Cutting edge

If your pony’s going to be working throughout winter, you may want to get him clipped by an expert. It might seem odd to remove his hair when the weather turns cold, but doing this helps to prevent him becoming hot and sweaty when working and then catching a chill. Here’s what to do before his hairdresser arrives.

Which clip?

The first question a clipping expert will ask you when you book an appointment is which hairstyle or clip you’ve chosen for your pony, so decide on this before making the call. Your decision should be based on how hard your pony works, whether he’s stabled and if he needs to lose weight over the winter. Basically, the harder you work your pony, the more hair you might need removed. Here are the options…

• Full clip. All the hair is removed. Some people take off leg hair, too
• Hunter clip. All the body hair is taken off, except for a saddle patch
• Blanket clip. The hair across the top of the back is left on in the shape of an exercise sheet
• Trace clip. A line of hair is taken along the bottom of the body and all the way up the underside of the neck
• Chaser clip. This clip follows a diagonal line from the stifle to the poll with the hair underneath this line removed

Did you know?

Clipping experts need to rest the clippers every now and again to allow the blades to cool down, so they won’t be too hot on your pony’s skin.

For more tips on how to prep your pony for clipping, check out December PONY – get your copy today!