Clipping horse

Question
Hi.  I purchased a 2 y.o. Morgan gelding in May.  When we tried to clip him, he stood up on his hind legs and tried to attack us.  He absolutely HATES the clipper.  I have even tried to cut his whiskers with an EMT's scissors (with the blunt ends), but he retreats to the back of his stall and won't let me do it.  For some reason, this causes him extreme stress.  However, you can do ANYTHING else at all with him.  He's good for the vet, the farrier, putting a blanket over his head, he walks, trots, and canters with a rider with a VERY good head.  He's really good natured otherwise.  What should I do?  I don't feel experienced enough to know when he might "explode" and hurt me while trying to clip him.  

Any advice will be greatly appreciated!

Answer
Lori,

OK, let me get back up on my soapbox.  For one thing he's too young to be riding, period.  He shouldn't be carrying any weight until he's at least 3 and a half, 4 is better.  At 2 yrs. of age he's the equivalent of a 12 yr. old child!  He's got a lot of growing to do and you are setting him up for arthritic issues later in life by doing so now.  

Apparently as far as his muzzle is concerned he's not comfortable with you bringing anything metallic around it.  You are going to have to do a lot of basic work with him to get him to allow you to use clippers.  Please remember that by trimming a horse's whiskers you are taking away his ability to find the ground without smashing his face into it.

But, if you feel you have to trim them I would start by simply putting him on a lead, in the stall, and rubbing the scissors first over his neck and shoulders (I know, that's a long way away from his face) and let him feel them.  Let him move around, he's going to want to move away from them at first.  Just keep insisting without making an issue of it.  This could take a while so be prepared.  Encourage him to sniff them, and, when he's comfortable with them being rubbed on his neck progress to his jaw and rest of his face.  He's got some issues here, don't know what, and you are going to have to get him to trust you with them.  He may have been nicked with clippers or scissors and as such has decided that they are bad and he wants no part of them.  This is going to take a while to get his trust issues resolved as far as his muzzle.  I play with my horses' muzzles, rubbing them, pulling gently on their lips, handling their mouths, etc. early on so that when I'm ready to start with bitting I won't have problems.  So, get him familiar with you handling his face.  Make it worth his while, use some treats.  You can buy a lot of cooperation with a little bribery.  Once he will let you rub the scissors on his muzzle then you can try opening and closing them to make the noise they will make as if you were trimming his whiskers without actually doing it.  Again, let him move away but encourage cooperation with some treats and praise.  You cannot rush these things.  Morgan's have a reputation for being stubborn so you'll have to work with that in mind.  I'm sure he'll come around with lots of patience. Same thing with the clippers when you are ready to progress to that step.   

But, please take into consideration what I said about his age.  He's still very much a baby with a lot of growing and learning to do.  Give him the time he deserves and you'll have a good, useful horse for years.  Rush it and you won't.  

Lyn