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| Body Clipping 101???? | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Mar 10 2007, 11:49 PM (991 Views) | |
| equusrocks | Mar 10 2007, 11:49 PM Post #1 |
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Magical Leopluridon
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I have *never* clipped a horse. Not even a trace clip. The idea of avoiding the wooly mess that the horse becomes during shedding season sounds sooo nice. Not to mention by our first show, he won't even have shed out fully anyway. Can someone/anyone tell me about body clipping? What clippers do you need (I have access to the clippers the vet uses if really needed)? When do you do it? How warm/cold should it be? I assume blanket (suddenly nekkid horse and all...)? Anything else?? |
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| barngirl | Mar 11 2007, 05:17 AM Post #2 |
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I Visited Candy Mountain and All I Got Was This Lousy Incision
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I did a weird body clipp this year.. Sort of whole body, but left his head and legs. I am about to reclipp the whole horse, but Have been putting it off a little bit longer. I bought the Andis super 2 speeds from KVVEt ($135 ) it came with the wider T84 blade. They are really wonderful.. they were recommended by the other board. They are relatively quiet and so easy to hold. i have an old injured thumb on my right hand so trying to hold the big huge clipmaster types are out of the question. Plus they are so noisey and the get hair everywhere. And since I am allergic to horses, the less flying stuff the better. THey can heat up, but i just took breaks, but i really didn't notice them getting that bad. I was really taking breaks for other reasons. But they have a pop off blade and you could always get aonther blade to pop on when that gets hot. I also liked that you could get other smaller blades, but I got an arco moser for XMAS so I really don't need to get other blades. I think for the money it is well worth it, especially if you are only doing one horse or two. They did come with a DVD which was helpful, but I wish it had gone into more detail about clipping the mane area. That is the one area I almost goofed on. Since he is a flea bitten grey it really wasn't noticeable. But I knew. I loved how clean he stayed and how his flea bits pop. I am defiantely going to be keeping my grey body clipped. He hates blankets, but he never gets enough coat to stay warm without. so clipping it is!!! Sorry to ramble, but kept thinking of things. |
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| LaBonnieBon | Mar 11 2007, 09:10 AM Post #3 |
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Thomas H. Cruise!
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Personally, unless you REALLY want to do this for some reason... it's much better and easier to pay someone to do it!! You could do it with the Andis clippers or any A5 clipper variety, but those are honestly more for dog grooming. It's best to get the Clipmaster by Oster. I think they are $250 or so now. Mine are so old that the original box still has a price tag on it that says $119!!!! I bought them before I got my first horse!! They will last forever if you take care of them. If you have never really dealt with grooming/shaving an animal before.... just realize that there is a lot more involved than it looks. Not saying it's rocket science, because it's not... |
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| equusrocks | Mar 11 2007, 09:15 AM Post #4 |
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Magical Leopluridon
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lol I used to groom cats and dogs at the clinic when I worked there. Not "professionally" Just brushing/shaving for animals that couldn't be brought to the regular groomers...(sedation needed...) Much smaller scale...but maybe just as challenging when they have claws. I just figured it would be so much nicer to start the season out without a half hairy horse. But maybe not. :lol: |
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| LaBonnieBon | Mar 11 2007, 12:36 PM Post #5 |
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Thomas H. Cruise!
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It may not be that bad for you then... but just keep in mind the size difference in the 2 animals! I have a special nylong jumpsuit I wear when I"m clipping horses... and have tape on it around my neck because I get soooo sick of the bra itchies from the hair! Seems that even a zillion washings will not get it all out! My "hairy" ones are on vacation until they shed out!!!!
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| HJ049 | Mar 12 2007, 09:34 AM Post #6 |
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Thomas H. Cruise!
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I've used the Andis ones with the T-84 Wide blade, and they worked pretty well. They are nice for 1 or 2 horses because they are much quieter and lighter, but get throught the hair pretty well. |
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| Casey1 | Mar 12 2007, 10:09 AM Post #7 |
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Magical Leopluridon
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I use the big Clipmaster clippers, but I have to agree with LaBonniebon it is MISERABLE!!!! The hair is far more coarse than I would think dog or cat hair would be. My other caution is after Dec 21 the horses start growing their summer coat, and shedding their winter one. Clipping a non gray horse after this date can effect their coat. I have clipped up to early February but I do not clip later than that, with the exception of gray horses you can clip all year round. I once had to one time clip my horse late. He stopped shedding (pituitary thing I think he was older) but his coat sucked the rest of the year. It was the mousy clip color and never got it's full shine back. I too hate shedding season but as I curry I remind myself how good currying is for the skin and how shiny my horse will be. OH and clipping will not stop the shedding it will just make the hairs more minute and more (IMO) obnoxious as they land on me. Just my opinion |
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| Delia | Mar 16 2007, 07:19 AM Post #8 |
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You're BANNED!
