Time for a haircut

Yesterday, it was time to clip the horses. Now usually this is no big deal. Sadie's clipping manners are ideal - never moves a muscle, drops head, can clip without halter, etc. Cash isn't as good, but has made huge strides in his manners. Still have to stand on a bucket to clip his bridle path. Then we have Brandy. Everytime the clippers touch her she acts like she has been shocked. I have been working with her (running the clippers around her but not touching, laying the running clippers along her side without clipping anything, starting on her jaw and working my way up toward her muzzle, etc.) but have been making little headway. So yesterday was the day for her to be clipped for the show Saturday. I started with the easy horses first - Sadie then Cash. Soon it was Brandy's turn. I almost reached for the Ace, but I really only use that as a very last resort. We began and Brandy began her running backwards, popping up, and head jerking. Soon she was acting like an unbroke mustang (exaggeration). My patience was running out because I know that she used to behave well before. I was pretty sure that the behaviour was a learned thing and she had gotten away with the bad behaviour before and the people clipping her would give up (she was leased for about a year). I don't believe in ear twitching and use lip twitching on a very rare occasion, but her behaviour had to be reprimanded. I went and grabbed the show chain and lead (thats how often I use a chain, the only one I own goes on Cash's show halter). I attached the chain to the halter and tried again. Brandy set back against the chain and I let her sit. She moved forward and the pressure released. She chewed for a minute and walked forward. Patted her and started the clippers again. Brandy set back again, I let her set, she jumped forward, pressure released, chewing, pat, clippers. This happened about four more times. Finally on the sixth time she shook her head when she came forward and reached her nose to the clippers. I let her sniff and began clipping. Clipped her entire head without much trouble (I just clipped the edges of her ears) and never had to use the chain again. Moved on to her legs which she didn't like but stood for. Much patting and "Good Girls" later we had a clipped horse! Not the best job, but a presentable one. Brandy's reward for her improved behaviour was hand grazing on a covented grassy spot in the front yard. It is amazing how much better a horse behaves when you firmly tell them what is the expected behaviour. I know that the next time she will test me again, but I will give her the benefit of the doubt. Give her a chance to behave the first time before resorting to a chain. I am a big fan of "less is more" and "time and patience can achieve all". Her behaviour however, bordered on the dangerous to herself and me and that will not be tolerated.