Clipping faces and ears

[grandprixer]

Hello all. I have mentioned before that I clip a ton of horses for money, but I am definitely not a pro at it, just have a talent for getting minimal lines.

The question is - not all horses are cooperative about the face and ears being clipped. Besides a twitch and drugs, what can I do to get a nice clip there? Head throwing and tantrums do not equal smooth clips. I have a small, light, quiet, cordless shaver that I use, but how do I control the head and ears on unruly horses to get a nice clip?

[SuzieQNutter]

I would say twitching or sedation. The owners should be training them but that would be in a perfect world.

It is not about getting perfect lines. It is about you not being injured.

[DMK]

if you figure out how to get a nice clip job on a rapidly moving object that goes in unpredictable directions, be sure to let us know!

But as for good clip jobs on the head, cordless quiet clippers, good training, and if that fails, good drugs. And if that fails (btdt) good drugs plus twitching. (in short, nothing you didn’t already know)

[cgray0983]

As an owner who does have a horse that is genuinely terrified of having his ears clipped (he’s super sensitive and has always been weird about his ears), I prefer he get sedated. He is a jumper so we haven’t done it in a while and just throw a bonnet on his head, but if it’s necessary, go with the drugs, its not worth you or the horse getting hurt. If owner isn’t cooperative about it, then unfortunately, I feel like your safety is more important.

[Vyce]

Warwick Schiller has a video up on YouTube about this. I’d link it but I’m on my phone.

[Small_Change]

I find the biggest help is to ask the owners what works on the horse. I’ve clipped some who just need a threat of sorts (the owner putting the chain shank on, for example), but I would have thought they’d need to be mostly asleep in order to get close to their ears. Also tell the owner up front that you will not put yourself in the position of getting hurt. Don’t try to clip one that is losing it’s noodle - all you will do is give it a bad experience, possibly get hurt, and reinforce that clipping of heads and ears is an awful experience. If the owner is comfortable holding a twitch, ask them to help, but if they’re not used to it, recognize that it can make the situation worse. You can try a hands-free twitch or a piece of twine instead. Go slow, stay calm, try a few tricks, but don’t try to force anything. You’re not there to train.

If they do sedate the horse for you, go clip the head (and flanks, for that matter) as soon as you’re safely able to do so. Some will sweat badly with sedation, and then you won’t be able to do a nice job up around the ears even if the horse is rock solid still.

[GoodTimes]

I agree with the above posters. My only other suggestion is ear stuffies. Some just don’t like the noise up close like that.

[2DogsFarm]

I’m far from a great clipper, but for my Harum Scarum Hackney Pony, what worked was to use clippers reversed < blades facing out & run clippers on his face/ears so not actually clipping, but got him accustomed to the noise & vibration.

Eventually about every 3rd or 4th pass, I’d actually clip. Then back to faux-clipping.
Wash, rinse, repeat along with copious treats & now I can trim the grandpa hair from his ears & jaw.
But he’s at home, I clip rarely.

For paying clients who fail to mention Pookie doesn’t “do” faceclips, agree you can & should enlist their help or try the 1-handed twitch.
As twitching adds time since you need to release the pressure every so often, price accordingly.

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[ladyj79]

Drugs are great for some but honestly what I’ve found worked best for my stupidest horses was lots of time, which just doesn’t work when you’re just hired to clip a horse. In that case, drugs.

[grandprixer]

@ladyj79

Drugs are great for some but honestly what I’ve found worked best for my stupidest horses was lots of time, which just doesn’t work when you’re just hired to clip a horse. In that case, drugs.

What kind of drugs are accessible enough for that kind of use? I have ace and have done 100+ IM injections and quite a few IV, but not anything else and ace is quite mild. It’s never been enough for me.

[limptoad]

@grandprixer

What kind of drugs are accessible enough for that kind of use? I have ace and have done 100+ IM injections and quite a few IV, but not anything else and ace is quite mild. It’s never been enough for me.

You don’t do it yourself, major liability issues there. Most pro clippers I know make the owner (or a representative for the owner) provide and administer the drug. Many will say upfront please have sedation available with someone to administer if needed.

[grandprixer]

@limptoad

You don’t do it yourself, major liability issues there. Most pro clippers I know make the owner (or a representative for the owner) provide and administer the drug. Many will say upfront please have sedation available with someone to administer if needed.

Gotcha, thanks.

[phoenixrises]

@limptoad

You don’t do it yourself, major liability issues there. Most pro clippers I know make the owner (or a representative for the owner) provide and administer the drug. Many will say upfront please have sedation available with someone to administer if needed.

That. But I know as an owner I always keep a tube of dormosedan gel handy. I never know when I’m going to need it.

[grandprixer]

@phoenixrises

That. But I know as an owner I always keep a tube of dormosedan gel handy. I never know when I’m going to need it.

You’d think most people would have SOMETHING. Even at a full service and supervised barn, I have ace, bute, banamine, etc and methods of administration as a back up to the barn supply. It blows my mind when people don’t at least have something. Sheesh.

(although if all owners were perfect, I guess this thread wouldn’t exist because all horses would be used to it… we all have some faults!)

[phoenixrises]

@grandprixer

You’d think most people would have SOMETHING. Even at a full service and supervised barn, I have ace, bute, banamine, etc and methods of administration as a back up to the barn supply. It blows my mind when people don’t at least have something. Sheesh.

(although if all owners were perfect, I guess this thread wouldn’t exist because all horses would be used to it… we all have some faults!)

I will say not all vets wil let owners have them. I guess I’m lucky but I’ve heard of vets refusing that stuff. They want to be called each time.

[grandprixer]

@phoenixrises

I will say not all vets wil let owners have them. I guess I’m lucky but I’ve heard of vets refusing that stuff. They want to be called each time.

Really!? I’ve never heard of that… I guess that’s a good excuse then!

[ladyj79]

Yes, I don’t inject other peoples horses. And dorm is good, paste or shot.

[BeeHoney]

Owners definitely are responsible for sedating if they want heads and ears clipped on an uncooperative horse. Dormosedan or some acepromazine + xylazine are good options, but definitely insist that owners (or the properly authorized barn manager/trainer) take responsibility for this aspect of things. A twitch may also be necessary.

Additionally, the ears are a very sensitive spot, so always be extremely careful to use sharp, cool blades and a smoothly running set of clippers. Being meticulous about these details gives a horse every chance to get better about this procedure instead of worse.

I would definitely discuss with owners what they can do to help their horses get less sensitive about being clipped. Simply handling the ears frequently helps a lot, as do gently holding the clippers against the ears for brief moments when touching up bridle paths, etc.

For your own horse, clicker training can work wonders for this type of thing. But, I think few owners would bother to follow through with it so I’m not sure it’s worth you recommending.

[Mukluk]

In an ideal world there would be no clipping of heads and ears. That said. If I take my girl to a show I MIGHT clip any hair that sticks out from ears when folded and clip underside of head if there are any long hairs. I will no longer clip whiskers, they are her feelers!!! I wouldn’t do it to my cat and I won’t do it to my horse. But that is just me.

[grandprixer]

@Mukluk

In an ideal world there would be no clipping of heads and ears. That said. If I take my girl to a show I MIGHT clip any hair that sticks out from ears when folded and clip underside of head if there are any long hairs. I will no longer clip whiskers, they are her feelers!!! I wouldn’t do it to my cat and I won’t do it to my horse. But that is just me.

Personally, I don’t clip whiskers either. However it’s a personal decision and I don’t show. If someone pays me, I clip!