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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 371
 
| My mare's coat is pretty long around her cinch/belly area, which is fine except for the days she does more work. She gets sweaty pretty easily then takes about an hour to dry, the cooler really doesn't cover her belly. And with how cold it usually is here (other than this unusually warm week) I don't want her standing around with wet hair.
Has anyone ever tried body clipping? I was thinking either a Trace Clip or an Irish Clip.
I know most people use a #10 blade which leaves the hair 1/16" but I'd probably use a #5 (1/4"). Normally her legs get shaved with a #7
Lol any tips for body clipping??? I'm a dog groomer so it can't be much different?  |
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 Veteran
Posts: 222
Location: Texas | A trace clip would work really well. Use tape to mark off your lines or it won't be even. I like to wear long sleeve and pant windbreaker material outfit with a hood or I am itching like crazy half way through. You want to wear something that sheds the hair. Make sure your blades are new or very sharp. Have a cooling lubricant, blade wash, treats, and go to town! If it's possible ( depends on where you are) I wash the horse one day before. Clean hair clips easier and just after I'm done so they are not itchy. But a good brush job would work too. Since your groom it will be easy! |
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Hungarian Midget Woman
 
Location: Midwest | I used a strip clip. It worked well back when I actually rode hard in the winter, lol  |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 371
| A strip clip might work! I'd just worry that the cinch hair would still get caught :\ Maybe just come up higher in that area? |
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 Expert
Posts: 2097
Location: Deep South | I just had to share this since you're talking about body clipping and I thought it was pretty much awesome. :)
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 371
| BamaCanChaser - 2014-01-17 12:52 PM
I just had to share this since you're talking about body clipping and I thought it was pretty much awesome. :)
I would kill to have my mare clipped like that!!!!!! |
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 Duck Duck Goose
Posts: 1280
Location: Ohio | I trace clip mine every year when I start conditioning. The first few times can be aggravating but it gets easier.
Don't drive yourself crazy trying to get the lines perfect. I usually clip one day and then go back the next day and clean it up a little. Even if it's not perfect, you will probably be the only one who notices. Good luck! |
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 The Rose of Rodeo...
Posts: 2560
Location: Where we still run to look when the siren goes by. | What kind of clippers do you use? |
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  Ms. Manners
Posts: 1820
Location: Oklahoma | I use body clippers since they don't get as hot as quick. If you have cordless clippers, I highly recommend getting the attachment that allows you to plug them in - the blade will go at a higher rpm and stay cooler longer. I would also recommened a 5 blade, since a 10 can cut it too short in places. You can always go shorter if need be. Additionally, some Cowboy Magic or other shine spray will help the girth glide better over the shortened hairs. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 927
Location: Iowa | Does anyone clip then blanket in early spring?
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 Best of the Badlands
Location: You never know where I will show up...... | memory - 2014-01-18 9:41 PM Does anyone clip then blanket in early spring?
I usually do, on the ones I am hauling.
It's easier to cool them out when I have to go run in heated barns and when the days get warmer. Plus it's easier to keep them clean if I clip and blanket them.
I usually clip them around March 1st but I'm in SD and most of the time they're just starting to shed by then.
Last year I kept my 2 open horses under lights all winter so they just didn't grow any winter hair. That was nice but it was a lot of work. They have been turned out all winter so far so they are hair balls this year. |
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 I hate cooking and cleaning
Posts: 3314
Location: Jersey Girl | Good information here. This is the first year I haven't blanketed in 4 or 5 years and I am also planning to body clip. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 371
| Definitely good information here! :) I use my Andis 2speed dog clippers, they work great to shave her legs & mane (keep her tendons shaved because of linements & she has a roached mane). |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 927
Location: Iowa | I didn't want to blanket all year this year so I too have furry horses. I'll start riding in Febuary and have always wanted to clip but chicken I would make a mess out of it.
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 974
Location: USA | I tried body clipping my horse one year and the clippers broke when I was trying to "clean up" the body clip. I was only able to get one side clipped before they pooped out on me. She looked terrible! Thankfully it was south Louisiana and we don't really have a winter down there, but you wouldn't know that from my horses coat! |
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Duck Duck Goose
Posts: 1280
Location: Ohio | Just take your time and don't overthink it. When you try to get it "perfect" is when you end up messing up and taking more than you need to. I notice all of my imprefections, but no one does. Honestly, by the time I start hauling, he is generally starting to shed anyway so it's not that big of a deal. Plus, when you're at a barrel race, you are generally saddled to even less opportunity for mistakes to be seen lol. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 832
Location: Kansas (but Great Lakes member since 1978) | I use to body clip and heavily blanket my horse because I would haul to all the World's Toughest events and it was heated pretty warm back then. It would pretty much take me all day but I worked slow and kept cleaning my blades in a can of cleaner. If you start with a clean horse it will go a lot better and you'll get a much more even job when you are done. I did her whole body because she would allow it but if you aren't planning on blanketing I wouldn't do that. I would take her to a heated wash rack and get her squeaky clean and dry her and then haul her home and start the clipping. Start by doing the lowest parts first so the hair you are clipping doesn't just fall on what you still need to clip. Sharp blades, clean horse and patience. I don't clip anything now and don't have a problem with hair catching in my chinch… I cinch up and then stretch the front legs enough to allow the hair to pull through and have never had a problem. I use mohair now but have used neoprene in the past so it works for anything. Just be sure your horse will allow you to clip before you start… it tickles them… run your clippers with no blades on them first and rub it over them…. get them adjusted before you "make tracks" with blades. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 371
| Lol I love hearing all the clipping stories! :) It went pretty well. Can definitely see where I started getting the hang of it and where I didn't lol. #5 reverse seemed to be the best!
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