Clipping and trimming advise please :)

[ilovecobs]

Hi, thanks for looking

My cob has a very thick coat, she has since July and I am thinking about clipping her the week before my next show (shows on 29th August.) what do people think about clipping at this time of year? Especially in terms of turnout for shows. I should turn her out with quarter marks and i dont know if this will work at all when shes clipped and would this make me look stupid at the championship shows later on in september and october? Also sometimes at the later on championship shows i see horses with nice thin summer looking coats and im like :O how? is it their breeding? or are they doing something that i should be?

Next question .. Well usually for shows i hog her trim face, ears + legs. because natually shes a hairy cob with a lot of feathers (as i trim them they grow back sort of stickey out lol) i have to go against the hair with my trimmers and i always leave lines, mainly up the front of the leg on the bone. I take my time but im just not very good at it. Does anybody have a solution to this? or something that might help.

Thanks

 

[vicksey]

I would love to see peoples opinions on this, my horse has had a thick coat this summer too, but I think maybe I clipped to late last year. I have trouble with the clippers too leaving lines etc, so interesting post, thanks

 

[huntley]

I don't have any problem with clipping at this time of year as long as you take all hair off, i.e. legs and all. We have a TBxConn who when eventing would have to be clipped before the end of August. I think the main reason people don't like it is it means you will be clipping alot between now and Christmas. Can't really help with the lines - white legs don't help. Try clipping down towards the hoof - I do the back of mine like that. I am afraid practice makes perfect and it is really important to keep an even pressure and to have sharp blades.
Good luck!