thin skinned OTTB?

[Mukluk]

Hi,
I have a 4 coming 5 OTTB mare who does not mind being curried (black rubber curry) on her neck, back, and rear end. But she does not like this at all between her front legs and belly. I try to be really light with the curry in those areas and lately I've been using a gel groomer (with the very small soft nubbies) or a rubber pimple mitt. However she still seems bothered. She acts like she wants to nip and will cock her hind legs and sometimes jerk her leg (not a full blown kick- but it makes me wonder). I really do try to be gentle with her. She sometimes acts this way with a normal brush in those areas. I can pet her in those areas and that doesn't bother her. (on the other hand she loves to have her face curried and brushed) So what do I make of this? If she is that sensitive, how do I keep her clean? She lives outside and sometimes has dried mud on her (but she acts this way with or without mud on her). Any wisdom on the topic would be greatly appreciated.

[scpezold]

TBs are prone to be more thin skinned/sensitive to curry. All my guys are TBs and I find as they get older they are less sesitive to the curry and harder brush. My 2yo does not like the curry on his belly and stomach but does not seem to mind the neck and hindend (more meat in those areas and generally less sensitive). I think it also depends on their coat. If there coat is thinner (generally the younger guys or those who just grow thinner coats) I would just stick with softer brush and light face curry on their body.

[Blugal]

Minimize the use of the curry, and eliminate it if possible. Sometimes they're just too sensitive. Try only brushing in one direction (rather than back and forth or circular) - it will take a bit longer but be more comfortable. I've also had good success with a great dandy brush for 15 years - its bristles are soft plastic which are kind of inter-woven.

As for the mud - I hear you! Can you clip the between front legs/girth area only so that it's easier to groom? And just ignore the mud on the sensitive belly area? Then ride with a girth cover, which is kinder on the clipped area and helps absorb some of the sweat. When you're done riding, you can wipe off the clipped area with a cloth so there aren't dried-on sweat marks in the sensitive area.

[Bogie]

The sensitivity can be caused by a couple of things:

- muscle tightness that can be alleviated by stretching the front legs and/or massage/accupuncture. I do stretches and massage on my OTTB almost daily as he exhibited those symptoms. Definitely has helped!
- just plain ticklishness, which you would deal with as you have been
- manners, which would come over time
- foot soreness, which is often a problem with OTTBs.

Here's an example of a front leg stretch:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anrg-_6NAlc&feature=PlayList&p=69B69C21563C81E4&index=0&playnext=1

[LKF]

Consider a Cactus Cloth.
http://www.beval.com/Products/Cactus-Cloth/4032900.aspx

[Mukluk]

Thanks for all of the replies. I just want her to be happy. I have tried the one direction curry and that is a little better for her. Maybe clipping would keep her easier to clean? At least she is starting to shed and mud will not be an issue in the summer. I suppose I could also try a hot towel on her- though only if it's warm enough! I will also try the stretching. There is a book on Amazon about stretches for horses will probably buy. And I'll try the cactus cloth too.

[Catalina]

Ulcers can also cause them to act up when being brushed. But some Tbs will simply never enjoy being brushed. My retired jumper HATED even a soft brush being used anywhere on his body. I learned to brush as lightly and quicky as possible to avoid irritating him. Luckily, he never was one to wallow in the mud.

[EventerAJ]

Some TB mares are just thin-skinned, ticklish, and have a "don't-touch-me-there" mentality. My mare and I have an agreement: I will be as gentle as possible, but she WILL tolerate it. No biting, no kicking, no lashing me with the tail. She very much understands "NOT with the tail!" and will deliberately avoid swishing me when I near her hind end. If I do get lashed, I smack the top of her tailbone and she clamps it still. She is allowed to swish if making a general "I-don't-like-this" statement, so long as it isn't directed at me. As a very opinionated individual, my mare is allowed to express her opinion, so long as she doesn't act on it. ;)

I use a soft jelly scrubber and only soft brushes, and don't "fiddle" too much. She'll let me touch her anywhere (resentfully), but I don't test her patience unnecessarily. I praise her for standing well, and scratch her itchy spots after "terrorizing" her ticklish elbows or flanks. Some days she loves being groomed, but usually it's just a necessary evil.

And did I mention she's gray? :rolleyes:

[Vesper Sparrow]

Some TB mares are just thin-skinned, ticklish, and have a "don't-touch-me-there" mentality. My mare and I have an agreement: I will be as gentle as possible, but she WILL tolerate it. No biting, no kicking, no lashing me with the tail. She very much understands "NOT with the tail!" and will deliberately avoid swishing me when I near her hind end. If I do get lashed, I smack the top of her tailbone and she clamps it still. She is allowed to swish if making a general "I-don't-like-this" statement, so long as it isn't directed at me. As a very opinionated individual, my mare is allowed to express her opinion, so long as she doesn't act on it. ;)

I use a soft jelly scrubber and only soft brushes, and don't "fiddle" too much. She'll let me touch her anywhere (resentfully), but I don't test her patience unnecessarily. I praise her for standing well, and scratch her itchy spots after "terrorizing" her ticklish elbows or flanks. Some days she loves being groomed, but usually it's just a necessary evil.

