Clipping Horses: Tips and Tricks for Success
Clipping your horse doesn't have to be a daunting chore. With proper preparation and the right techniques, you can achieve a professional, tidy finish while ensuring your horse's comfort and safety. This guide covers everything from deciding when to clip, choosing clip styles, maintaining equipment, to post-clipping care.
Deciding When to Clip Your Horse
Not every horse requires clipping. If your horse has a thin coat, performs light work, or rarely sweats during exercise, clipping might not be necessary. However, if your horse grows a thick winter coat and starts resembling a woolly mammoth, clipping can help prevent overheating and improve comfort during work. Avoid clipping just because it's trendy; consider your horse's workload and climate instead. Responsible owners know that clipping should suit their horse's needs rather than fashion trends. When opting to clip, remember to provide appropriate rugs or blankets afterwards to keep your horse warm.
Choosing the Right Clip Style
Just like people choose different hairstyles, horses have various clipping styles suited to their workload and lifestyle. Common clips include the hunt clip, blanket clip, and trace clip. For example, the hunt clip leaves hair on the legs to protect them while clipping the body to aid sweat evaporation during exercise. Each style offers benefits depending on the discipline and climate. Selecting a suitable clip helps maintain your horse's welfare while saving you time grooming. Always consider the need for adequate rugs after clipping to prevent chills.
Preparing Yourself and Your Equipment
Attempt clipping with experience or with help from someone skilled. Improper technique can irritate your horse and waste time. Ensure your clippers are high-quality, serviced, and blades sharp. After use, clean and oil the blades promptly to extend their lifespan and maintain performance. Gathering all necessary equipment before starting can make the process smoother and safer. Among the essentials are:
- A rug to keep your horse warm after clipping
- Grooming brush to remove loose hair
- Twitch (if needed and used responsibly)
- Trimmers for ears, eyes, and face
- Power supply and extension cord
- Properly serviced clippers and clipper oil
- Bridle or halter for control if necessary
- An assistant to help
- Hay net for distraction and reward
- Chalk or saddle soap to mark clipping outlines
- Yard brush to clean up hair from the floor
Step-by-Step Clipping Process
Step 1: Choose a Suitable Day and Location
Pick a day with plenty of time free; completing the clip in one session is ideal. Use a clean, dry area with good lighting and power access. Ensure your horse is calm — exercise or turnout before clipping can reduce nervousness or fidgeting.
Step 2: Mark Out the Clip
Using damp chalk or saddle soap, trace the outline of your chosen clip style onto the horse's coat. This helps maintain straight lines and guides your clipping, especially if you are less experienced.
Step 3: Start Clipping
Begin clipping lower than you think necessary to avoid removing too much hair accidentally. Start with fiddly or sensitive areas such as under the belly and around legs while your horse is most relaxed. Clip with the hair grain to avoid discomfort. Regularly oil the clipper blades to prevent overheating. Take breaks as needed to let clippers cool and to keep your horse calm.
Step 4: Safety and Assistance
Having an assistant confident with your horse can speed the process and enhance safety. Communicate clearly to coordinate movements. Wearing protective clothing such as overalls or an old shell suit is sensible since horse hair tends to get everywhere.
Step 5: Warming Your Horse
As you remove the coat, your horse becomes more susceptible to cold. Keep your horse warm during breaks with a rug or cotton sheet, especially if clipping large areas or in cooler weather. If your horse becomes cold and restless, allow time to warm up before continuing.
Managing Difficult Areas and Nervous Horses
For hard-to-reach places like the neck crest or high withers, use a stable step without a back for safety. Always have an assistant hold and reassure your horse, watching behaviour closely. If your horse is nervous or fidgety, consider adapting the clip to reduce stress or using calming methods such as a twitch or sedation under veterinary advice. Safety and horse welfare are paramount throughout.
