Full clip - how do you do yours?

[Tiddlypom]

Sorry, yet another clipping thread .

I did a full clip (body and half head) on one of mine today. She’s well behaved, so I had her loose in the stable munching on a hay net. The end result is fairly respectable, but I was wondering if there’s a known efficient best way to tackle a full clip?

I started on her shoulder, did most of the front end then tackled the middle, and lastly her back end. I then put the hay net away and did her half head last.

What do pros do?

 

[ihatework]

Depends on the horse.

If they are rock solid then it generally doesn’t matter too much, although if it’s very cold I’d leave their quarters and back until last.

If they are a bit impatient then I’d get head and fiddly areas done first, because it’s easier to do the bulk of body if they are getting stroppy.

If sedated, head, dangerous and sweaty bits first (after I’ve tested they are asleep on the neck)

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

I always start on the shoulder to make sure they are ok with the clippers. Then I zoom over shoulder, up neck to about 6in away from the ears, do chest, oil clippers, do body, oil clippers, do backside, oil clippers then repeat on side 2. I go back to do the half head last so I can get it all done in a oner if I have to twitch.

If sedated then yeah it's shoulder to make sure they are out of it then up the neck, head, elbows, fiddly/sweaty bits on both sides before then settling in to do the shoulders, body and bum.

 

[Shoei]

I start on the bum (thickest hair) and progress forward to face( his favourite bit)

 

[DirectorFury]

Begrudgingly, mainly!

I usually start on shoulder to check she’s not decided that the clippers will kill her since the last clip. Then it’s neck, side/back, and bum on both sides. Then I clean up the top of her legs, under belly, and round her elbows. Face is always last as I generally cock it up so like to postpone that as long as possible ?.

Disclaimer: I am not a pro, just a numpty .

 

[Rowreach]

And if sedated, don't forget they can still "wake up" suddenly and fire you into next Wednesday

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

And if sedated, don't forget they can still "wake up" suddenly and fire you into next Wednesday

Been there, seen it, done it, got the t-shirt ??? bar steward of an animal he was! Glad he moved very very far away!

 

[Rowreach]

Been there, seen it, done it, got the t-shirt ??? bar steward of an animal he was! Glad he moved very very far away!

Worst kick I ever got, I just remember being spark out on the floor and then seeing the vet looming over me saying "did that hurt?"

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I start at shoulder then do most of the head on the one that is not keen on big clippers on face, then just do the rest because he is fine everywhere else, I then tidy the face with trimmers the next day as I find his had enough by the end.

My other one absolutely loves the clippers on his face but is a bit sensitive on the belly but never kicks just moves around so I just do him any how really.

 

[Upthecreek]

I always have two sets of blades and change them halfway through so they don’t get ridiculously hot and I can crack on and get it done as quickly as possible.

 

[AdorableAlice]

Full clip for me is legs off, so I do the legs first because it knackers my back. Mine are all so huge there is little to no bending to do bodies and I can't reach the head without steps.

 

[HorsesRule2009]

I start shoulder to check OK and up neck the body/bum and then back to tidy up fiddly areas so elbows chest flanks and then head.

On the kicking front even when a horse is hobbled (all 4 feet touching underneath them) they can still blinking kick!



Ps the hobbling was when I spent 6months in New Zealand last year its still very much practised out there.

 

[LouisCat]

I start shoulder to check OK and up neck the body/bum and then back to tidy up fiddly areas so elbows chest flanks and then head.

On the kicking front even when a horse is hobbled (all 4 feet touching underneath them) they can still blinking kick!



Ps the hobbling was when I spent 6months in New Zealand last year its still very much practised out there.

???

 

[little_critter]

I start shoulder to check OK and up neck the body/bum and then back to tidy up fiddly areas so elbows chest flanks and then head.

On the kicking front even when a horse is hobbled (all 4 feet touching underneath them) they can still blinking kick!



Ps the hobbling was when I spent 6months in New Zealand last year its still very much practised out there.

Bet that was a pretty colour a few days later. Ouch.

 

[Ceifer]

I always start on the shoulder to make sure they are ok with the clippers. Then I zoom over shoulder, up neck to about 6in away from the ears, do chest, oil clippers, do body, oil clippers, do backside, oil clippers then repeat on side 2. I go back to do the half head last so I can get it all done in a oner if I have to twitch.

If sedated then yeah it's shoulder to make sure they are out of it then up the neck, head, elbows, fiddly/sweaty bits on both sides before then settling in to do the shoulders, body and bum.

