ALWAYS decide in advance what type of clip you are going to give your horse, as the last thing you want is to change your mind half way through and end up with a variety of different clip lines.

Factors to consider

How much work will the horse be in?

This is one of the most important questions to ask yourself when you are deciding on what type of clip to give. Horses in light work do not need a lot of hair taken off, usually a high or low trace clip or a blanket clip are the best options for horses in low to moderate work. Horses in heavy work are more suited to a full clip or a hunter clip.

Is the horse stabled or living out, and will they be rugged?

Horses who are clipped will need to be rugged over the winter. If they are going to be spending a lot of time in the field you should leave the hair on their legs, this will help protect them in the wet and cold weather. The more likely the horse is to be stabled and well-rugged, the more hair you can take off.

What age is the horse?

Often older horses don’t lose their coats as well as others so it can work well to alternate between the likes of a hunter clip and a blanket clip. This means you keep the hair from getting too thick and dense, but you give them a little extra protection.

For young horses, especially those who are just coming into work for the first time, leaving more hair on is recommended. Most horses will feel fresh, especially when they have the hair taken off their back for the first time, so it is best to avoid this with breakers. A bib clip is an ideal starting point for young horses, it can usually be done very quickly, giving them a nice introduction to clipping and it helps to stop them sweating up too much when they are worked.

Remember, not every horse is easy to clip, the priority is to stay safe.