Clipping your horse for autumn

Once your horse’s thick winter coat has arrived, they are more likely to sweat when exercised and take longer to dry off. Clipping not only reduces sweating, but also enables them to dry off more quickly and avoid chills.

Whether you plan to clip yourself or leave it to an expert, which clip should you choose – and how do you prepare your horse?

The first thing is to consider the type of work you are doing with your horse and whether they are living in or out.

Follow the rule that you should only take off what you need to. For example, it’s not advisable to fully clip a horse that is going to be living out all year round and is only in light work. Remember, the more hair you clip off, the more rugs and feed your horse will require to keep warm through the coldest months.

The best time to clip your horse is when their winter coat is coming through and they start getting sweaty during exercise.

Being clipped can take a little getting used to, so it’s important to prepare young horses or those who haven’t been clipped before, to make sure they have a positive experience.

Don’t expect to turn the clippers on and get straight to work. Give your horse time to get used to the vibration, sound and sensation before clipping.

• Practise with an electric toothbrush or trimmer. You can start by holding it in one hand while you’re grooming so your horse gets used to the sound, then the vibration.
• Place your hand on your horse’s neck or shoulder, then place the clippers on top of your hand. Now switch them on.
• Start with quieter clippers that have a smaller motor. Lighter cordless clippers are often quieter and easier to handle.
• Stand your young or inexperienced horse next to a horse that is good to clip while you clip them.
• When you start clipping, go with the direction of hair growth (the direction they are used to being brushed in) before you start clipping against the direction of the hair.

If your horse is particularly worried, speak to your vet who may prescribe a very small amount of oral sedative.

If clipping a ticklish or sensitive horse, use long strokes and make sure the clippers are lying flat against their skin. Avoid going in at an angle because the clipper teeth will come into contact with the horse, which can irritate them.

When clipping a nervous horse, start off with a small clip, like a bib clip, and use a quiet set of clippers if you can. There are lots of cordless clippers available that are quieter than stronger mains-powered ones. Always have someone with you to help you calm the horse if they are nervous.

There are a number of different clips to choose from, each removing a different amount of hair to suit different workloads – the higher the workload, the more hair should be removed and vice versa.

Workload: Heavy
What it involves: All hair is removed with a full clip, including the legs, head and ears. Ideally suited to horses in hard work, it enables horses that get hot and sweaty to dry out quicker, minimising sweating. You will need to use more rugs on a fully clipped horse during the cold winter months to ensure they don’t get cold. Horses with full clips are also more prone to rain scald and mud fever due to the lack of natural protection.

Workload: Heavy
What it involves: Another clip for horses in heavy work, the hunter clip removes all hair except for the front of the head, legs and a saddle patch to help protect the back from the saddle. The idea of leaving the leg hair on is to offer protection from mud and water.

Workload: Medium
What it involves: This clip is similar to a hunter clip, but the hair is left on where an exercise sheet would be, to protect the horse’s back. This is a good choice for horses in medium work that are prone to sweating and are turned out regularly.

Workload: Medium
What it involves: Very similar to a blanket clip, a chaser clip leaves the hair on the top of the neck to offer an extra layer of protection on the neck. It is suited to horses in medium work who are also turned out for long periods.

Workload: Light to medium
What it involves: This clip is very similar to the chaser clip, but only half of the neck coat is removed. With a trace clip, hair is removed from the underside of the belly, as well as the chest and neck, but left on the legs and head. It is ideal for horses in a medium amount of work that spend a lot of time living out.

Workload: Light to medium
What it involves: Ideally suited to young horses and those in light work, the Irish clip is a quick and easy option. Only removing hair from the neck and behind the elbows – where horses are susceptible to sweating the most – the Irish clip leaves plenty of coat on for warmth.

Workload: Light
What it involves: With a bib clip, only the hair from under the neck and chest is removed. You can also continue the clip under the belly to where the girth sits if your horse is prone to getting sweaty. Perfect for horses in light work, this is also a great option for horses who are turned out a lot or living out full-time.

Clipping a horse with a dirty, oily coat will make it difficult for the clipper blades to glide through the hair. If possible, bathe the horse a day or two before so they are clean and dry. If you can’t bathe your horse, a good groom is essential to remove any loose mud and dirt, since grit can blunt blades. Make sure your horse is thoroughly dry, too, as the blades won’t run through a damp coat.

When it comes to the mane and tail, bandage the tail and loosely plait the mane over on one side or brush it over with a damp sponge.

Some horses are sensitive to clipper oil and will come out in a raised rash all over the body, which can be very itchy. Doing a small patch-test a few days before you intend to clip your horse will check that they aren’t going to react. If your horse does react to the clipper oil, remove it from their skin with a gentle, diluted shampoo and dry it off. Then try again with another brand of oil.

After clipping, it’s advisable to give your horse a hot-cloth with a tiny bit of diluted no-rinse shampoo to loosen any final grease and hair.

1. Tie your horse securely in a secure, quiet area and wait until they are settled
2. Get your clippers serviced regularly
3. Wear overalls (hair will get everywhere!) and a sturdy pair of boots – and a hat is also advised in case the horse kicks out.

If you or your horse are not overly confident or are new to the clipping process, don’t be afraid to use a professional clipping service instead.