Here are some photos of my horses from today. I body clipped both Chief and Bo. Next week I’ll be going down to Bar H in Perris, Ca. My horses will hardly need their heavy winter coats. I like to clip a week ahead of time, that way their coats have some time to grow back in a bit. My clippers don’t cut real short to begin with, so it works out really nice. By the time the horses do an endurance ride their coats should be just about perfect. I’ll ride Chief at Bar H and Cuyama and also maybe Bo at Cuyama. We’ll see how things go.
There are photos of Bo showing before, during and after his body clip. I only have “after” of Chief since I forgot to bring the camera out to the barn with me, and I clipped Chief first. I took a break inbetween so got the camera when I went back out to do the final touches on Chief and to work on Bo. I wanted to get photos of Chief’s hooves too, but failed at that today. I’ll try again another time. Check out the difference in the colors on Bo from his winter coat to the clipped coat color. He is normally a dark mahogany bay color. Once clipped though, he looks so “mousey” to me. I hate that! Chief on the other hand, just shows off his beautiful (to me) fleabitten specks even more. I never liked the look of grey horses, or fleabitten horses before I got Chief…now of course, I am definitely partial as I love what is inside so can’t help but also love the outside.
Chief and Bo are both wearing high neck blankets now. It was great that I had time to clip them both on a day with decent weather and NO WIND! I will keep them blanketed at night and on any days where it’s cold. They were both sooo happy and frisky after their clips boy were they playful! I know that I will enjoy having them clipped because I won’t be inhaling so much shedding horse hair over the next few weeks. Some years I clip earlier or not at all. I’m glad I waited until now to clip because of our weather so far this year. It’s tough living in one climate and then traveling and competing in another. Clipping helps a lot, though they really need to have their coats so they can be comfortable here at home. I think I timed it just about perfectly.
Pro Bono before being body clipped
Bo's hind end during the body clip
Bo after being clipped - he looks "mousey"
I forgot the camera when I clipped Chief (he was 1st), so only got an after photo of him. He was such a good boy for the clipping...I just love how wonderful he is!
I love Bo’s legs, he looks a little like a Poodle! You do a great job Karen, I can’t see any clipper tracks.
I wish I had the courage to body clip. The boys look so comfy! On the other hand maybe since farley doesn’t grow a huge winter coat so maybe it’s ok. Although the lack of shedding hair is a HUGE motivator…
I clipped my Appy mare only twice….that’s too much work! Kudos to you and great job!
Don’t you just love clipping Chief! The flea-bitten greys are the best to clip because their “tick” of color get very distinct when clipped. They look so good.
Hey Karen,
Have you had any problems from clipping under the saddle and girth area or is it ok to do? I’m new to clipping and did a hack job on my gelding last year but it really was nice to have it done so I’d like to do a full body clip this spring. I still have time before HOTR!!
Thanks,
Tiffany
I like to clip two weeks before a ride, that way the hair has some time to come back in a little bit. That seems to work for me – when I do a full body clip I do the saddle and girth area.