After Clipping: Final Checks and Equipment Care
Inspect your clip after a couple of days. Lines and patchiness become more apparent, allowing you to perfect the clip with touch-ups. Wash off chalk or saddle soap lines to give a clean finish. Clean clippers thoroughly, oil blades, and arrange sharpening if needed. Servicing clippers once a year keeps them efficient and prolongs their life.
Remember, over-clipping can lead to more frequent clipping sessions, which is time-consuming and stressful. Clip only as much as necessary and use rugs appropriately to keep your horse comfortable.
With these tips and attention to safety, clipping your horse can become an enjoyable bonding experience that keeps your horse healthy and comfortable through the seasons.
Find horses for sale or reputable horse breeders if you're interested in growing your equine family responsibly.
Clipping Season Timing and Frequency
Knowing when to start and stop clipping is just as important as knowing how. In the UK, clipping season typically runs from October through to January or February. Most horses in regular work benefit from their first clip once their winter coat has fully come in, usually around late October. After that, horses stabled and worked consistently may need re-clipping every four to six weeks to maintain a manageable coat.
The general rule is to avoid clipping after the beginning of February, as the summer coat starts to grow through and clipping at this point can damage it, leaving an uneven finish when the lighter coat comes in. Competition horses may require more frequent clips throughout the season, while horses in lighter work might manage with one or two clips in total. Always factor in your horse's living arrangements — a fully clipped horse kept out at night will need significantly heavier rugging than one stabled overnight.
Blade Maintenance and Cooling Techniques
Sharp, well-maintained blades are essential for a comfortable, even clip. Blunt blades pull at the coat rather than cutting cleanly, causing discomfort and increasing the risk of overheating. Before each clipping session, check the blades for damage and dullness. Have a spare set ready so you can swap mid-clip if needed.
During clipping, oil the blades every five to ten minutes to keep them lubricated and running cool. If the blades become too hot to touch comfortably on the back of your hand, stop and allow them to cool before continuing — hot blades can burn your horse's skin. Blade-cooling sprays are a useful addition to your kit, as they both cool the blades rapidly and help clean debris from between the teeth. After each session, remove the blades, clean off all hair and grease, oil thoroughly, and store in a dry place. Send blades for professional sharpening regularly, especially if you clip multiple horses or have a horse with a particularly dense coat.
Rugging Your Clipped Horse
Once clipped, your horse loses much of the natural insulation provided by a winter coat. Selecting the correct rug weight is vital to prevent chilling, which can cause muscle stiffness and illness. As a general guide, a fully clipped horse needs considerably more rug coverage than a horse with a trace or bib clip.
Consider a layering system: a lightweight stable rug underneath a heavier outer rug allows you to adjust warmth quickly as temperatures fluctuate. Turnout rugs should be waterproof and appropriately weighted for the weather — a 200g or 300g fill is often suitable for UK winters, though particularly cold snaps may require a heavier option. Check your horse's temperature regularly by feeling behind the ears or across the shoulders; if they feel cold or are shivering, add another layer. Conversely, a sweaty or hot horse may be over-rugged, which can be just as harmful as being under-rugged.
Clipping horses frequently asked questions
When is the best time to clip a horse in the UK?
The best time is once the full winter coat has come in, typically from late October onwards. Most owners clip between October and January. Avoid clipping after early February to protect the growing summer coat.
How often should I clip my horse?
Horses in regular work that are stabled may need re-clipping every four to six weeks throughout the season. Horses in lighter work may only need one or two clips in total over winter.
Can I clip a horse for the first time myself?
Yes, but it is advisable to have an experienced person present to assist and guide you. Start with a simple clip style such as a bib or trace clip, and allow extra time to get your horse accustomed to the clippers before starting.
Do I need to rug my horse after clipping?
Yes. A clipped horse loses its natural insulation and will need appropriate rugs to stay warm, both in the stable and when turned out. The heavier the clip, the more rugging your horse will require.
What should I do if my horse is nervous of clippers?
Introduce clippers gradually, starting with the sound and vibration from a distance before making contact. Use a haynet to distract your horse and reward calm behaviour. If your horse remains very anxious, speak to your vet about safe sedation options.
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