by Claire Pelton

Created on: April 17, 2009   Last Updated: June 25, 2009

Line Free Body Clipping for the Backyard Horse

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

- Quality clippers that have interchangeable blades

- At least two size 10 blades

- Spray lubricant

- Blade cleaner

- Show Sheen

- Medium to stiff brush

One of the most blatant signs of an amateur groom in the show ring is a bad clip job. Horrendous lines and chunks do no justice for the animal's coat and is a quick way to ruin any progress in your yearlong grooming efforts.

There is no way to avoid hair growth in the wintertime for those outside, backyard horses. Unless a strict indoor stall and lighting schedule is used to "fake out" your horse's biological lock into thinking daylight is still long like the summer, chances are you will end up with a wooly mammoth as soon as daylight savings hits.

Don't let your fear of body clipping prevent you from hitting some shows during winter months. If you have adequate time to devote to blanketing and making sure your horse can stay warm after clipping his coat, a clean body clip will be your best option for showing your horse.

PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE

A dry, unkempt coat that never gets proper attention will not clip well or look good once the hair is short. Make sure to maintain a good grooming schedule to keep the hair in its best condition.

PROPER EQUIPMENT

A $15 set of clippers purchased at your local drug store is not going to be adequate. At best this type of clippers are good for quick touch ups on whiskers. Invest in a good set of powerful clippers that have interchangeable blades, and then purchase a few fresh blades to swap out when the clipping gets going.

The best size blade to use a 10.This size allows enough hair to remain, but still cuts it quite close. Wider size blades exist as well if you think you need to keep more hair on your horse's body. These are harder to find at local feed stores, but should be available online. The most common size is an 8. Chestnut, Bay and Black horses benefit from blades like an 8 because it keeps more of the original color in tact.

A good, expensive set of clippers and blades are only as good as the user, or the care taken to maintain them. Invest in good blade cleaner and spray lube.

CLIPPING PREPARATION

Like a surgeon scrubs in and prepares the surgical sight before cutting, you MUST properly prepare your horse's coat before clipping. The clipper blade's worst enemy is dirt. This will immediately dull any blade.

Before even starting the clipping process, make sure your chosen location is well lit, safe and can be easily

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