Tondre son cheval

Clipping : some advice

The more the clipping is uniform and total, the more will the whole seem homogenous. Not clipped areas, therefore darker, break the horse's build. Aesthetically, it is therefore better to try fully clipping the horse, limbs and head included.

To do

• The more the clipping is uniform and total, the more will the whole seem homogenous. Not clipped areas, therefore darker, break the horse's build. Aesthetically, it is therefore better to try fully clipping the horse, limbs and head included.

• If your horse is long, draw a saddle patch long enough. On the contrary, for a horse with a short loin, prefer a short patch. In any case, try to make round movements. Avoid angles, which break the figure !

• For the tail base, always draw a triangle. It is the only geometrical shape with angles that is permitted.

• With a horse who just left the field, at the beginning use large combs. You will need to pass a second layer with finer or surgical combs if you love competition clips. This second passage allows marks recovering. To cancel these unpleasant stripes, just pass the clipper perpendicularly to these traces.

To be definitely avoided :

• The twitch requires a lot of experience. If used incorrectly, it can become dangerous.

• Concerning sedatives, as Cédivet, it is necessary to call a vet, who will have to make an intravenous injection and remain there to watch over possible reactions to medicines. You will have to avoid V-Tranquil, which causes a brutal and sudden awakening, and brings frequent and unpleasant secondary effects (intense perspiration). To know : sedatives are positive to antidoping tests.

Let him rest !

After the clipping, don't even try to groom him.
Your horse has been treated for two hours, therefore let him calm down and grant him a good night of sleep in his box.
You will restart his grooming the day after.

As soon as you finish clipping, wipe him only with a towel soaked in alcohol (with care) in order to take the grease off the hair and remove a good amount of the sticked soil.

4 safety points

1. Turn on the clipper far away from the horse so that he gets used to the noise. Even after spending two hours clipping, always proceed in this way to turn the clipper on.

2. Take care that the wire is always behind you, never between your feet or, even worse, among his. You can stick the wire in your belt, caring that it is slack enough to work comfortably.

3. Bring the clipper nearer while caressing him.

4. Start on a soft area, always in the hair direction, even if it is already clipped (shoulder, rump, flank…). Then clip in the good direction heading for the wished area.

Control points

These tricks allow controlling the horse (better than neutralizing him) without letting him suffer. You must be able to use them with gentleness and discernment.

• The fold in the neck: by pinching the fat area of the neck, you block the muscle which allows the swinging movement from the right to the left. Don’t pinch for too long and use this trick when you go upward along the mane toward the sensitive areas (ears, bridle path, throat; see the picture above).

• The dock : when you need to stay near the hind legs, take the tail slightly wringing it on the side. So you will prevent your horse from kicking.

• The foot: lift one to prevent him from moving the one you need to clip.