Should You Clip Your Horse?© Lori Hall-McNary
Mar 21, 1999
March 21st proclaimed spring but your horse's slightly shedding shaggy coat still looks like the dregs of winter. Should you continue brushing the fur ball for hours or take the plunge and body clip him? You may reason show season starts next month and a body clipped horse takes less time to groom leaving more time to ride and tune.
Laurel Monreal, a gymkhana competitor, decided to body clip her Justin Morgan thick, shaggy coat for health reasons. Her gymkhana/trail horse was over-heating in the hot California sun. Laurel had sheared many a sheep and other livestock in her day, but never a horse.
She was smart and elicited help from a professional breeder of Justin Morgans who had clipped hundreds of horses through the years. Still, it took the two of them over three hours using heavy-duty clippers. A trashcan later the bay gelding was definitely a horse of a different color. The Morgan looked like a brown gruella and is still changing color as the days lengthen.
Laurel cautions, "You have to clip before the horse starts shedding or you will be clipping off the new hair along with the old. And don't forget after a horse's shaved he'll need extra protection from the elements such as a cooler or warm blanket."
Depending where you reside and your chosen discipline, you may not want to clip your horse's entire body. Instead try a trace clip.
A trace is a partial clip where the horse sweats the most, such as belly and neck. A blanket clips is more dramatic. You'd shave off all the hair except on the back and loins where a rectangle blanket would sit. Some times the horse's legs are trimmed but not shaved.
If you decide to clip seek professional help and buy the best pairs of clippers you can afford. You don't want to end up with a half-shaved horse because your clippers were not up to the task. Oster (1-800-887-6682) and Wahl are probably the most widely recognized brand of clippers but there are others lesser known brand names that are just as good such as Lister (distributed by Premier 1-800-282-6631), Andis , Double K Industries (1-800-821-9449).
Ask your local trainer for a recommendation on clippers or read the article Choose the Right Clippers in the December issue of EQUUS.
With the warming days of Spring ahead think seriously about the pros and cons of clipping of trimming your horse's hairy feathers-what do you have to loose except a few pounds of winter hair?
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