Great haircut: How to shave your horse perfectly on the first try

Shave the horse — it is difficult and painstaking work. We have collected for you some relevant and useful tips on how to simplify this process as much as possible and get the best result.

1. First, decide on the type of haircut that suits your horse. Here it is necessary to accurately represent what degree of load will the horse bear in the cold season.

2. In order to achieve clear lines, you need a lot of practice. Use chalk to create an outline. Working on a template will be much easier and faster.

To make the haircut as natural and beautiful as possible, follow the lines of the natural structure of the horse’s body, for example, along the contour of the muscles of the hind limbs, which run diagonally from the knee to the area of ​​the hock and elbow muscle.

1. Before shearing, it is recommended that the horse be thoroughly cleaned or washed (weather permitting). A clean and dry cover will prevent clipper blades from getting stuck when cutting.

2. Very important choose the right kind of blade, especially if the horse is light gray with pink skin. Blades of medium sharpening give the haircut a more natural look. Otherwise, the haircut may look like the horse has been “skinned”. With gray horses, it is most difficult to achieve an ideal result. Many use a too sharp blade when cutting, as a result of which, within the first week, the contours of the lines begin to be traced, and the haircut seems to be uneven.

3. The blades of the machine are recommended to be lubricated every 5-10 minutes., while simultaneously cleaning them of adhering wool and checking if the machine has overheated. This will not only help you get a good cut, but it will also increase the life of your blades.

4. Before you start cutting, carefully clean the horse from dust and dirt. Then apply a shine spray. This will help the blades glide easily over the wool and not get stuck in it.

5. Select a large area of ​​the horse’s body to start trimming and move confidently against the coat. Hold the clipper in the hand closest to the horse. Place your other hand on the clipping area, while slightly pulling the horse’s skin to create a more even plane. In addition, the feeling of “stroking” will be a sign of approval for your horse.

6. Hold the clipper head parallel to the horse’s skin while maintaining a constant slight pressure. With each pass, capture part of the already trimmed area so that you do not get the effect of the “ladder”. It takes a little practice to maintain even pressure. You just need to “fill your hand”, and now you are already halfway to success.

Source: www.yourhorse.co.uk