Horse clipping season is upon us, and with our horses starting to resemble a woolly mammoths, there’s no escaping the job. Whether you find clipping therapeutic or downright stressful, certain common frustrations can turn what should be a simple task into a time-consuming headache.
The good news? With a little preparation and the right tools, you can avoid these common horse clipping problems and achieve a smooth, professional finish every time. Below, we’ll break down the six biggest frustrations of horse clipping – and more importantly, how to stop them from happening in the first place.
1. Dirty Coats - The Bane of Clipper Blades
Clipper blades and filth don’t mix! Even if your horse appears clean, an unwashed coat can hide layers of dust, grease, and grit below the surface. These particles will quickly dull your blades, making them snag or drag through the hair. Not only does this affect the quality of the finish, but it can also cause discomfort for your horse – and a negative clipping experience might make them more reluctant to stand quietly next time.
How to avoid it:
- Give your horse a proper bath before clipping, using a good quality shampoo to cut through grease and lift grime. Pay extra attention on the greasiest areas such as the rump and don't forget to rinse the coat throughly afterwards to ensure all traces of shampoo are washed out.
- If bathing isn’t possible, be prepared to deep groom them daily for a few days on the run up to clipping with hot clothing to lift the grease from the dirtiest areas. Take a look at our blog on hot clothing your horse here to get the best results.
The cleaner the coat is, the longer your blades will last and the smoother the final clip will look. Not to mention, your horse will thank you for a more comfortable clip!
2. A Problem With Your Clipper
Your clipper is a powerful electrical appliance made up of various moving and consumable parts that naturally wear down with time and continued use. Regular maintenance is essential to keep your clipper performing at it's best.
Clipping is a messy job, and clipped horse hair can work its way into every nook and cranny—especially behind the blades, inside the clipper head, and through the air vents. If left unchecked, this build-up can lead to overheating, increased noise, and in some cases, a burning smell – all signs that your clippers aren’t running efficiently.
A well-maintained clipper is your best friend during clipping season. To keep it in top condition, always give your clippers a thorough clean after every use and store them in a clean, dry environment. Poor storage, particularly in damp conditions, can cause internal parts like the motor to rust or seize up. Regular servicing will help prevent these issues and extend the life of your machine.
How to avoid it:
- Deep-clean your clippers after every use, removing clipped hair and applying oil.
- Store them in a clean, dry case indoors – never a damp tack room.
- Check your clippers and oil the blades and holes in the clipper head. Find our winter clipper checklist here
- Book an annual clipper service to ensure internal parts are checked, cleaned, and replaced where needed. Clipper serving also includes thorough clean of and hair that has made it's way inside the clipper housing and motor so that your clipper has the best airflow to keep the internal working cool and free flowing or air. Send your Masterclip clippers to our dedicated Leicestershire workshop here.
Below - This HD Roamer clipper came in for repair as it wasn’t working when taken out of storage. On opening the handset, it was clear that damp storage had rusted the motor beyond repair and caused it to cease. A simple case of poor maintenance and a costly result.
3. Wobbly Clip Lines
Achieving smooth, professional-looking lines, especially for partial clips, can feel like a real art form. Without a plan, it’s easy to end up with jagged edges or uneven patches that need constant “fixing”, resulting in more hair coming off than intended.
How to avoid it:
- Plan the type of clip you want to achieve beforehand. Here's our guide to the most popular types of horse clips.
- Use chalk, baling twine or lipstick to mark out your lines. Make sure your horse is standing square when you mark up to ensure your lines are equal and parallel to the ground. Check both sides of the horse are equal. You can place your numnah or saddle on your horse's back to draw around the shape for a saddle patch.
- Clip a little way lower than your marks to ensure if you do get a wobble, you can take a little more hair off to even it out without ending up with much less hair than you wanted. Our Showmate trimmer is perfect for sharpening up lines to get a super professional finish! Take a look at the video below.
- For fidgety horses, keep them entertained with a hay net or enlist a friend to hold them.
- Take regular breaks to let both you and your horse reset.
If you find your clipper blades leave obvious lines in the coat, there could be few reasons for why this happens. Take a look at our blog to avoid unsightly tram lines here.
4. Blunt Clipper Blades
Few things are as frustrating as a blade going blunt halfway through a clip. Blunt blades will leave your horse with lines, patchiness, and an uncomfortable experience, you may not even be able to complete the clip. If you only have one set of blades, you risk getting funny looks when you next take your horse out!
How to avoid it:
- Always have at least two clipper blades (three is better!) of the same type, freshly sharpened for the clip. Should the first blade start to feel dull mid-clip, you can then easily swap to your spare set.
- Have your blades professionally sharpened between uses to maintain their performance.
5. Itchy skin (Yours and Theirs!)
Clipped hair has an uncanny ability to find its way into every crease, seam, and pocket. Not only is it itchy for you, but it can irritate your horse’s skin if left after clipping.
How to avoid it:
- Wear protective overalls or a lightweight boiler suit to prevent hair from sticking to your clothes.
- Tie your hair up or, better yet, wear a riding hat for added protection.
- After clipping, give your horse a good brush-down and hot cloth to remove loose hair and clipper oil residue from the coat and soothe the skin.
6. Waiting for Hot Blades to Cool
Heat generated from the clipper blades is inevitable when using high powered clippers with two pieces of metal rubbing against each other at high speed. Stopping for long periods to let hot blades cool down can be irritating when when you just want to get the job done and some horses are best to not stop too long for breaks.
How to avoid it:
- Keep your blades and clipper head well lubritcated. Oil your blades every 5 minutes during clipping by running a line of oil along the teeth and a drop down each side to reduce friction and heat. Also pop a couple of drops of oil into the holes on the clipper head every now and again to keep the inner workings loose and working freely.
- If your blades get too warm, having an extra set to swap to can come in handy - but best of all, specialist blade cooling sprays will take a smoking hot blade down to luke warm to the touch in seconds and saves time.
- Keep blade tension as low as possible while maintaining cutting performance. The more pressure there is squeezing the blades together, the more friction and heat generation. Not only will too much tension causes excessive heat build-up, it also causes untimely wear and tear to your clipper components, motor and also significantly reduces the run time of batteries for cordless models. Not sure what the right tension is for your clipper? Take a look here.
3 Key Tips to Make Horse Clipping Easier
Prep is everything: A clean, grease-free coat and a few sharp blades are essential for a smooth and stress-free clip.
Maintain your equipment: Regular cleaning, proper storage, and servicing will keep your clippers in the best condition and running optimally when you need them most.
Work smart, not hard: Plan your clip, use cooling sprays, and take short breaks to keep both you and your horse comfortable.
Ready to make clipping easier this season? Explore our full range of professional horse clippers, blades, and accessories designed for every clipping need. If you’re unsure which tools are right for you and your horse, get in touch with our friendly team for free, bespoke advice tailored to your needs.
