clipping - how would you...

Shooting Star

Shooting Star

Well-Known Member
Joined
18 October 2011
Messages
1,415
Visit site
Clip a nervous virgin clipper for the first time?:o

I put off clipping the new boy last winter as I brought him in January and didn't have a school until march so were mainly hacking and no real need to clip (plus had been told by the seller that he'd been shown clippers and hadn't liked them so I avoided it!)

I genuinely don't think he's ever been clipped (didn't appear to have ever seen a farrier before I got him so clipping seems unlikely) ... apparently there's quite a few things that he's not learnt to do that I'm slowly finding out about - like trotting in hand but that's a whole different topic... :D

So anyway no excuse this year, but even my quiet battery trimmers that struggle to trim whiskers were deemed too scarey. As we had a mishap at the weekend and had the vet I got him to give us some oral sedatives so that we can tackle clipping.

Now have to confess whilst having my own clippers and having clipped in the past I've always had easy ones that just stood patiently but what's the best way to tackle a first timer, do you dare to try to do the whole clip in one go or do it over a number of sittings? He's been put in the stable next to ones being clipped to try and get him used to the noise.

really only planning on taking off neck and belly for the first clip but even so get the feeling it could be traumatic for both of us!

... hmm, no food in the house - dried cat food anybody ?!?!
 
I used heavy duty trimmers on mine to start and did it in several sittings!! I use battery pack slippers which she tolerates well but Gershwin board quickly so takes 2-3 goes to do an Irish clip. Just takes time.and.patience!
 
Horses that have never been clipped before are usually easier, in my experience, than those that have been clipped badly, by inexperience people, with blunt blades or overheating clippers, a good first experience should be your aim. Make sure everything is in good order, blades sharp, relaxed horse and handler. Take your time before starting to clip, run the clippers over him firmly while they are off, then the same when they are on without cutting any hair so he can feel the vibration do not start cutting until he is letting you do this without reacting.

I usually plan to do a low clip in one go, starting with under the neck making sure it is fairly tidy before moving to the shoulders and then under the belly, if each stage is finished before you move on there will be less messing around for him, you can opt to stop at any stage without having to tidy up.
The last one I had in to sedate for clipping had a chaser clip done easily in one go, he was so relaxed that the next time he did not need the sedalin much to my vets amazement:)
 
Waltzing Matilda said:
I used heavy duty trimmers on mine to start and did it in several sittings!! I use battery pack slippers which she tolerates well but Gershwin board quickly so takes 2-3 goes to do an Irish clip. Just takes time.and.patience!
Click to expand...

Oh we're Irish alright quite literally, through & through;)
Seriously hoping the sedative will do the job but for a horse that is so amazingly resiliant to nasty cuts and scrapes he's an absolute woose about things touching his skin - an absolute delicate petal. Choice of pathetic trimmers or heavy duty liveryman arenas to use so really hoping the sedative works otherwise I think we'll be going for the multi day approach and not being seen in public in between!

be positive said:
Horses that have never been clipped before are usually easier, in my experience, than those that have been clipped badly, by inexperience people, with blunt blades or overheating clippers, a good first experience should be your aim. Make sure everything is in good order, blades sharp, relaxed horse and handler. Take your time before starting to clip, run the clippers over him firmly while they are off, then the same when they are on without cutting any hair so he can feel the vibration do not start cutting until he is letting you do this without reacting.

I usually plan to do a low clip in one go, starting with under the neck making sure it is fairly tidy before moving to the shoulders and then under the belly, if each stage is finished before you move on there will be less messing around for him, you can opt to stop at any stage without having to tidy up.
The last one I had in to sedate for clipping had a chaser clip done easily in one go, he was so relaxed that the next time he did not need the sedalin much to my vets amazement:)
Click to expand...

Handy advice, thanks! He was good when sedated to clip around his wounds for the vet so I'm really hoping he'll be in the same happy state for me but doubt very much that the oral sedative is as strong.
Hoping though that as you say, a good clipping experience will be had so his first time will be a positive and make it easier in the future rather than the YO's idea to just chase him around with the clippers :eek:

I think it's fair to say that wonky lines are likely to be the order of the day given how ticklish he is although I'm a stickler for equal lines and sides so it'll really bug me if we end up having a bad hair day!
 
I dont know how much sedalin you have been told to use but the vet said to give the whole tube to the one I did, he also said best of luck;) it really did knock him out make sure you give it on an empty tummy and wait for longer than advised for it to take effect if you try before they are under they will fight it more.
 
it's not sedaline that he's given us but something called relaquine, apparently have to be careful to not give him more than 1/3rd of a suringe or we'll have different probelms ... personally I don't think it's a bad thing to clip one side then get some friends to help roll him over to clip the other side whilst he's still snoring :D:D:D
 
I find horses are far less bothered by the big clippers than they are with the wee trimmers. I dont know if the trimmers catch the hair more or just clip closer to the skin?

Like Be Positive, a first time clipping is not usually a major problem. Just watch about sedating as some horses stress but cant move and then can get upset and very sweaty. Some are better left unsedated or if they have to be sedated, get it done IV by the vet.
 
haven't actually tried touching him with trimmers, the noise has been enough to send him in to panic mode although apparently with a wooden wall / partition between him and another horse being clipped he has been ok.

In general he's a bit of a whimp though, the weigh tape is increidbly scarey, enough to make the knees knock and send him running so clipping without sedation the first time is unlikely. Fortunately he seems to sedate ok as he's been done a couple of times, once for teeth and then again this weekend when he cut his knees and turns into a loveable lump although becomes very tactile and whinnies to everybody or anything that approaches :D
 
I agree with be positive that first timers are usually easier than those who have had a bad experience!

I used to be the assigned clipping helper when I worked at a yard (yay!) One day we had a horse that was seriously traumatised and he was actually quite dangerous, but calmed down a lot towards the end. Another we did had never ever seen/heard clippers before and was a little nervy at first but stood like an angel!

I always start by turning on the clippers and just resting them on their shoulder, no matter how used to clippers they are, and always clip the neck first.

Just act as normal and chatter away like its nothing new. I often find that they're fine with the actual clipping, but spook at the hair falling to the floor lol!! It might also be helpful just to have someone stood at his head and letting him know all is ok.

Good luck :)
 
I sedated my boy slightly to make our life easier. He was a little worried about the clippers at first but soon settled and stood like a lamb. When it came to doing his second clip in the feb he was loose in the stable in just a headcollar, no sedatives and only me there clipping away. Stood like a pro :) perhaps this might be helpful in giving your boy a good first experience which he will hopefully improve on from there?
 
Last winter was the first time I clippped my mare myself. Previously when she had been either tied up or help with a headcollar and leadrope she had been really difficult so I left her loose in her stable. She was a bit jumpy when I first turned the clippers on and starting to clip but then she settled down and didn't move. I kept talking to her the whole time and gave her a few polos while I was doing it. I did an Irish clip that time in November and then I gave her a blanket clip in January. I am just hoping that she is as good this year.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top