Why should you clip your horse?
There are many reasons why you should clip your horse. For one, it helps you greatly reduce your horse’s sweating. Under the thick coat, your horse sweats especially quickly and then cools down faster because the moisture stays in the long hair tips. Clipping allows you to dry your horse faster after training, which also supports your favorite’s health.
Secondly, clipping makes caring for your horse easier since there is less hair to groom and brush. This saves time and effort, and if we’re honest, it also looks much nicer and more well-groomed.
What types of clipping can I do on my horse?
There are many different types of horse clipping tailored to your horse’s individual needs. Every horse owner has to decide what’s best for their horse. Here are the most common clipping styles for you:
• Full body clip: This clipping style removes the entire coat of the horse. It is best suited for horses that are trained or ridden intensively, as they tend to sweat heavily.
• Blanket clip: With the blanket clip, only the hair under the areas where the horse blanket lies is removed. This allows you to keep the horse warm with a blanket while reducing sweating.
• Partial clip: In a partial clip, only part of the coat is removed, such as the neck, belly, or flanks. This clip is good for horses that are ridden or trained only occasionally.
What’s right for your horse also depends on your climatic conditions. But one thing to remember: when clipping, your creativity has no limits. Great patterns like stars, hearts, a crown, or any design you choose can be left ‘standing’ so the difference in hair length is visible. In our shop, you’ll find stencils from #KERBL so your design can be clipped almost flawlessly. Here you can find the stencils.
Tips and hacks for the perfect clip
• Always use sharp and clean Scissors blades to minimize skin irritation.
• Make sure your horse is clean and dry before you start clipping to avoid clogging the clipper. Otherwise, your horse might end up looking a bit ragged.
• Use enough clipper oil or cooling spray to ensure a perfect clip. This also helps keep your machine in good condition for a long time.
• Work in a well-lit area so you don’t miss any spots.
• Clip your horse slowly and evenly to achieve a clean result.
• Consider the weather forecast when planning to clip your horse to ensure it has enough time to adjust to the new situation.
• The right blanket is essential for your horse’s well-being after clipping. In our latest blog post, you’ll find all the info on how to keep your favorite warm even in winter.
Finding the right clipper isn’t easy. Do you need a cordless one or a machine with a cable? How big should the machine be and what’s the difference in weight?
Basically, cordless clippers are lighter and easier to handle for the person removing your horse’s winter coat.
In our shop, for example, you’ll find the great cordless clipper ‘Bonum’ from #AESCULAP. The wireless design makes it easy and comfortable to use for you and your horse. This clipper stands out especially because of its low weight. You’ll notice the weight especially towards the end, as the vibration and weight of the machine can become quite heavy on your hand over time.
The noise level of the machine can also make a big difference. For more sensitive horses, we recommend a machine that is as quiet as possible.
Clipping horses in autumn and winter requires care and attention, but with the right clipping techniques, tips, and the choice of suitable blankets, you can ensure your horse stays happy and healthy even in cold weather.
