Clipping for the first time

A

Amaretto

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...ie my four year old.

He just needs a bit off, as he's getting a bit warm, even after a hack around the block.

Admittedly, I haven't really done the prep work, other than let him watch his friends be clipped when he arrived in January. He's also used to the small clippers to do his chin etc, albeit freaking initially and striking out at me. Just left them outside his stable for a while, then turned them off when he decided to come and investigate! Then he was okay, but he never looked completely comfortable!

He may well be very good - but has anyone got any tips on making it safer, quicker and less daunting for him?

Thanks!
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Other than that, is anyone offering to do it for me? LOL!
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Put him on a very long rope, don't tie it but thread it through the ring and hold the other end, so he can pull back without ever getting free.

Put the clippers on a very long lead, making sure you have a circuit breaker on the power supply otherwise you could kill him and you if he treads on it. So now you can follow him wherever he goes so the clippers just "stay around" even if he is silly.

Turn them on but don't attempt to put them on him until he is completely calm about the noise.

When calm about the noise, put them against his neck or shoulder and again wait until he is perfectly calm about that.

Try clipping a tiny bit, somewhere where if you have to stop he is not going to look too stupid! I find a strip up the front of the chest and neck is a good start.

Once he's calm about that, try doing more. Don't do it on your own, I have seen people seriously hurt/darned nearly killed by horses scared of being clipped.

Please don't think of "quicker" as an option, take it all very slow. Sweating won't kill him. Panicking when you clip him and breaking a leg will, and kicking your head in will do the same for you!

Hope that helps!
 
More efficient, good - sharp blades and the most powerful clipper motor you can find are the best way to speed things up.
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get a person to hold him ( i ever only tie or thread rope through on the grown ups!) let him get used to noise, put empty hand on him clippers running in other. vibrations run thru, then place quietly on shoulder and hover!! then continue positively and do a bib clip, then leave at that! if you have done his jaw in the past he should be fine. you can then do bigger clip in a couple of days time! according to work. if you are an experienced clipper you will gauge his reactions, if not experienced it is worth paying a professional to do him the first couple of times. the first couple of clips will make him or break him in the clipping dept.!
 
I use the following technique.

Get helper to hold horse, never tie up.
Turn clipper on & walk towards horse. If horse moves, keep clippers near horse until they ignore clippers (they soon learn it wont go away if they move).
When horse stands still, walk away from horse & get helper to praise him.
REPEAT

This may take 5 mins or 30 mins, but it really does work if you keep it consistent.
I used the same technique for hosepipes.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I use the following technique.

Get helper to hold horse, never tie up.
Turn clipper on & walk towards horse. If horse moves, keep clippers near horse until they ignore clippers (they soon learn it wont go away if they move).
When horse stands still, walk away from horse & get helper to praise him.
REPEAT

This may take 5 mins or 30 mins, but it really does work if you keep it consistent.
I used the same technique for hosepipes.

[/ QUOTE ]

Ha, this made me laugh out loud! Uno was scared of hosepipes at first but now picks them up in his mouth and swishes it around, thinking it is great fun (although I won't let him do this with the clippers of course
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).
 
i have the exact same thing to look forward too! i think he should be ok as i ended up having to do his ears, chin and legs with my big clippers as my little ones broke when i tried to use them- and he was fine, we put a twitch on him but he wasn't arsed
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i'm going for a chaser clip tho- no way am i lopping it all off and dealing with the consequences
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[ QUOTE ]
i have the exact same thing to look forward too! i think he should be ok as i ended up having to do his ears, chin and legs with my big clippers as my little ones broke when i tried to use them- and he was fine, we put a twitch on him but he wasn't arsed
laugh.gif
i'm going for a chaser clip tho- no way am i lopping it all off and dealing with the consequences
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[/ QUOTE ]

God yes, not going for the lot off, ha!
 
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