Tx Amanda…legs standing or bent? i.e. hard or squishy?
[QUOTE=RiverBendPol;7813949]
Tx Amanda…legs standing or bent? i.e. hard or squishy?[/QUOTE]
Both. It is easier to do the fronts of the legs with them off the ground (i.e. hold them like a farrier). And easier to do the backs (esp. the bulbs of heels) holding off the ground. However you can’t get all the nooks and crannies in any one position, so will have to do some standing (e.g. knees are easier when standing).
I use the big clipper as much as possible (old hands at clipping will fall asleep while I do everything with the big clippers) but I have the medium sized maroon Andis which are much quieter and less vibration, which many horses newer at clipping appreciate. I never use the really small clippers which leave the legs far too close-clipped and leave track marks in legs.
Sometimes it helps to stand on the opposite side and clip under the horse (e.g. stand on the right side and clip the inside of the left leg) and getting the horse to stand in certain ways makes life easier.
They are usually quite touchy about their hocks and knees so be aware and try to have a hold of them so they don’t grab their legs and accidentally get nicked by the clippers - then they just get more jumpy.
Guys, after reading this thread I’m so pumped to clip horses this week, I’m not being sarcastic either! But… I’m not doing legs, I hate clipping legs and I’m only doing the lower half of the head. Unless my chestnut looks horrible, then his whole head will get done, but I’ll need some drugs for that to happen!
It’s all about the bath.
I find I’m less of a mess when the horse is bathed properly.
I use less oil (from having to lube up clippers when clipping dirty horses) and there is less dirt to make the hairs nasty. Dirty horses make clippers work harder = hotter blades and motor = more oil needed.
Also, the right bath makes clipping easy and more even.
How I do it:
- bubble up horse once, scrub good especially top of butt forehead and legs, hose off really really well.
- bubble up horse again, scrub good especially top of butt forehead and legs, hose off really really well.
- sweat scrape
- soak down in show sheen
- curry horse soaked in show sheen
- towel dry
- show sheen again with normal amount.
- let horse dry
When I bathe my horses and then clip them I’m usually fairly clean afterward, and the horse is hunter show ready. Even across the top of the butt.
I’ve had clients bathe their horses for me before I clip but for some reason I still end up clipping dust and dirt across the top of the butt and then…well, it is what it is. Horse is gonna have clip lines.
I tried clipping wet one time. It didn’t go so well for me.
Also, Texas be hot. I wear a teeny tank top, the smallest shorts possible and flip flops. Less clothes works better for me.
Even so, I still can’t kick the hair splinters I get from (usually( the face hairs --get them in the inside cracks of my elbows. A good slopping of vasoline helps but is messy. But hair splinters are also helped with a good cleaning of the horse and show sheen.
Also, I use Premier 1 clippers. They don’t blow hair at you like Clipmasters.
And I wear a bandanna and a head lamp.
Oh yes, a headlamp is great for those crevices that are shadowed when clipping in the barn!
My only tip. Besides the rain suit is to repeat a really clean horse…I bath mine and curry them with shampoo and really rinse, scrap excess water off and then curry Show Sheen in brush coat in place and cover horse to dry thoroughly.
I have to clip at least …10… And I take at least 2 weeks and 2 sets new blades…but not full body or legs…just the 3/4 …
Seconding the disposable painter’s suits. Cheap, light, breathable, effective. Throw in one of those fabric painter’s hoods and while you will look like a lunatic, you won’t have hairs anywhere. Never bothering with the rain suit again.
I use one of the Oster coarse curry combs for scrubbing above the tail and over my horse’s hips during bathing. As others suggested, I bathe twice and scrub twice - it seems to really help get the dirt and grunge out. After rinsing with just plain water, I then rinse with a mix of vinegar and water. It helps a lot! This year, I didn’t even bother with the Show Sheen.
[QUOTE=RiverBendPol;7813768]
This is all good advice. Now tell us how to do legs. I always do a full bod clip but leave legs. This year I’m contemplating the legs bc of course he’s a chestnut and perhaps one of the hairiest TBs on the planet so his legs look silly all furry and feathery! Do I use my Osters or little face clippers? Makes me nerrrrviss.[/QUOTE]
The ease of legs has 100% to do with the conformation of the leg. I have some horses who I can do ALL of the legs with just the big clippers. Those are the horses that get done in 1.45 minutes. LOOOOVE it.
I do as much as possible with the big clippers. When I had Clipmasters I could not do this but with Premiers I can.
I find the horses tolerate the big clippers more than the little clippers. Little clippers (Like Oster and Andis) get hot too fast and they have a vibration that drives horses nuts.
I find that my big Premiers tickle less.
