Brego, my 1/2 Arabian/Quarter Horse, holds his head high. Part of this is just his breed, but also it is related to his fear, uncertainity and wariness about the world. I've been using clicker training to help him lower his head on cue by touching a target. This is how I'm using it to teach him to handle horse clippers.
I was able to get him accustomed to the clippers and clip his fetlocks earlier this year through my Linda Tellington-Jones TTeam work. However, clipping him behind the ears (the Bridle Path) has been a no-go. Approaching his head with the clippers puts him in high-head alert. Standing on a mounting block next to him puts him in high-head alert.
Today, I used my target stick and my head down to get him to accept the clippers in a Baby Step One. I kept the target slightly closer to me in my left hand, and in my right, I held the clippers turned off. When he put his head down and touched the target he got a click and treat. When he was comfortable with that, we moved onto him lowering his head to touch the target while the clippers were turned on. The third thing I did was place my right hand with the clippers (turned off) on his head about one clipper length behind where I would normally trim for the Bridle path. When he came into head down and touched the target, I clicked.
The last was the most worrisome for him and he had to really think that all through before giving me what I wanted. For all the clipper training I used a more desireable treat (carrot) then I normally use (pelleted horse feed).
I'm going to continue with the steps outlined above for at least a week, maybe longer. What I'm looking for his for him to bring his head down and keep it down instead of popping it back up immediately. I also want to work out a baby step where I bring the mounting block next to him and I'm standing on it with the clippers on and off so he becomes accustomed to be in this position and how I'll be standing close to his head.
My websites: www.EQenlighten.com and www.PonyPartners.com
