Clipping - Moan

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pansy

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I keep seeing posts about clipping - well it is that time of year - my clippers are ready just come back from service today & blades sharpened - but everyone keeps asking me when I am bringing them down as they want their horses done - they seem to think they are the yard clippers when they are mine brought to do my horses not theirs , therefore not their responsibility for sharpening blades or if they break - they cost me a lot of money & I want them to last me - what is the easiest way to tell them no :(
 
Well i would just say no but maybe add in bit about cost etc and that you don't want others to borrow them in case they break and then they would have to pay and you would feel bad- makes you sound like you care!
 
I have had so many people ask me this. I find it so rude! Clippers are so expensive, why should you pay out and everyone else benefit?!

I simply tell people no, I'm sorry, I hate clipping so will only do my own horse. Then when they ask to borrow, I say no sorry, clippers are too easy to break. One drop and that's it. I'm sure people have been cross I've said no, but let them be!
 
i dont know :( but i would be annoyed too! a did a quick clip on a friends 13hher the other day as she was getting so hot, i dont tend to do it for others just mine and mums and a bit of tidying up on others ect wasnt a big clip didnt take that long but although i woudlnt have accepted any payment was a bit peeved they didnt even offer :( just said she got me a bag of malteasers! how do you tell someone malteasers dont sharpen blades?

i'd probably be inclied to do it, then take them home again and 'forget' them untill the next time you need them
 
You could always just say no :p

If you feel the need to give them a reason, and really you don't have to, theres the wear and tear on the motor, cost of sharpening blades, risk of breakage, and you aren't insured to clip their horses, nor do you want to lend them out in case they are broken.
 
I borrow my friends to clip mine, but the deal is that if the blades go blunt whilst I'm using them then i have to pay for replacements/to have them sharpened. If they broke then i'd feel it would be my responsibility to cover at least half the cost to repair them. Just say no, it's no different to if someone asked to borrow your car without insurance on it.
 
Following on from another thread, Just tell them you aren't insured to clip other peoples horses.
Sorry it's just out of your hands

I know what you mean about saying no to people who sometimes don't seem to understand no!! They need a reason and insurance is a great one as they can't argue or 'promise' to pay towards sharpening/ repairs etc.
 
Thanks for all your replies - I will have to politely say NO - I can't believe how cheeky some people are though - the one lady has only been on the yard a couple of months - I may do mine when I know no-one else will be about x
 
I do borrow a friends clippers to do mine but I buy the oil and give her money towards sharpening, and I also clip her horses for her because she is no good at it! A good deal for me and hopefully for her. Just say you are charging for clipping for now on or will hire the clippers out for 15 pound an hour, should stop the freeloaders :)
 
Like others have said you wont be insured to clip peoples horses and far to exspensive to "lend"but sadly i find it hard to say no to people :( but think tough and stand ground :)
 
Could you find out if someone local to you does a clipping service? If so when asked for you to clip/lend clippers, in your position after clipping my horse I would fib and say sorry my clippers need sharpening/are on their last legs -but- I've heard so-an-so has very reasonable rates
 
Ask for a 'holding deposit' of £200 before you will hand them over for them to use, after all they did cost you money to buy & maintain....
Also, throw in the fact that you are not insured to clip other peoples horses, so its the deposit or nothing......
Wonder how many takers you will get then ;)
 
How about saying that a) you aren't insured to clip other people's horses and b) obviously they are too expensive to lend out for free as the upkeep and maintenance is costly.... but you would need insurance to accept hire money. So unfortunately you can't lend them out at all.....
 
Had a thought while I was out, get some flyers or business cards from someone who does clip, and hand them out when people ask you for your clippers.
 
Do what I do....make a joke of it and say, "if you want to pay the £500 insurance for me to be able to clip your horse of course" then laugh and give them the name of someone else who does it. Seriously though , if you just say no and give one clear reason, they won't bother you again. If you try to just make excuses, they will keep on asking!

You don't owe them anything. X
 
Don't be mean , Tell them its fine you will clip there horses - for £50 per horse..!!

You don't get nowt for free in this world , and should not expect it either.
 
