Preparing
to Clip
The clipping process will
take some time and it should never be hurried.
When clipping for the first time try to ensure
that that experience is a positive, uneventful
exercise for the horse. This will encourage
confidence and acceptance for the future.
Many people find that spending 10 minutes
a day for a week just running the clippers
and familiarising the horse with the noise
and vibration can result in considerable behavioural
improvement. Start by switching the clipper
on where the horse can hear it, you can allow
them to sniff it if they choose but take care
to keep blade away from the nose to avoid
injury. Without placing the blade on the horse,
stroke the neck and body to familiarise the
vibration and noise and reduce the fear element.
In general the quieter and
smoother the clippers, the less stressful
it will be for the horse. There are a number
of machines in the market place that are much
improved in vibration and noise than the large,
older design familiar to many equine professionals.
What do you
need?
Clippers – Mains or Battery powered
Trimmers – For the more detailed work
Spare blade
Clipper Oil
Hygienic Cleaning Spray
Body Brush
Full Haynet
Tail Bandage
Chalk or Saddle Soap
A Solid Stool to stand on for the high areas
An Able Assistant
Warm Rug
Before
Clipping
Wherever possible the coat
should be free of dirt, grit and grease. These
three elements will blunt blades very quickly.
In addition the coat should be completely
dry and groomed through. Ensure you have a
rug available for use when you have finished
clipping. It can be beneficial to put a rug
on your horse approximately 1 hour before
clipping to encourage the coat to lay flat,
thus making clipping a little easier –
however ensure that the horse doesn’t
become too hot and start sweating.
Basic Rules
Regardless of the style
of clip you choose, there are a few important
basic rules to follow to achieve the best
results:-
Ensure your clippers are
well oiled and the blade is sharp. If possible
have a spare set of blades available. Never
use a blade that is broken or has teeth missing.
If your clippers are mains operated then always
use a circuit breaker.
Always clip against the lie of the coat.
Hold the clipper with the blade flat to the
coat – this will avoid uneven clipping
or injury.
Clip in overlapping strips to ensure a smooth
finish.
Clip the body first then cover the clipped
area with a rug before starting on the legs
and head.
Around the areas of joints, where excess skin
may be, make every effort to stretch the skin
and avoid it catching in the clipper blades.
Never rush the job – allow the clipper
blades to cut through the hair before moving
forward. Forcing the clipper through the hair
can lead to the blades jamming or hair becoming
trapped between the two cutting surfaces.
Listen to the motor of your clippers –
if it begins to labour then the blades may
need cleaning and re-oiling. To ensure thorough
cleaning a Hygienic Spray can be used to reduce
bacteria, virus and fungicide and disinfect
the blades before oiling.
If your clipper blade gets hot, allow it to
cool before placing it against the skin or
in sensitive areas. Insufficient oil and dry
blades can lead to heated blades.
Use a piece of chalk or damp saddle soap to
mark the lines if doing a Hunter, Blanket
or Trace clip – this should assist in
achieving even lines
Have all your equipment to hand before getting
your horse from the stable; this will reduce
the amount of time he spends standing around.
If possible get an assistant
to help you when clipping. In addition to
holding the horse they can divert interest
and calm things if necessary and help when
clipping elbows and the insides of legs by
extending and lifting the front legs.
Where to Clip
Your location for clipping
will be dependent on many factors, do you
require mains power, what clean, dry facilities
do you have, and where is your horse most
comfortable? Always remove any potential hazards
from the floor, water buckets, tools, wheelbarrows,
etc. should all be put well away.
Which Type of
Clip?
Basically there are 6 different
types of clip:
Full Clip
Hunter Clip
Blanket Clip
Trace Clip
Chaser Clip (High or Low)
Bib Clip
When deciding which to use,
consider how much work the horse will be required
to do; what stabling arrangements are available;
and what rugs will be used.
Full Clip : Ideal for horses
that continue training and showing throughout
the winter.
Appearance:
The entire coat is clipped out except a small
triangle at the start of the tail. Some people
find it easier to clip around the head and
ears with a smaller trimmer, but ensure the
blade cutting lengths are compatible to achieve
a balanced, smooth finish.
Hunter Clip: Designed, as
the name suggests, for horses involved in
hunting and long distance riding.
Appearance:The
heavy winter coat is removed from the body,
leaving a patch mirroring the saddle to provide
additional support. To achieve this place
the saddle on the horse and draw a chalk line
around it, or fix the girth and clip around
the saddle. When finished remove the saddle
and trim the edge to create a clean line.
The head and legs are not clipped to afford
some protection when riding through undergrowth
or jumping natural hurdles. If legs are particularly
hairy it is possible to purchase blades which
clip but leave significantly more hair in
place.
Blanket Clip: Suitable for
horses that are not working too hard or who
require additional protection in the loin
area.
Appearance:
The amount of hair removed does not impair
the horse’s condition and some coat
is left in place to ensure some warming winter
coat gives a little protection from the elements.
Chalk should be used to mark out the shape
of the rug on the horse’s body and corners
should always be rounded. All hair is removed
from the neck but the head and legs are left
untouched.
Trace Clip: This clip is
perfect for horses in light work and will
ensure that condition is not lost, but some
protection is in place against the cold and
wet.
Appearance:
To an extent it is the choice of the person
clipping how much coat is removed. Basically
hair should be removed from the places where
most sweating takes place. However you should
remember that every clipped horse must be
covered with a rug and it will take considerably
longer for unclipped areas to cool down after
work. Use chalk to mark out the clipping lines
on each side. Always step back and check they
are level before starting to clip.
Chaser Clip: Basically this
clip removes the coat from the stifle to the
head. Again, this clip will ensure that sweating
is kept to a minimum whilst some protection
is left against the winter weather.
Appearance: A
chaser clip can be taken high or low, depending
on the work rate and the thickness of the
coat. A line is taken from the stifle, across
the body and up the neck, to finish at either
the ears of the chin. The hair is clipped
from the belly, chest and either side of the
windpipe but retained on the legs, back and
upper neck.
Bib Clip: Designed to remove
hair from the neck and chest only, perfect
for horses not undertaking too much work.
Appearance:
Starting from the chest, run the clippers
up the neck towards the horse’s head,
finishing at the chin. The line on the neck
can be as high or low as you require, but
ensure it is at the same level either side.
Clipping Tips
1. Do not start to clip on
a bony area, always settle the horse by just
holding the machine against him. When he is
comfortable move to a muscular area - good
starting points include the shoulder, neck
or gullet.
2. Clip with firm pressure,
passing the blades against the lie of the
coat. Keep the blade flat to the skin and
never clip across folds or wrinkles as this
will cut the horse. Use your assistant to
hold loose skin flat and taut.
3. Pass the clippers through
the coat in long even sweeps to achieve a
smooth finish – avoid any stabbing action.
4. Try to wear waterproof
clothing that the hair will not stick to –
fleeces and jumpers are a bad idea!
5. Keep your blades clean
and well oiled.
6. Unless you are hogging
the mane it is advisable to keep your clipping
line about 2cm below the mane line to avoid
clipping into the mane itself.
7. When clipping behind the
front legs take extreme care. It is advisable
for your assistant to hold up the front leg
and pull it forward to avoid nicking any of
the spare skin.
8. Try using quiet cordless
trimmers around the face, ears and eyes area.
These will produce less noise and vibration
than full body clippers.
9. Bandage the tail to keep
it out of the way and allow free access to
the back legs.
10. When you have finished
clipping always brush the horse all over to
remove the clipped hairs and avoid itching.
11. Ensure you clean you
clippers thoroughly before putting them away.
The blades should be flushed with hygienic
cleaning spray then oiled to prevent rust.
If rust develops on blades this causes stress
on the motor, which will, eventually lead
to the machine not performing.
12. Always unplug your clippers when they
are not in use and store them in a dry, safe
place.
What to look
for when purchasing clippers
Before buying a set of clippers
it is important to decide exactly what your
requirements are. If you intend to clip a
significant number of horses and will demand
that your clippers work all day then products
similar to the Lister Liberty or Star should
be your preferred choice.
However, if you are only
purchasing a pair of clippers for use with
your own horse then there isn’t the
need for such a powerful or expensive machine.
Wahl produce two very capable machines –
the Artiko is perfect if you have good access
to mains power, but if you require flexibility
and freedom then the Avalon will give you
the ability to clip anywhere and move with
your horse.
Ensure that you find the
clippers easy to hold – the shape, weight
and quality should all work for you. Remember
that this will be a working piece of equipment
which may need to withstand some rough treatment.
The plastic housing on some budget models
can be brittle and break easily, thus making
them useless. In addition you will need at
least one good quality blade.
You should take a decision
on whether you prefer snap-on blades that
require no tensioning or alignment, or whether
you wish to stay with a traditional two-piece
blade set. For less experienced people the
ease and peace of mind associated with the
snap-on, self-aligning alternative makes this
question very simple. Decide what length of
hair you wish to leave on the coat and purchase
a blade to match this requirement.
If you feel that you want
to tidy up the look of your horse, but don’t
feel he needs to be clipped then a trimmer
may meet you requirements. A quality trimmer
will be capable of removing the hair from
heels, fetlocks, legs and the face and ear
area. If you have a nervous horse or young
horse then a quiet trimmer is ideal to desensitise
them from the fear and stress of large, noisy
clippers.
The Wahl Horseline range
of clippers and trimmers are designed to meet
the demands of today’s equine owner.
Benefitting from German technology and engineering,
the machines are compact, stylish and easy
to use. Snap-on, cool running blades remove
the need for tensioning and alignment whilst
the quiet operation and minimal vibration
make these products ideal for use with young
or nervous horses.
For complete freedom
the battery powered AVALON will clip for 2.5
hours with just 3 hours recharge time. The
mains operated ARTIKO benefits from a 5 metre
power cord and two clipping speeds. Finally
the battery powered ADELAR stands alone in
its class – quiet, compact and highly
effective at trimming all coat types.
