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I
haven't clipped before, but have bought a machine to
clip my horse with, where do I start?
If you have no experience
of clipping, it would be advisable to ask someone who
is experienced to show you how to clip. Your horse will
appreciate it and you won't end up in a panic if things
go wrong. Ask them to use your machine on your horse
and watch. When you feel confident, and hopefully your
horse is relaxed, take the clippers and start in an
accessible and large part of the body, we normally suggested
the shoulder area. It can be a rather daunting experience
for the first timer, but, like all things, practice
makes perfect, and no amount of reading from a book
will teach you, it has to be hands on! Some people actually
enjoy clipping and find it very therapeutic watching
all the hair falling away with each stroke of the clipper.
Clipping can be dangerous
for both handler and horse, especially if an electric
clipper is being used. When you are dealing with electricity
around animals, extra care must be taken. If your horse
is reacting badly to the noise or feel of the clippers
it is best to turn off and re-assess. If your horse
is a quiet amenable animal and is prepared to stand
still, you will quickly get the hang of clipping and
will probably be able to manage on your own after a
few sessions. In most cases, it is advisable to have
someone prepared to stand and hold the horse for you,
lift a leg when required and generally be around to
help.
So, is there anything
else I need to know before I get started?
A little preparation
beforehand will ensure the job gets done quickly and
efficiently. You should make sure your horse is as clean
as possible, if you try to clip a dirty horse your blades
will go blunt within minutes. Check the clippers over
as discussed before and make sure you have a spare set
of blades to hand, which are exactly the same as you
are using. If you have to change blades over mid clip
you don't want any obvious marks.
It is also advisable
to clip on a mild day, it is obviously kinder than on
a cold day, unless you are fortunate to have indoor
heated stabling, when of course, you can clip anytime!
Never be rushed, allow
twice as long as you anticipate, just in case you hit
a technical or equine hitch, and make sure your helper
is prepared to be around for several hours!
It goes without saying,
don't try to clip when it is raining, or let your lead
dangle in puddles, it has been know and luckily both
horse and owner lived to tell the tale.
It is preferable to
clip indoors in a well lit stable with a non-slip floor,
but outside is acceptable if it is fairly sheltered
and has a solid floor. There is nothing worse than trying
to clip outside with a gale blowing and hair flying
everywhere.
Ensure that the clipping
area is free from obstacles such as haynets, water buckets,
wheelbarrows etc.
Avoid using extension
leads if possible, but if unavoidable remember to unwind
all the cable from the reel. Excess cable should be
kept well away from the clipping area. All leads should
be kept off the floor and sockets should be positioned
high on the wall for safety. It is also essential to
have a circuit breaker fitted.
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