My cheapo Wahl Ironhorse clippers are my favs for touch ups/legs/face/ears. I love the adjustable 10-15-30, I love how quiet they are, and I love that no matter what I never accidentally cut the horse. I drag them backwards a lot in nooks and crannies. (like behind cheek bones and armpits)
I do the legs however the horse legs me. Some of them won’t let their leg down so I hold it.
If I’m on the left side side then I do the outside of the left leg and the reach under and do the inside of the right leg.
When I go up the cannon I find that if I go straight up it will leave track marks. So I go in a V formation all the way up. I also do as much of the face as possible with the big clippers. cheeks and forehead–(I don’t require my clients to bathe their horses).
When I clipped my new mare in the spring( her first ever time) I started with the Osters , but she was getting too fussy. I have the 2 speed Andis clippers and used the wide (T84) blades to clip most of her and then switched to the regular sized blades to do lower legs, head/ears, and smaller spots. I am going to try the wet clipping. Have to do my older mare since I am riding her in a Christmas parade in a few weeks. Both of my mares are chestnut. I find if I don’t try to do really long strokes it works better. I also have spare blades handy to change if needed.
My best clipping tip:
Don’t wear a bra. All the hair will never come out of it, and on subsequent wearings you’ll constantly be reminded of that day you clipped Dobbin.
(I was hoping someone else would say it so I wouldn’t have to.)
[QUOTE=seabreeze;7822277]
My best clipping tip:
Don’t wear a bra. All the hair will never come out of it, and on subsequent wearings you’ll constantly be reminded of that day you clipped Dobbin.
(I was hoping someone else would say it so I wouldn’t have to.)[/QUOTE]
That’s actually brilliant.
I will also say get the horse as clean as possible. I vacuum before bathing.
Make sure you have sharp blades.
Clip in natural light if possible. It shows much better than any artificial light. If you are going to use artificial light then don’t use extremely bright light.
I keep a pair of very sharp blades or new ones in reserve. After I finish clipping, I put in the last pair of blades and go over the entire horse again. That takes out the track marks and makes everything even.
We use http://www.doublekindustries.com/401belt_details.php and have had them for a long time. The motor is at your waist so no blow back and the hand piece is small and easy to hold and maneuver. They are very rugged and have been using them to do multiple clips on multiple hunt horse each year.
[QUOTE=seabreeze;7822277]
My best clipping tip:
Don’t wear a bra. All the hair will never come out of it, and on subsequent wearings you’ll constantly be reminded of that day you clipped Dobbin.
(I was hoping someone else would say it so I wouldn’t have to.)[/QUOTE]
hahahah very true - I just have a ratty old one set aside for moving hay and clipping days 
plus I wear a turtle neck of some sort.
I wouldn’t DARE wear a bra that I wasn’t ready to throw away clipping! Don’t do it ladies!!
Oh my goodness!!! I LOVE my new Lister Stars!!! So much lighter and smaller, but very powerful. Toby took a lot longer than I like to clip today (his skin is a mess, so I had to fiddle fart my way through the job, and will probably have to repeat in a few weeks when his skin is healed), but I had zero fatigue and could whip them around anyway I saw fit. Money very well spent. Wish I’d bought a pair years ago!!!
OMG. I just got the new Andis HP Progress Clippers and did two horses yesterday in 1/2 the time I would’ve done them with the old Osters. LOVE these clippers! On sale at Valley Vet.
http://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.html?pgguid=75c3fe6f-2354-4b7b-8df7-d627c6858a28&sfb=1&itemguid=04c2dd5f-8965-48db-8057-23c015afd50a&utm_content=35350&ccd=IFF003&mr:trackingCode=B441E364-3C81-E211-BA78-001B21631C34&mr:referralID=NA&mr:device=t&mr:adType=pla&mr:ad=41953550803&mr:keyword=&mr:match=&mr:filter=86672668003&gclid=Cj0KEQjwt7KiBRD9lOePpe_BhrgBEiQAHaS_13SybnofG4rD48rWnHyyS0fTjxQRaBiS50ys9IGd148aAn3x8P8HAQ
[QUOTE=see u at x;7817526]
I use one of the Oster coarse curry combs for scrubbing above the tail and over my horse’s hips during bathing. As others suggested, I bathe twice and scrub twice - it seems to really help get the dirt and grunge out. After rinsing with just plain water, I then rinse with a mix of vinegar and water. It helps a lot! This year, I didn’t even bother with the Show Sheen.[/QUOTE]
Not just for clipping, but finishing any bath with PineSol and water takes away all the residual soap scum and makes a horse shine.
And added bonus: He smells like a pine forest. 
I learned this years ago from a BNT and I cannot believe the difference it makes in the final product.
