Clipping Question

Others will know more about it but just remember to keep your clippers cool. I've done goats before and if they get hot is when they start to leave tracks. I use a spray that cools them off a little, but I still have to let them rest sometimes.

Are your clippers bodyclippers or just trimmers?

My quick tips:

make sure the horse is clean. Dirt and mud will slow down your clippers. Use plenty of lube for the clippers -- take the blades off and put clipper grease between them, add clipper oil down the oil hole if your clippers have it and along the cutting edges of the blades, and plenty of Cool Lube at frequent intervals while clipping.

If your mini has not been clipped before you might want to do it in stages. When I do this, I typically do the body first and then come back to do the legs and head later or the next day. if you have to sedate the horse for clipping, WORK FAST! Sedatives often make the horse start to sweat and then you won't be able to do a good job.

Honestly not sure what type of clippers they are,but I used them 2 years ago on Coco to trim around half of the length of her winter coat off in the spring.

Are they big, with a wide blade? That's all I was getting at. I suppose you could clip a whole mini with little clippers, but you'd likely get lines and dull your blades badly in the process.

BTW, expect some lines no matter how careful you are. They will even out within a week or so. It is possible to clip without lines but it takes all day and a jar of mayonnaise. :mrgreen:

:rofl jar of mayonnaise?

You've got any tips for scaredy cat 16 hand 2 year olds who hate clippers around the ears? I can eventually get him to accept them on his muzzle, and he always allow clipping on his body, but the ears/part of the bridle path are a feat.

The ears are tough and some (very few) horses never really accept clipping there. When I was clipping a barn full of show hunters and just had to get it done, I used a twitch but you don't want to go that route with your baby yet. Try hanging small turned-on clippers right by his grain bucket so that he has to eat grain with them buzzing near his ears. That should help not only desensitize him but also associate clipping with something pleasant.

And, 16 hands?? He would tower over Diana! I think she's about 14.3-15.0 now, higher at the rump.