Jessi's Q & A

Jessi Lohman, Manager of Equine Marketing

Q: Why should I body clip my horse?

A: If your horse is working during the winter – body clipping him will benefit both of you. When he sweats, it will take less time for him to dry and he won’t get chilled. A clipped horse also looks a lot more presentable if you plan on fox hunting or showing during the fall, winter and early spring. Make sure you have proper blankets for a body clipped horse – as they will require a lot more "man-made warmth."

Q: When is the best time to body clip?

A: By mid-October, most horses have started to grow their winter coats. Depending on how quickly your horse grows hair will determine how often you will need to body clip. Some ponies will get body clipped up to 3 times during the winter.

Q: How do I prepare my horse to be body clipped?

A: Make sure he is very clean. Clipping a dirty horse will dull your clipper blades. You will want the clippers to glide easily through the hair.

Q: What do I do if my horse doesn’t like the clippers?

A: Stuffing his ears with ears poms (or you can ball up rolled cotton) will muffle the sounds. A twitch can be used to clip the parts of his body he’s sensitive to (ears, head, legs, belly). Extremely sensitive horses may require a mild sedative administered IV in order to be clipped.

Q: What supplies will I need to clip?

1. Sturdy large Oster clippers for the body(SKU 06676380)
2. Smaller Oster clippers for the head and legs (SKU 06677014)
3. Cooling lubricant (Your clippers will get hot. When they do – spray Kool Lube on them and let them rest for a few minutes – SKU 06677010)
4. Blade cleaner for the clipper blades to be dipped in (Hair and dirt clog clippers pretty quickly – SKU 06677011)
5. Hair resistant clothes (i.e., NOT fleece or sweaters – windbreakers or raincoats work best!)

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