This.
Clipping can be one of the most dangerous things you can do. My horse is brilliant to clip but I always still start on the shoulder. It makes me wince seeing people clip in dangerous areas, wires all over the place and unsafe practices- I’ve seen one girl sat on the floor under a horse clipping it’s stomach. I swiftly stopped her.
I also saw a girl who decided to start on her horses head. Went straight up the middle of its face, it freaked out and She then couldn’t get near it. Had to wait a couple of days for the vet to come and sedate it

 

[Rowreach]

This.
Clipping can be one of the most dangerous things you can do. My horse is brilliant to clip but I always still start on the shoulder. It makes me wince seeing people clip in dangerous areas, wires all over the place and unsafe practices- I’ve seen one girl sat on the floor under a horse clipping it’s stomach. I swiftly stopped her.
I also saw a girl who decided to start on her horses head. Went straight up the middle of its face, it freaked out and She then couldn’t get near it. Had to wait a couple of days for the vet to come and sedate it

Do you remember H&H's clipping clinic, where they got a well known show producer to do a clipping demo, and she was kneeling down on the ground doing the horse's legs?

 

[Ceifer]

Do you remember H&H's clipping clinic, where they got a well known show producer to do a clipping demo, and she was kneeling down on the ground doing the horse's legs?

Noooo really?! I’d have been shot if I was caught doing that ?

 

[Rowreach]

Noooo really?! I’d have been shot if I was caught doing that ?

Yup, and I saw a photo yesterday (think it was an ad for something) where the person was bending down directly behind the horse to clip its lower legs ...

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

I've knelt down doing shetlands but never tbs!

 

[P.forpony]

I do mine as fast as possible with loathing in my heart ?
I HATE clipping ?
Thank god pony is a superstar, turn on on the shoulder for a swipe then face first and ears, belly legs and elbows because I hate that bit and gets it out of the way. Zoom zoom over the rest, quick check for strays and lines.
Lob everything away as fast as possible stick face under yard hose then fly home for a desperate shower. Repeat next month ?

 

[scats]

Someone on fb posted a picture of them lying under a horse while they clipped it’s belly...

I start on the shoulder, then usually do one full side then the other.

 

[GinaGeo]

I’m impressed at all of your systems.

I just make it up as I go along ?

I start on the shoulder and then see where the mood takes me. Might do the leg line. Might do the saddle patch. Might do a leg.

I do do the head halfway through, gives my clippers a chance to cool down a bit whilst I titivate with the little trimmers.

 

[HorsesRule2009]

OK just adding to the clipping questions atm.
Haynet? Do you give one while clipping or no?

 

[Tiddlypom]

Yes to hay net. Horse happily munches while I clip. I remove the hay net before clipping the half head, as it is tricky to clip the head when they are chewing.

The mare I clipped yesterday was quite anxious about clipping after coming back from loan. She’s settled back to it calmly now, she’s untied in the stable to clip - she doesn’t actually move from the haynet, but she knows she could do if she needed a break.

How much overlap between runs with the clippers do folk give? I wonder if I should overlap more, say 1/3rd or even 1/2?

 

[Goldenstar]

I start on the shoulder and on a impatient horse I often go to the head and get it done early on .
Sometimes we clip over two days doing the body and head one day and the legs the next .

 

[Goldenstar]

I overlap a third if you do a quarter it really does cut down the time it takes though .

 

[SOS]

I over lap between a third to half. I also tend to do all my ‘lines’ first incase I forget and end up clipping half the leg ? I also find doing between the front legs/armpits a bore so I try do that straight away.

So both front leg lines quickly done, between front legs, saddle patch then straight up and off with the neck, hind leg lines, belly and entire back end working onto other side, saddle patch line, then belly and work towards head. Head last unless they are fidgety then do that first.

I was explaining on a thread the other day that if you do get tram lines they can be removed. You have to work the clippers diagonally over the line you have just done. Both diagonal directions, with a little pressure and it clears any lines. I tend to do this as routine whilst clipping the neck/belly/backend. So clip against hair for a few runs then just brush clippers over diagonally. My clips are normally line free!

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

I don't tie up and I don't give food.

 

[Tiddlypom]

EKW, how long does it take you to do a hunter clip?

Seems to take me over an hour at least, but it’s definitely quicker than when I do a chaser and spend ages faffing around with lines.

 

[CanteringCarrot]

I’m impressed at all of your systems.

I just make it up as I go along ?

I start on the shoulder and then see where the mood takes me. Might do the leg line. Might do the saddle patch. Might do a leg.

I do do the head halfway through, gives my clippers a chance to cool down a bit whilst I titivate with the little trimmers.

This is my approach too. As the mood strikes!



My guy is super easy to clip as he stands quite still no matter where I go with the clippers. Sometimes he gets a bit into it in some spots if he is itchy, but he's so easy to clip. Would've thought the opposite for such the sensitive little weirdo that he is, but ultimately he's obedient I suppose!