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Body clipping really does suck, and I suck at it! That being said, here are my tips: Invest in the Oster clipmasters if you think this is something you're going to do more than once. Also get several bottles of blade wash (liquid) and can of Cool Lube (you can get them at the tack store). Pour the blade wash into a small bucket that you will use only for that purpose ever again, b/c blade wash is a petroleum product. While you're clipping you'll need to periodically dip your blades into the blade wash (while the clippers are running) to clear them of hair. After dipping in blade wash, or any other time you feel the blades getting hot, spray with Cool Lube. Take a break and turn them off for a few minutes if they really heat up (and take that opportunity to blow your nose and spit up all the hair that you've swallowed). If your horse isn't good about having his ears/nose clipped, then more than likely you'll need to give him a cocktail to body clip. Even though mine is good about that, he still needs a cocktail because he's extremely ticklish and his skin crawls when he feels the clippers. Ace works OK but is not ideal. My vet gives me a combo of dormosedan and torbogesic (I have no idea of the spelling of either of those). It renders them pretty immobile. The keys to a decent clip job without tracks are sharp blades and a very clean horse. I've heard of people spraying their horses with Show Sheen right before clipping, but I haven't tried that. Godspeed!
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| equusrocks | Mar 16 2007, 08:10 AM Post #9 |
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Magical Leopluridon
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Thanks, I've clipped other animals before, so I'm ok with the kool lube/wash stuff. He's pretty good with clipping his face, except his ears. The only time I need dromosedan is when I clean his sheath! We'll see. I might not do it. I might try a variant of a trace clip or some such thing. How late is too late?
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| luvthehunters | Mar 16 2007, 02:31 PM Post #10 |
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Schooling
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I have clipped after February (in March) and I have never had a problem with coats growing in funky. I have clipped bays, chestnuts, a black horse, and a paint all in March before and never had problems. Maybe because I still keep them well blanketed after clipping them. |
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| pinkdiamondracing | Mar 16 2007, 04:13 PM Post #11 |
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Weanling
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I clip the horses in our racing stable each year (24) and I have found that ussing the big Clipmasters are the ONLY way to go-- with the exception of the tickle spots such as the flanks, head, and ears. I use the small Wahl stable pros for those places. I also have clipped as late as Mid-March without any coat problems-- it has been my experience that you can get away with clipping until early April. I also wear a nylon jacket and nylon pants when i clip-- really cuts down on the hair sticking to my clothes. A bandanna around the face works well for an air filter to keep hair out of mouth, etc. Good luck and Happy Clipping!!!
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| DnC | Mar 22 2007, 07:47 PM Post #12 |
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I Visited Candy Mountain and All I Got Was This Lousy Incision
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Several rules of thumb at my barn for doing body clipping. -Do yourself a favor and don't use those huge bodyclippers - they really don't do a great job, they are so heavy and get hot. -Schneider's carries a pair of Laubes that are super nice and you can exchange the cordpack for a battery pack if you want to, which is really great for doing legs and ticklish areas. Nice thing about these is that the clippers and motor itself doesn't get hot, just the blades, so if you just keep changing out blades every so often that works just fine. -Always always hot oil or cholesterol and bathe thoroughly before and after clipping. You can buy either one in most beauty stores (like Sally Beauty Supply) and even some drug stores. It will help bring the horse's color back and they will be much easier to clip, not to mention it leaves them absolutely shimmering. I know a lot of people say to use Show Sheen and other silicone based products but I think cholesterol works better and is not drying to the hair. -If you put lights on them and keep them blanketed (and ideally, have them wear sleazies too, the Schneiders ones work best for ours but YMMV) they should grow back decently and not too soon. -If you're just pleasure riding him or won't be showing for awhile, you may not even need to do their ears - ours are showing as early as January so their ears are always clipped. But no reason to do it if you're at home or won't be showing for awhile, though it will look kinda silly! -You can clip at any temperature really but if you think he's getting cold you can throw a cooler over whatever section you're not working on. |
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| equusrocks | Mar 22 2007, 08:34 PM Post #13 |
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Magical Leopluridon
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Thanks guys. I think I'm going to store this info for next year. I saw our trainer today and she said if I planned on going to the first show of the year, it would be a bad idea. (She mentioned something about him having started to shed too much already, and his summer coat being too nice to risk this close to the show...which I didn't realize was so soon... )He's turned out a lot so I usually just "close" his ears and clip what sticks out. He has incredible bug allergies and won't keep a flymask on. Thanks again.
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| Jess | Mar 28 2007, 10:36 AM Post #14 |
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Weanling
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This year I clipped several horses while they were wet. I wouldn't clip a dry horse again. For whatever reason, you don't get lines doing it this method. Also, the blades seem to stay cooler for longer. And possibly the best part about clipping wet is you don't get hair all over you. It stays wet, and falls to the floor. Good luck with the clipping! |
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| ponymom64 | Mar 29 2007, 10:32 AM Post #15 |
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Shunnnnn the unbeliever. Shunnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn.
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I clip all year round and have never had a problem with the coats not looking good. If I'm clipping for a show - I usually try to do it a few weeks before, so that the color has a chance to develop and any lines will fill in. |
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We'll see. I might not do it. I might try a variant of a trace clip or some such thing.

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7:35 AM Jul 11