being groomed and tacked up, loves to work. He’s treated for ulcers, has a very specific diet for his needs, and has well-fitting tack.

He can be coerced into “liking” grooming by making it a game using cereal and a clicker. He’s clicker trained, so I worked on an “ears forward” cue and other simple tasks like “over” or "back. I give the command to redirect his attention when he’s being grumpy and then click and treat when he’s done what I’ve asked. Could be something you could try!

[Blugal]

I’ve had a few that were sensitive but that’s no excuse for all the fidgeting. Need to deal with that.

I have extra soft brushes and a gel curry to gently get mud off. I respect that they don’t enjoy brushing and keep it to a minimun.

Try to find a spot he enjoys being scratched, they all have one. Use this to help desensitize and as a reward.

I blanket these horses more to keep the mud off while they are in work. I also keep a can of static guard handy in the winter.

[myhorsefaith]

Me! I do! Back in May I bought a 14 yr old half arab gelding. I knew he had these behaviors and I was warned to be careful around him and even getting on him that he will try to bite (which I have not once experienced thankfully, lol). I was convinced that he might have reason for it- so we did the ulcer treatment, diet overhaul, turnout, custom fitted saddle, body work, carrot stretches, injections, new type of work, etc. A Complete Horsey Makeover. He was still acting out in the cross ties, so I started working on his behavior in addition to making sure nothing physically can be bothering him. He’s downgraded his grumpiness from “death to you” to more of a “get off my lawn” level.

I have found that if I get and keep his attention - if i get one eye looking at me and his head turned slightly back to watch what I’m doing, he’s good. I will give him a treat as a reward. I definitely do this while girthing, and it has helped a whole lot since that was his absolute worst. If I get his attention he totally forgets that he wants to chomp on the world when the girth even so much as jingles as I buckle it to the saddle. Now I’m to the point where I can get the pad, saddle, and girth on and even get the girth so it ever so slightly touching him with no reaction. I always make sure he has his eye (therefore focus) on me, then I do a thing (in this case the girth), and then a treat. At this point he knows eye on me = most likely a treat so he’s very enthusiastic about it, which is so much nicer than the evil arabian teeth baring death glares of the past.

I can also growl at him and say “quit it” and that usually stops it too. Ignoring it never works, he’ll just work himself up, check out and escalate into fidgeting, dancing, etc.

He may in fact still have reason for it- I’m not really sure to be honest, he’s still pretty new to me and its a process of discovery. There are always stones to turn over. But so far our little arrangement in the cross ties has worked best.

[Bellathemustang]

@Palm Beach

it’s not a good idea to go through life trying to please your horse.

Oops, I’m doing it wrong :lol: Only kind of kidding She’s my first pony, I’m 31, and we just ride for fun, so our situation has a much higher “spoil” threshold than most.

OP, my mare was the same when I got her. She hated being brushed and hated the cross ties. For her it was just because she never really had to deal with it. I started brushing her while she was being hand grazed in the good grass by the arena or eating her grain. It has a really positive association for her now, so shes fine being brushed in her pasture or in the cross ties now. If I really want to mess with her and brush her tail or braid her mane I will do it while she is eating her grain. And she still hates baths, but so far positive association has been the ticket for her.

[SugarCubes]

OP, I have a gelding who also hates being groomed and tacked up. We’ve done the works trying to get to the root of it (scoped for ulcers, tested for Lyme, put him on Mg/Se) but after 5 years I’ve admitted defeat and just accept the fact that he’s a horse that doesn’t like being groomed. He makes grumpy faces and pins his ears, but has never threatened me and stands just fine so I let him be a grump about it and just try to do the bare minimum as far as brushing him goes. I’d be more concerned if he also acted grumpy under saddle, but he’s all business and loves having a job.

[NoSuchPerson]

I have a mule who doesn’t like to be groomed or touched except in specific itchy spots, e.g. tail dock, ears, and fire ant bites. He is much worse in the winter than the summer. He has been like this since he was born. He’s just a sensitive flower.

We’ve come to an understanding over the years - he tolerates a quick grooming and I save my serious efforts for the horse, who always appreciates a good grooming.

[DunByMistake]

Thanks everyone! Glad to know I’m not the only one. This horse redefines the word ‘sensitive’ and my gut feeling says that’s all it is but it’s nice to be reassured!

