Clipping for the first time

[horsemad67]

I,ve never clipped before, how easy or difficult is it? I have hogged manes and clipped hairy legs in a riding school but thats all. What would be the best clip for a first timer? Would it be best to do a full clip as then I wouldn,t have to worry about lines? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[I_A_P]

its nto too bad, i find it farily straightfoward, i think the MOST important rule is to always clip directly the opposite way to the hair..not try and cut it slightly at an angle...so just look at what direction it is laying. Also i would see if maybe you could watcha few people, or just have someone there to help you.

 

[the watcher]

Whenever I do a horse I don't know I always plan to just take the chest off, if that went well I take the belly off, then aim for a blanket ..you see where this is going? And I have been clipping horses for years.

The same can apply to you, start with a bib or something simple but that doesn't look silly, if you are happy then extend the clip. Follow any instructions with your clippers, use plenty of oil on them, and be sure to get the tension right on the blades.

 

[chestnut cob]

I just did full clips the first few times I clipped my own horse until I felt more confident. Have now progressed to trace and chaser clips!

Get some chalk and mark out your lines, that should make it easier.

 

[kerilli]

it's easy... the lines are the hardest part. be very gentle and careful around the face, especially the eyes, obviously (if unsure, just do to a line half-way down the cheek, and leave he muzzle, front of face, around eyes and the ears hairy too if you do).
be aware that it is very very easy to cut them under the armpits, even if you know what you're doing, so get someone to hold the leg out a bit in front and use your spare hand to hold the skin taut.
wear a full boiler suit if you can too, cos the hairs get everywhere! if you've got contact lenses (like me) then goggles aren't a bad idea tbh.
have a breather every 10-20 mins and check that the plate on the underside of the clippers isn't getting hot, which will upset the horse. respray the clippers with oil and towel the residue off, whenever you have a little breather.
having the radio on helps lots of horses if they're not too keen on the noise.
have a hat on, especially when doing tummy, ticklish horses aren't fun to clip, and a lot are ticklish around there.
have fun.

 

[vicm2509]

I did Baron for the first time last year. I had not owned a horse for 8 years and had never watched anyone do a clip before either. I just read up on it and went for it. It was easy, he looked perfect afterwards. I just left on his legs and half his face. The only bits I found hard were between the front legs. It did take me about 3hours though.

For his 2nd clip I took the whole face of with a little help. I would get someone to help you with this, the head needs to be really still and a small movement in the wrong direction could be fatal.

This year just left legs on, and took all his face off. He looks perfect, fiddly bits were not so fiddly and did the whole thing in under 2 hours.

Just go for it, it you make a mistake it will grow back. But is is really quite easy once you get going.

 

[horsemad67]

Well i,ve been and bought some clippers this afternoon, can,t wait to try them but I think I will wait til the weekend when I have lots of time.