cranky when blanketed...

[Horseaholic]

Prado is extremely cranky when he gets blanketed. Just flat out rude. He throws his head, tucks his head into his chest, chomps his teeth and overall just throws a nasty fit. I get onto him but he continues to do it. If he turns his head he meets my elbow and a swift stern "ACK"! He even pitches a fit when I take the blanket off. It's not an out of control blow up it's just a rude, grumpy fit. Thoughts? Suggestions?

[HeavensEast]

Heaven would do a similar thing everytime he was blanketed. He pinned his ears, swished his tail, nodded his head up and down. He lifted his back legs up too at first, but I fixed that. He didn't intend to kick, but it still wasn't allowed--ever.
With Heaven, there was really no changing it. He didn't like to be brushed either. As long as he didn't offer to bite or kick, I just ignored it and told him to stand still.

[Horseaholic]

ah yes wads does exactly that...swishes his tail n everything. If he lifts a back leg I don't take it nicely or lightly ;). Wads doesn't like to be brushed either. Was heaven cranky when he got saddled too?

[HeavensEast]

Yep, he was. It was one of his quirks. He didn't like to be touched at all except he loved to be rubbed on his face. It was fun when he had to be adjusted by a chiropractor once. ;) He would stand still when being groomed, saddled, or blanketed, he just wasn't happy about it. I guess I'll never really know why.

[Suzi]

Cora is too. She normally is very easy going but with the blanket, gheesch. She'll pin her ears and swing her nose at you. She had nipped me once ! I have the blanket on her now cuz it is so cold here right now. As soon as the temps moderate , I'll pull it. They just have no idea what we go thru for them !!

[Horseaholic]

lol suzi, seriously!

HE, sounds just like wads...i wonder if he's just sensitive or what. Although Prado like's to have body work done so :rolleyes:

[Pi and Tofu]

Used to have to blanket 20-30 horses back when I was training. Had several that were cranky, but not enough time to really fix the problem, so let them be cranky. A really nice horse that was a head nodder and teeth clacker at blanket time, gave me my worse scar. Put the blanket on, reached under to grab the strap, and felt him grab me by the middle of the back, pick me up and shake me, then fling me into the corner of the stall...and came on for more.

Now, if they are at all cranky, they are haltered/lead rope at blanket time. I carry either a dressage/lunge whip (whichever is handy) and tap the chest if it is a front reaction or the hock if it is a rear reaction. Also, I'm more polite about blanketing, never just throwing it on, but putting it on and taking it off in a kind manner. A quick snap of the lead line usually keeps the horse's attention where it needs to be, the whip is for a backup.

[APPYT]

The only one I blanket with any regularity is my 31 yr old blind appy. He doesn't care what I do as long as he's got his nose in his feed. ;) He does loooove a good hour long scratch-me-where-it-itches anytime of the day.

[vicklynn]

I have no advice. Myst ran off a couple times while I was blanketing her, but she got over it. It was either stand with a halter on tied, or not, she learned either way she was getting blanketed, so she stands without her halter and I actually think she enjoys having it put on.

[Bessie13]

I have no advice either.. but my older gelding used to make ugly faces, pin his ears and flap his tail hard when I would put his blanket on. Now.. the funny thing is ... he only did it with the GREEN blanket. Now he has a BLUE one... never makes any fuss at all. Same size, same make and model.. only the color is different. Maybe he just didn't like green? :rolleyes:

[Equine_Woman]

Sunny is a grump about hers coming off but it's because of the static electricity. . . she is worse than any of my others at getting shocked. . .not sure why lol. I have to always have her haltered and never take it off over her neck! The others I just pull it off with nothing on them and up and over their necks!

[Gem's Mom]

Glory acts like a grump when I'm tugging and looking under her blanket for rubs. She was almost nasty the first time I did it but now that I check every day she's getting more used to it.