[HorseCrazy1981]

Does anyone know of any good sites on body clipping (like how to body clip)? I am thinking about taking Angel to the Class "A" show late next January. I have read up on how to get her used to them, but I don't know how to body clip. Like which number blade to use, any info would be helpful. I am also thinking about contacting an Arab person near me, but I don't want to sound too stupid when I ask grooming questions, lol.

[Sandra-A1]

Start EARLY..it is a long process!

Make sure you have the correct #blades for the face, ears and body.... and several spares would be nice too. That way you can switch them out. As blades get dull they tend to pull the hair instead of cutting it and that is very uncomfortable to the horse.
My experience has been that horses who are touchy about clipping are that way because of dull blades. You get a good set of clippers with sharp blades and the horse quickly settles right down once they see they are not going to have their hair pulled out!

Make sure your clippers have been serviced and lubricated according to the manufactors instructions days before you even get started!

I also suggest having back up clippers, so when one set heats up it can cool while you use the other. Also if you have help...which is always nice..they can be cleaning the cooling clipper too!

Have some COOL LUBE and BLADE WASH. Spray the Cool Lube on the clippers as needed and rinse the blades in the Blade Wash ever so often to get the hair out and keep the clippers running smoothly.

Make sure the horse has been washed and is dry. You don't want to be clipping a dirty or WET/damp horse!

Clip in an area free of any breeze...you will be wearing and eating enough hair with out the wind helping you!

A quiet area free of steady traffic and with good lighting is good.

A radio tuned to your favorite channel is nice too.

If the clipping is taking a really long time take a break...let you horse go back to it's stall for a bit of hay and a drink and you take a break yourself! Sit down for a bit..have a snack and a drink.

I start with the face & head then move on to the neck. I like to start there, while both me and the horse are fresh and not tired, since for me that it the place I think you have to do the most detailed clipping.
After that I do each leg, working from the bottom up...once the legs are done I move on to the belly and between the front legs...then work my way back up to the chest, sides and then the back.

Go slow, let the blades do the work. Do not get in a hurry and start pushing the blades thru the hair without giving them time to cut it. That is how those clipper tracks get started and you have to retrace yourself and clip them out. So it is better to go a bit slower than having to constantly keep going over an area to get rid of those tracks!

I usually clip with a #10 or #15 blade.
My ear clippers have a #40 blade which I use only on the INSIDE of the ears. On the outside of the ear I use the #10 or #15 on so I can clean the ear up and leave the diamond shape tip on them with.

I will use a #40 blade to trim the bridle path after a horse has been body clipped and during the summer when their coat is light.

During the winter I will use a #10 blade for keeping the bridle paths neat as I can blend the freshly cut area in with the longer winter hair easier with that blade and they don't look too shaved.

You clip against the hair and those swirls of hair will drive you crazy at times!

Greys you can clip days before a show, Bay, Chestnut, Sorrel or other colors need to be done several weeks before a show.

If your clipping when the weather is still cool please blanket your horse!

I also like to give a freshly clipped horse a nice warm water sponge off with a bit (just a bit not a lot) of olive oil in the water.
Then squeegie off the excess and let them dry.

Thats about all the advice I can think of right now.

Oster Clipping Tips Link

Maybe someone else will think of the stuff I missed!