Time to clip some of the horses out at the barn. Their coats are getting thicker and the temperatures have ranged from 40 degrees to 70 degrees. Queenie, the draft cross will be getting a full trace clip which starts under the throat latch and goes down across the shoulder and down the body to the tail. This type of clip is great for really fuzzy horses. The medium trace just goes from the throat latch, over the shoulder just behind the front. There is also a mini trace clip that just goes down the front of the neck. To get your horse used to the clippers, do a lot of approach and retreat. Introduce them, experiment with turning it on and off, rub them with them, and graduate to clipping. Don't push your horse over a threshold when doing this. Take the time it takes and really observe your horses behavior and act accordingly. I turn on the clippers every time I groom Maddy and I rub her all over with it. She enjoys the tickle of it on her nose.
Time to clip some of the horses out at the barn. Their coats are getting thicker and the temperatures have ranged from 40 degrees to 70 degrees. Queenie, the draft cross will be getting a full trace clip which starts under the throat latch and goes down across the shoulder and down the body to the tail. This type of clip is great for really fuzzy horses. The medium trace just goes from the throat latch, over the shoulder just behind the front. There is also a mini trace clip that just goes down the front of the neck. To get your horse used to the clippers, do a lot of approach and retreat. Introduce them, experiment with turning it on and off, rub them with them, and graduate to clipping. Don't push your horse over a threshold when doing this. Take the time it takes and really observe your horses behavior and act accordingly. I turn on the clippers every time I groom Maddy and I rub her all over with it. She enjoys the tickle of it on her nose.
10 comments:
Oh, my. How many clipper blades do you run through on a draft?
How many months pass before you quit finding it in your undergarments?
I haven't done that in a long time. Doubt I could make it symmetrical.
Show us your beautician skills when you get finished!
I hope it all works out OK. The horse is beautiful.
Is this something you do to stalled horses or is it more related to the work they do in the winter? I've never done it nor known anyone who has so this is quite new to me. :D
Looks like an adventure, can't wait to see the results. I haven't been able to get out to the horses in weeks. Moving and car issues. So for now I am happy reading horsey blogs and adding horses to the sidewalk rings in Portland.
Maddy is adorable!
We've been doing clipping here too. I don't know all of the different types of clips, we just shave it all off and put on lots of horse clothes. I itch just thinking about it.
Anne is right about it staying in undergarments, I swear sometimes it hangs on for months.
What do you do with the clippings?
One year, back in England, I supplied a sack of horse hair clippings to be made into hair plaster used in restoring a medieval chapel.
Nice to think that part of that horse might be around for centuries in a sacred place.
How's Miss Maddie doing, anyway?
We just clipped today and everyone looks fantastic--of course I forgot my camera:-(
Anne--I feel itchy--It is everywhere! I will take photos tomorrow.
EquineSpirit--The horses still working hard in the arenas get really sweaty and hot with their winter coats, so that is why we clip.
Translyvania--clippings went into the garbage. I have heard of people making pottery with horse hair. I will have to do some "googling." Maybe I could put it to use.
Tracey--Maddy is coming along--4 more weeks and she comes off of stall rest. I will get an x-ray and see how her fracture healed. Cross your fingers:-)
I sure hope that Maddy's x-rays come out ok. She looks like she's being a good patient.
Well, so far I haven't had to clip a horse yet, but I can imagine how itchy it must be for the humans after you finish! :-/
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