Getting ready for clipping
"Marking out the pitch!"

This is where the “artist” in you comes to the fore! Tape measures, rods and rulers, set squares, white marking chalk, (great on a grey - we are lost already!) Masking tape - that will get your horse going when you come to remove it! Everybody has his or her method! Just select the one, which works for you.

Getting your “line” right is never one of the easiest tasks, I well recall problems with clipping out show sheep which is a good deal more difficult than horses! A good eye is a huge advantage, as is the help of a "reliable" friend to take the "long" view. Someone who can stand back and advise whilst able to see both side of the animal will greatly help you balance your sidelines. With a dark coated animal the dressmakers white chalks can prove a useful aid, and I understand a bar of "damp" saddle soap or lipstick works pretty well also.

Stupid as it may seem whilst you are concentrating with the business of "marking out," do check regularly the horse has all four feet on the ground and one is not gently resting, (they are remarkable good at the three legged stance!) Also make sure the horse is standing on level ground and not on some “down hill slope!” Failure to observe such matters can result in a "soul destroying" result! A horse advertising wonderful angled lines does little for ones confidence! Lines can be very awkward and even some fairly experienced people have difficulty, It is often a frustrating business, but the reward is great when it does go right - so stick at it!

No two horses are the same shape and some horses and ponies need someone who has the ability to be able to see the lines and proportions of the animal. If you watch your animals and study their shape and movement you will in time see these lines present themselves. More difficult are those creatures with poor breed conformation or due to lack of condition are "mean" shaped. Equally the "over weight" can throw you. For the novice such creatures are best left to an expert with previous experience. However do watch and learn how they set about the problem. Seek their advice whilst you have an “expert” to hand so that in the future you too can cope with such candidates.

There are a number of tricks, which can be learnt from a good teacher and perfected with practice. Practice, as in so many things is vital if you are to achieve a degree of perfection!

Start by practising clipping the edges and various body line on those parts of the body which are intended to be fully clipped out, then if you do get a few "wavy" lines it won't matter.

When clipping lines it is essential that you have a good sharp set of blades. Clipping lines with dull or blunt blades is no good. Make sure the blades are well lubricated and clean before you do the final run over the lines and ensure you have got all the hair laying in the same direction. Use a brush to make sure of this.

Clipping legs may cause a debate as to the pros and cons. There are arguments both for and against. Factors to consider are:-

Hair off - less protection against minor cuts, wet and cold. If the hair is on, then minor cuts may not be so easy to spot. Thorns and similar nasties can get missed, and infection may be well established before you realise the cause. Heat loss could be a problem for some horses, so bandages may be necessary.

Some natives can sport a set of really “hairy” legs with lots of “feathers” which make drying difficult. However, before you opt for an “all off” policy if your native is registered just check out breed class showing requirements with your appropriate Society. Most stipulate an “in natural state with feathers” and if you present yours “shorn bare” you may have rather reduced your chances of being placed or better still winning.

Mud Fever, which seems to plague many horses, may cause your vet to recommend the clipping of legs. Clearly follow the advice given by your vet. Mud fever can develop into a serious infection, which will result in lameness and considerable pain and distress for your horse. Altogether very unpleasant, nevertheless a subject worth researching so that you are aware of the problems.

The expression “hogged manes” means manes, which have been clipped off - done for a variety of reasons - polo ponies always take part in matches with their manes “hogged.” This is to prevent the reins from becoming tangled in the mane during the fast manoeuvres performed on the polo fields. Manes get into tangles with great easy, and few horse or ponies get a thrill out of you trying to sort out the mess! “Hogging” will improve the looks and appearance especially of old dears or those sporting a weedy, partly chewed or rubbed mane

The bulk of the mane can be removed with sharp scissors, (try not your best nail scissors it really does not improve them!) then the rest can be clipped off with the clippers. I know a few folk who do a great job on polo ponies using a size #40 narrow dog grooming/surgical blade! - Incidentally these blades will not fit the traditional sized clippers (Lister/Wolseley/Heiniger etc) and are best suited to those machine which use “detachable” blades - (Andis/Laube/Moser/Oster/Wahl)

Hand clippers (hard work!) or really quiet clippers are essential with the nervous horse.

Manes which are clipped need further clipping generally on a 14 day basis to ensure they are kept short. The Forelock nature put there for a reason, - for protection of the eyes and something to flick at menacing flies in summer so don’t leave your horse naked and vulnerable to plagues of summer flies.

Lastly the ever nasty “Sweet itch” which brings such misery to many horses. Be extra careful, gentle, understanding, and sympathetic to those poor horses, which suffer this complaint especially when clipping. Clipping can be really very painful, as areas of the skin can be very sore. Don’t use excessive amounts of blade dip or clipper oils as these can in some cases aggravate the situation. Again as with Mud fever try to learn as much as you can about the subject so as to adequately cope with the problem

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