I’ve always trace clipped my horses. I’ve always thought it was as win-win situation: you get the benefits of a winter coat but also a horse that cools off more quickly after a ride and doesn’t overheat.
Another great thing about trace clipping is that you can start by taking off a little hair and then keep going if you think your horse needs more.
The video shows you some techniques on trace clipping but my advice is:
- Start with a clean horse! If your horse is dirty it will dull the clipper blades quickly.
- Start with newly sharpened blades. A sharp blade gives you a clean line.
- Cut less first. You can always remove more hair. I always start by clipping the chest and belly, then move up.
- You only see one side of the horse at a time so don’t stress about both sides being absolutely the same!
- The difference between a good clip job and a bad clip job is about two weeks. It’s just hair. It will grow back.
While clipping your horse is a great way to keep your horse cool in the winter, don’t overlook clipping your horse in the spring. It can take time for your horse to shed out and it can be messy. I often clip my horses in the spring to speed the process along. Don’t worry about it adversely impacting your horse’s coat — it will grow in completely fine in no time. In the spring your better off doing a complete clip as you don’t need to worry about your horse staying warm.