Question!

[ShanesPonies]

So we will be getting a new pony very soon. A yearling who has not had much handling done.
Both the new pony and our colt are going to need to be clipped and the new pony also needs her feet trimmed. Is it safe to give Dormosedan to 150LB pony? And how much would you give them?

 

[Abby P]

I would ask your vet about the sedative - but to be honest, I would not worry about clipping for sure and even trimming can wait while you do the correct handling. Even if they are sedated, they can still be aware of what is happening and it could make it into a bad experience which then makes it that much harder down the line. Invest a few weeks in good handling, a yearling is going to learn really fast, make it a positive experience now even if she goes another month or two without a trim. Unless she is in dire medical need of a trim or a clip this is the approach I would choose. It's so easy to manhandle a baby horse, especially a tiny baby horse, but the effects of that stay there for life.

I know that wasn't really the question you were asking so feel free to ignore.

 

[Marsha Cassada]

One of my farriers had an interesting thought. He postulated that a horse sedated for a procedure is like a person who has anesthetic: usually there is no memory while under. So he questions whether a horse that is sedated can actually learn anything from the experience, since he may have no memory.
If you are handling her feet frequently, it seems she should tolerate the farrier fairly well. Some farriers get uppity about "training" a horse. But hopefully yours will work with you.
As for clipping, my technique is to hold him by the lead rope--not tied. As he moves away from the clipper, I allow him some room. It sort of helps with the "flight" instinct. It doesn't seem to take long to get him accustomed.
If the alternative is having to man handle her, then a calming dose might be in order. Sometimes the farrier carries some; he should know the dosage.
Exciting for you to get a new pony! Hope you will give updates.

 

[LostandFound]

I've been told that most of the "glamour shot" baby pics you see are done with the help of Dorm. If it's safe for a 50lb weanling it should be safe for your yearling. But I would still ask your vet. They can give you a good idea about dosage and I think it's prescription only anyway.
Lots of opinions on if it's a good idea or not, and I see both sides. Getting the feet trimmed would probably be a priority for me. If you haven't, I would definitely ask your farrier about their preference. Some would rather use other restraint than deal with an unstable horse.
And Congrats on the new pony! Post some pics for us.

 

[chandab]

We still have winter weather left, so just remember if you clip them, you'll need to blanket them until night time temps are consistently above 50 degrees F. We are quite a bit colder than Oregon and have longer lasting winter weather, I typically don't clip until Mother's Day, but I do not show, so they can keep their winter woolies as long as they need.

 

[Standards Equine]

Hi @ShanesPonies! Congratulations on your new addition. Please post pictures, we love seeing new acquisitions!
I'm on the training not drugging side of things personally, but you need to do what is right for you, your pony and your program. That looks different for each of us. I really respect that you're putting her comfort and safety at the forefront of priorities. Thank you. When we get wild youngsters in, I like to pair them with a very mature, older animal who knows the ropes, is super friendly and pretty unflappable. "Uncle Jose" is my favorite for young colts. They teach then quickly that there's no reason to be upset or fear handling, and that it can be really nice to have the human scratch the itchies, or give the snacks even though they pick up feet and put on halters.
I'm also a huge fan of positive association. You tolerate the clippers on your shoulder, you get a treat. Now on your neck, and then we clip some, get a treat, and just slowly acclimatize the youngsters to new things.
Best wishes on your journey. Thanks for posting!