Capriole said:
Had a thought while I was out, get some flyers or business cards from someone who does clip, and hand them out when people ask you for your clippers.
Click to expand...

I like this idea there are quite a few people advertising :)

Daytona said:
Don't be mean , Tell them its fine you will clip there horses - for £50 per horse..!!

You don't get nowt for free in this world , and should not expect it either.[/QUOTE

This would keep them quiet :)
Click to expand...
 
Daytona said:
Don't be mean , Tell them its fine you will clip there horses - for £50 per horse..!!

You don't get nowt for free in this world , and should not expect it either.
Click to expand...

The problem is the person who would take you up on this would be the one the biggest pain in bum to clip, who everyone else has refused to.
 
This used to drive me nuts as I seemed to be the only person on my old yard who owned clippers. It came to a head when I found out the latest person to borrow them clipped someone else's horse and charged them £20 for her to do it and £7.00 blade sharpening!!!!! She didn't mention/ask or give me the money just pocketed the whole lot! My horse didn't get clipped as the blades were blunt. After that I did mine when I knew no one was about then told anyone who asked "sorry I sent the blades away for sharpening" or they are bring fixed because I'm rubbish at just saying no!
 
pansy said:
I keep seeing posts about clipping - well it is that time of year - my clippers are ready just come back from service today & blades sharpened - but everyone keeps asking me when I am bringing them down as they want their horses done - they seem to think they are the yard clippers when they are mine brought to do my horses not theirs , therefore not their responsibility for sharpening blades or if they break - they cost me a lot of money & I want them to last me - what is the easiest way to tell them no :(
Click to expand...

Pansy - I feel your pain! I'm in a very similar situation to you. I'm currently on a livery yard and have just treated myself to a brand new pair of clippers. Planning on doing my horses within the next week or so and already other people are asking when I'm bringing my clippers down to the yard!!! Cheeky *******. BUT! last week I was caught out good and proper when a close friend (not on my yard), had an emergency when her clippers bust half way through clipping one of her horses and she asked to borrow mine. Without thinking I let her borrow them and I've just had them back... I could have cried. They were covered in hair and the electric flex was covered in *****. The saddest thing is these clippers were brand spanking new and I had not even had the pleasure of using them on my own horses for the very first time. I'm being childish I know, but I'm so upset and will never ever lend my clippers to anyone again. Not quite sure what to say to the other liveries yet but liking the previous posts about not being insured etc. Good luck with everything and happy clipping ! :-)
 
Just tell em the blades are blunted but if they want to buy a new set of blades you'll clip the horse for only £50 quid.

I found I suddenly had a load of mates when I bought a trailer'.
Shame that tyres been flat for two years solid...'.
 
I've just come straight out & told everyone that's asked that I'm sorry but I won't lend them out or clip others horses with them as I need them to be working/sharp whenever I need them xx
 
I used to hire my old yo's pair but paid her for the hire.

I now have my own and there aren't many liveries on the yard where I keep him so don't get many requests apart from yo for one horse which I did allow.

If I do get any requests from fellow liveries they will be allowed my rubbish pair that struggle with thick fur... if that!

I spent the money so don't feel inclined to lend them!
 
Don't let them, at my old yard I trusted one girl to use my trimmers, well she kept them for about a month, used them on her dogs and work horses, then past them around the yard and did the other liveries horses. Came back broken, no oil, grades missing, and teeth missing from the blades plus they were blunt. I couldn't do my own horse so went to a show looking suffty. Then had the cheek to ask for them back a few days later. And worst of all not even a thankyou! Grrrr
 
My clippers never seem to have enough charge for anyone else's horses ... and then the blades are blunt! And then I've forgotten them at home ... oh and then they need charging and new blades again :D :D

Actually I have been alleviated of my Saying No as there is a groom who is based on my yard so I tell everyone I have agreed not to clip any horses as it wouldn't be fair since it's her job. In exchange she says no when people ask her for lessons as that's my job.
 
Keep them at home. Say having just forked out x pounds for sharpening and serving them and having been advised that your clippers look like they have been over used you are no longer lending them out. But agree..tell them x can clip for x pounds.
 
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