4 Tips to Make Clipping Your Horse Easier

By: Ambassador Elizabeth Noelk
I remember the first time I clipped a horse. I was in high school and worked part time at the barn where I rode. One weekend I was helping prepare the horses for a local horse show. I was just cleaning up their muzzles and ears. As I went to clip the edge of a horse ear, the horse moved and I took a patch off the top. It was more than noticeable. All I could think was, “Oh snap.” Over four years later, I now clip horses throughout the week during the winter months. Yes, there are “winter months” even in Florida.

I decide to learn to clip for a couple of reasons. The main reason was to save money. If I could clip my own horse, then I didn’t have to pay someone. And then, I happened to fall into a full-time gig of clipping horses at Grey Cedar Farm. It’s been helping keep my Horse Show Jar full.

I have found that the benefits of knowing how to clip a horse are endless. Here are a couple of things I have learned along the way:

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1. Make sure the first horse you clip is not going off property anytime soon.
   Clipping is about trial and error. So always make sure you start with a schooling horse or a retired horse. Just make sure that it’s a horse that no one will look at for a solid month. You know, just in case everything turns out awful. This way you won’t have to find a new barn.
2. Make sure you give the horse you are about to clip an epic bath.
   Make that ‘before clip’ bath a legend. The cleaner the coat of the horse, the easier the clip. A clean coat will also make the clip come out even. If you’re clippers are getting caught on mud and sweat every inch, a lot more lines appear.
3. Always bring extra blades, plenty of oil, and two pairs of clippers.
   I clip with two different types of clippers. The blades are the same length, but the actual strength of the clippers is different. My smaller pair (Andis AGC Super 2 Speed) is good for the legs and face since they have more angles. I used to do full body clips with them, but it would take forever. My larger pair (Oster Clip Master) easily clips away the heavier coat on the body.  
   
4. Designate certain clothes just for clipping.
   You will get horse hair everywhere. I mean EVERYWHERE. Oh, and it doesn’t always come out super easy in the wash. Trust me.
   

After you start clipping, you will learn what works best for you. The articles below should help answer any remaining questions. Good luck and happy clipping!

• https://www.horsejournals.com/horsec-clipping-101
• http://blog.smartpakequine.com/2011/02/body-clipping-101/