Interesting facts about horse clipping

General information and material recommendations

Why do I clip my horse?

The horse dries faster after riding and therefore doesn't catch colds as easily
The shorter coat is easier to keep clean
The horse does not sweat when it is in a warm stable
The horse does not overheat as quickly when riding and is therefore more willing to perform

Some issues when you should consider clipping the horse:

The horse is ridden regularly - at least 3 times a week - and is soaked with sweat after riding
The horse's coat takes a long time to dry again (at least 20 minutes)
The horse is already sweating in the stable because the winter coat is too thick for the warm stable
The horse starts to sweat even under low loads, e.g. when riding at a walk, and it gets tired very quickly
The horse gets a very long, thick winter coat and can no longer be groomed properly. It dries very slowly once it has become wet with sweat.

If one of these issues applies, it makes sense to clip or partially clip the horse.

Prepare the clipping

Schedule at least 2 hours
Find a favourable time for clipping - e.g. during a quiet period and in a quiet place, then the horse is calm and relaxed
Clean the horse before clipping - dirt and sand can damage the clipper and quickly dull the blades
When clipping with cable clippers - secure the cable! The combination of horseshoes and electricity can be dangerous for the horse

Safe and relaxed clipping

The horse should be clean and dry for clipping and be used to contact with the clipper
Always clip in even, long strips against the direction of coat growth
The paths should overlap by at least one centimetre, otherwise edges will remain; remaining fur strips and patches can be removed in a second pass
Change the angle of the clipper for heavy sections
During clipping, the clipper blades should always be oiled and the loose hair brushed off the horse.
This makes the work much easier.