I keep him blanketed in winter and use a fly sheet in the summer to help keep clean to minimize grooming. I will definitely try the Static Guard. That could definitely be adding to the issue because he is way more tolerant in the summer. I have a few old soft towels I might try instead of brushes also. I have groomed him while grazing and it certainly does help. For a while, I was giving him a half flake of hay while I tacked up to distract him and that helps. I will go back to doing that I think.

[AngelMare]

My mare doesn’t like being groomed on her face. But I just kept (gently but calmly) persisting, and she is a lot better. I have to groom her much more gently than other horses as well. She wouldn’t let her ears be touched either but she is slowly coming around. I like the clicker training idea!

[Blinky]

Yes I have one that like that. He is grumpy Gus while being tacked up and does not like to be chatted with when he is in his stall (pin his ears etc) He does not have any medical reason for it…it’s just him…Under tack, either when riding or being led has always been a pure a gentleman! So, we deal with his quirk by ignoring it. He wasn’t going to change and otherwise he’s saint.

[BeeHoney]

I have a couple of horses that are sort of unpleasant/nippy or fidgety to groom and tack up but that seem to really enjoy their work with ears pricked once out being ridden. I think one of the horses has an anticipation issue–his mind is thinking ahead to his work, because he is perfectly calm and relaxed to be groomed and handled AFTER he is ridden. I keep pre-ride grooming to a minimum and do more in depth grooming afterwards. Another horse seems to be just a sensitive sort. This horse doesn’t like to be groomed, but enjoys the vacuum. I have no idea why, she just doesn’t like to be brushed but loves to be vacuumed. So that’s one suggestion for you. I do try to take into account horse’s preferences, most horses enjoy being curried in certain itchy spots, some have sensitive spots that can be avoided or done quickly and gently.

[MysticOakRanch]

I have that mare - she hates to be touched anywhere EXCEPT her head and ears. Pins her ears, grinds her teeth. Grooming is the quickest swipe possible with the softest brush possible. I make her stand still, but it is an ongoing battle. Sometimes I swipe with one had (grooming) and hold a dressage whip in the other hand if she’s in a really antsy place. When she’s worried, she needs to move her feet - riding her is the same way - when she’s worried, halting and looking at something don’t work - we need to MOVE.

I’ve tried ulcer treatment twice (full 4 weeks). Bloodwork done several times. She is IR, but controlled through diet and exercise. She’s ALWAYS hated being touched - I have owned her since birth, and she hated being rubbed on even as a baby.

OTOH, she wants to be as close to me as possible when she’s insecure - she will follow me around anxiously. And she yells at me when she sees me coming - so I guess we have a relationship:lol:

Some horses just hate being touched - I’ve come to that sad conclusion. At least I can do her face and ears!

[DunByMistake]

@MysticOakRanch I’ve definitely used the dressage whip in one hand trick a lot. His ground manners have improved about 1000% since I’ve owned him - he physically could not stand still when I bought him. His former owner came to realization he needed to be sold when her farrier told her, “this horse is going to kill you”. I do make him stand before moving onto next step of tacking up but as soon as I turn to grab the next thing, he is back fidgeting back and forth. I’ve also come to accept this is just part of who he is.

He has been so much fun to train and is so athletic and generous, I’ve willing to compromise on this issue. I’m a loooooong way from being obsessive over horse turnout on a day to day basis so it works for us!

[CHT]

Try lunging a minute before grooming, or just hand walking. Seems to help some horses. (not to try to “tire” him, just to get the blood moving/muscles warm)

[Palm_Beach]

@DunByMistake

@MysticOakRanch I’ve definitely used the dressage whip in one hand trick a lot. His ground manners have improved about 1000% since I’ve owned him - he physically could not stand still when I bought him. His former owner came to realization he needed to be sold when her farrier told her, “this horse is going to kill you”. I do make him stand before moving onto next step of tacking up but as soon as I turn to grab the next thing, he is back fidgeting back and forth. I’ve also come to accept this is just part of who he is.

He has been so much fun to train and is so athletic and generous, I’ve willing to compromise on this issue. I’m a loooooong way from being obsessive over horse turnout on a day to day basis so it works for us!

You don’t make them stand you let them move and standing becomes a better choice.