Advanced Grooming: Clipping

If you're riding through the winter you may need to clip your horse. Why?

• to allow the horse to continue working without distress caused by excessive heat or sweating.
  
• the horse will cool and dry off more quickly after work. Helps prevent chills and saves walking time :)
  
• easier to keep a clipped horse clean; therefore easier to quickly discover any signs of heat, swelling, etc.
  

So you've decided to clip your horse (probably right after walking for over an hour after a lesson). What clip will you choose?

• Full clip: all the hair is removed. Looks very impressive when well done. Horse must be stabled and blanketed. Used for fit horses in regular work.
  
• Trace clip: hair is clipped under the neck and straight across from the point of the shoulder. Hair is left on the legs. Some leave the hair all the way up the hind legs and end the clip at the flanks. This horse may not need a blanket.
  
• Blanket clip: hair is left on the legs and in a quarter-sheet shape over the back and hind-quarters. This is for a stabled horse who feels the cold.
  
• Chaser clip: a variation of the blanket clip and used for the same reason.
  
• Strip clip: this is the most minimal clip -- the equine equivalent of unzipping your jacket. A horse with this clip may not need a blanket.
  
• Hunter clip: so called because is often used on field-hunters. Hair is left to protect the saddle are and the legs. A horse with this clip should be blanketed.

There are, of course, variations of all of the above. A particular favourite is the "I wish I were somewhere warm clip":



When clipping some important things:

• make sure the horse has been exposed to clippers and is ok with the noise first!
  
• clippers must be clean, sharp, and working correctly
  
• make sure there is a circuit breaker where the clippers are plugged in -- rubber soled shoes are also a good "just-in-case" idea.
  
• you will be covered in hair by the end of this so wear appropriate clothing.
  
• draw the clip on the horse (chalk, saddle soap, bright lipstick -- all possible options for drawing materials :)
  
• turn on the clippers and let them run for a few mins.
  
• clip against the direction of the hair (when the hair changes direction, so must the clippers!)
  
• it's a good idea to start at the shoulder as its less sensitive, less scary for the horse, and farther out of range of the hindlegs.
  
• long smooth strokes
  
• use your other hand to smooth the horse's skin so you don't pinch him
  
• when doing around the elbow, it's helpful to have somebody hold the leg forward.
  
• every 15 mins or so test the flat blade against the back of your hand -- if it's hot, you could burn your horse. Turn the clippers off for a few minutes (lots of cooling solutions available to accelerate this process). This is also a good time to clean and oil the blades.
  
• when you are done make sure to blanket the horse!
  
• clean your clippers before you put them away.