If you want to know the best way to clip a horse, take a look at this archive video of Mary King and her former groom Jodie Summers clipping out the late Kings Temptress, for some expert advice on what to wear, where to do it and how to get it right.

NOTE: this is archive material filmed in 2008

How to clip a horse: the basics

1. Wear appropriate clothing

Wear sturdy footwear, ideally with steel toecaps

Don’t wear fleecy clothes. Overalls are a good idea

Use a cap to keep your hair back or a riding hat for extra safety

2. Find the right location

Outside gives good natural light

Indoors is best in wet weather

Choose a place where the horse is relaxed

3. Make sure the horse has a clean, dry coat to avoid blunting the blades

4. When using mains clippers use a circuit breaker and be careful the horse does not stand on the wires

Continued below…

5. Before starting to clip:

Check the clippers are working

Check the blades are in good order and have been recently sharpened

Make sure the tension is correct. This is different for each clipper brand. For Lister Clippers, which were used in the video, screw the tension nut down until tight. Turn the tension nut back one and a half turns.

Oil along the teeth of the blades, and also on the sides at the heel.

6. Introducing the clippers to the horse

Show the horse the clippers while they are turned off

Rub the clippers against the horse’s shoulder

Take the clippers away and turn them on. Let the horse listen to the noise

Take the clippers gently to the horse and place against the horse to feel the vibration

If the horse appears relaxed you can start clipping

7. While clipping:

Use long smooth stokes against the lie of the hair

Stop every 10 mins to clean the hair from the blades and apply oil along the teeth of the blades and also on the sides at the heel

If the blades start to get hot, stop and set them aside to cool down, or swap to new blades. Apply a blade coolant spray if necessary. Do not put the blades in water or parafin to cool them.

Take your time!

8. When the clip is complete wipe the horse down with a warm, damp sponge to remove any loose hair, then rug up appropriately.

9. Caring for your clippers: