A bath .... or not?

[Carlosmum]

I am about to bring pony back into work. He has a lovely woolly coat and looks like a hippo. I intend to give him a blanket clip, to tidy him up for public viewing. The weather is so horrible, I am hoping I can get away without bathing the mucky bits. Clipper blades are sharp, battery is fully charged do you think hot clothing would be sufficient? I have nowhere under cover for bathing.

 

[cauda equina]

Yes, fine, or even just a thorough groom
I never bath before clipping, he wouldn't be dry until spring!

 

[dottylottie]

if it was me i’d probably scrub the bits that are coming off, just ‘cos i can’t cope with the lines you should be fine though, i fine the only difficult area if i’ve only hot clothed is the top of their bum!

 

[Cortez]

I've never bathed a horse before clipping, and I used to clip dozens. However they were pretty clean beforehand anyway, and generally not terribly shaggy.

 

[Gloi]

I never bath a really hairy one, I just send the blades for sharpening after they are done.

 

[Ceriann]

Really good groom. I’ve done one of mine ready for clipping - she’s got a fine but thick coat, brushed until gleaming. I will hot cloth before I clip too.

 

[Ditchjumper2]

I am a bad person. I have very never bathed beforehand. I just crack on with it. I groom the worst bits then off I go. They have all looked pretty good. Hot towelled afterwards with vinegar perfect. In my day you didn't bath in the winter. My clippers are heavy duty and go through anything. I have even clipped muddy monsters slightly damp when emergency horse needed for hunting. Tbf I clip my own and probably it's different if you are paying someone else who won't want a dirty horse or to blunt their blades. Life is too short to faf about!

 

[SEL]

I clip my double coat native with just a good groom - fresh blades help

 

[Landcruiser]

Bath? Hot towel? What are you running there, a horse spa??

Good groom, whip it off, then a quick brush over with a soft brush - voila!

 

[Ditchjumper2]

Bath? Hot towel? What are you running there, a horse spa??

Good groom, whip it off, then a quick brush over with a soft brush - voila!

Agree totally. I just wipe over afterwards to remove hair. Everyone seems to worry so much these days just crack on and get done.

 

[94lunagem]

I’m another in the bad person club - a good groom yes but I’ve never once bathed before clipping. I hot towel after if needed and I’m prepared my blades might need sharpening slightly more often than otherwise

 

[equinerebel]

I hate clipping so I pay someone else to do it for me. They're fantastic, but do ask that I bath the horse beforehand. I hot cloth the worst areas instead which works well

 

[webble]

Yes, I fully clipped mine today without a bath, hes not that hairy though

 

[Surbie]

I have a wannabe yak and my yard frowns on bathing. I just make sure my clippers are sharp. I hot cloth afterwards which cobbus seems to enjoy immensely.

 

[Snow Falcon]

I used to clip a wooly mammoth in springtime. It had spent the winter grinding himself into mud, a set of blades would be blunt after each clip. He had to be bathed as there was that much dirt in the coat the blades had a hell of a job in the first place yet alone if they encountered grit too. I personally don't like putting a clean rug on a half clean pony. I don't do dirty!