1. Have your horse as clean as possible. You always get a better finish with a clean horse. Just ensure that he’s not wet or sweaty when the time comes to clip as clipper blades hate nothing more. 2. Try to clip 3. Make sure that your clippers are serviced and the blades sharpened at the end of the clipping season. This way you know that everything is good to go come next autumn/ winter. 4. Have multiple sets of blades ready. Older blades particularly that have been sharpened multiple times can go 'off' with little or no notice and you could be left with a half clipped horse. By the time you get your blades sharpened, the clipped bit has started to grow back, meaning starting all over again. 5. Use a circuit breaker on your extension lead. Shod horses particularly can break through rubber cables quite easily, making for a potentially nasty accident or, at the very least, plunging the whole yard into darkness. 6. Clip in the best light available. If daytime isn't an option then a well lit wash box or stable will suffice. There’s nothing worse than bringing your horse out the next morning and seeing a completely different picture. I also use a head torch. 7. The correct blade length is vital. Some coat colours are far more forgiving than others; for example, white greys and palominos show every mark, so never clip them too fine or you might be the proud owner of a zebra! 8. Have a handler that you trust to hold/help and make sure that they remain on the same side as you as you clip, particularly when you are clipping the back legs. This way the handler can bring the horse’s head towards them, sending the back end away from the clipper if necessary. 9. When you are giving the horse a full clip, get the trickiest bits done first. Why wait until the horse is really bored before tackling his head and legs? 10. Safety is key. Clipping can be dangerous and so only do as much as you and your horse are comfortable with. Also, use the correct equipment — hats, boots, circuit breaker, etc — and if there’s a step you can take to make the situation safer, take it.