And did I mention she's gray? :rolleeyes:

This describes Andy totally, although thankfully she's bay. She's a girl with an attitude, although she never acts on it. The other day, I even got the witchy face when I felt between her forelegs for heat and moisture. I put it down to her abundance of Nearco and War Admiral blood...

[horsepix76]

But some Tbs will simply never enjoy being brushed.

That would be my mare. She despises grooming time. I use a super soft face brush on her body and stiff brush on her lower legs to get dirt off. I also use a vacuum whenever I can (shop-vac with a horse curry attachment). She doesn't seem to mind it at all.

Also, this time of year with the blankets, I find there is a lot of static electricity in the brushes. I either give her a quick spray with static-guard or literally wipe her down with a dryer sheet. Both help prevent static shocks during grooming.

[yellowbritches]

Vernon can be very thin skinned and ticklish and for the longest time grooming his legs with anything but a rag (no curry, no brush of any kind) was like taking your teeth in your hand (he WOULD kick...naughty boy). Some days are better than others, and he never minds getting a good scatchy curry on his butt. I go light with one of those jellies on his ticklish days, sometimes only using the softer side, and sometimes I'll just really rub him with a cactus cloth. Funny with Vernon is that there are days I can whip out the hard, traditional rubber curry and he's all about it, really leans into it and loves it, but some days he's just on pins and needles. I try to always including a good rubbing session with a rub rag, which he always likes, using firm pressure. That way, if I have to skimp on the currying, at least I've gotten some elbow grease into him to bring up his shine.

Also, sometimes they rather a firm, consistent pressure, than a light, almost ticklish one. You can experiment and see if a little more pressure might help.

Keep in mind, some horses just don't like to be groomed, so they'll always be fidgetty and fussy in the process. For a long time, Ruby Boy and I had an agreement that as long as he was good, I'd keep the grooming to a minimum, as he HATED (still hates, actually) being groomed. Thankfully, he always like a bath (so does Vernon).

There are things, medically, that can be causes for grumpiness toward grooming. The two that are most common are ulcers and Lyme. Something to consider.

[JER]

Mares of any breed/type can be very sensitive about their bellies and they can be more sensitive at different times of their cycles.

I don't press the issue with a sensitive mare. This isn't worth a fight. It's better to let the mare know you're sensitive to her sensitivity.

[LeftTurn]

I agree with most of the others - respect the horse, ask the horse to respect you and just get it over with as soon as possible! I use a gel mitt and a horsehair brush on mine - over his whole body. He doesn't like it, but I give him cookies sporadically throughout, so he tolerates me. He'd better not threaten to kick, though, and he knows that.

Mine likes his head messed with, but not much else. He did get much better after being treated for ulcers, though...

[evntr06]

I have a TB gelding. He also does not like the curry even on large muscular areas, esp if I do circular motion or any time it goes against the hair. He is fine with a brush though... So, if I have to curry, I try to do it gently in direction of hair growth, but most of the time brushing does the job. I did get a soft rubber curry for those "really have to get this done" spots... But, clipping and blanketing really helps with minimizing the "torture" of grooming.

[LLDM]

I've found that sensitive areas require some time, effort and compromise. But usually something can be worked out. There is generally *something* or some combination of things that will work.

Start with what they like or tolerate best and use the tools and implements they enjoy most - then work your way toward problem areas. Then ask nicely. How about like this? What about this brush? Too hard, too soft? They are allowed to have and express their opinion - within limits.

Mean faces are allowed, but threats are verbally reprimanded - unless they are bad - then corporal punishment may be employed!

I go about it like anything else that is difficult or painful for them - shots, wound care, mane pulling and the like. This *has to happen* but I will work hard to make it as easy as possible for you. But you have to meet me halfway. If you don't try, I am just going to go get the twitch.

This process will serve you well down the line - it is a huge trust building process and will define your relationship with this horse. IMHO, of course.

SCFarm

[yellowbritches]

But, clipping and blanketing really helps with minimizing the "torture" of grooming.
This a good point. Minimizing the amount of hair makes the grooming process much easier, thus making it a much less horrible process. When they are hairy, and especially when they are hairy and unblanketed, they require a whole lot more currying. Clipping and blanketing keeps the real deep down dirt down, and cuts down on how dirty they can get this time of year.