Infographic: Horse Clipping 101

By Joanne Verikios with Tom Melby

The wonderful folk at Clippers Ireland really care about the results their customers get when using the clippers they sell for dogs, horses, sheep and cattle. So much so that owner and director of online retailer Clippers Ireland, Tom Melby, has created an excellent easy-to-follow infographic on Horse Clipping 101.

For some horse owners, clipping is an essential activity, but one which takes a little time and practice to master. Of course, having the right tools for the job and knowing:

• how to use them;
• what size clippers and blades to use on what parts of the body; and
  
• how to look after your equipment both during and after the clip
  

makes every clipping job so much easier (and so much more comfortable for your horse)!

According to Tom, depending on the personality, experience and activity of your horse, clipping can be straightforward or tricky. A young, nervous horse is likely to be apprehensive about being clipped, so the procedure for them will differ from clipping a seasoned competition horse.

"Clipping benefits your horse for health reasons as well as visual embellishment", says Tom. "While the horse will look resplendent after clipping, this activity is even more relevant for removing fleas or dirt from the horse’s coat while also helping it to dry quicker. In winter months when the risk of colds or colic are heightened, a suitable coat or rug can be quite timely.".

Tom also notes that some areas of a horse will be more difficult to clip, even on horses that are relaxed. The inside, back and bottom of the ears tend to be the trickiest parts, and it’s important to hold the ear correctly for best results. If you’re clipping the horse’s elbows, try to have someone with you who can pull the front leg forward from behind the knee, and be very careful here as the skin is often at its thinnest around the elbows.

For further advice on how to give your horse a neat, comfortable clip, read the infographic below from Clippers Ireland.

Infographic Clipping 101 by Clippers Ireland

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EXPERT CLIPPING TIP 1:  As it says in the infographic, a horse to be clipped must be very clean and his or her coat must be totally dry, so plan ahead and allow plenty of time.  Have a suitable rug ready to compensate for the loss of the horse's natural insulation.

EXPERT CLIPPING TIP 2:  Unless you have done it before, I recommend that you ask an experienced person to clip your horse for you, while you watch, assist and LEARN.

EXPERT CLIPPING TIP 3:  Once you have finished clipping against the lie of the hair to get the right length, you can then clip with the hair to get rid of any clip marks, often using a finer blade for the second pass.

EXPERT CLIPPING TIP 4:  If you don't have baby wipes, use a cloth moistened with olive oil to get rid of those prickly little post-clip bristles.

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Further reading: Manes, Beards & Whiskers: To Trim Or Not To Trim