How to clip a design or saddle pad on your horse
- Well, you don’t need many fancy tools, although you might need a bit of practice…and the ability to remind yourself that it will all grow out…
- Regardless of what style of clipping you do on your horse, it might be a good idea to leave some hair over the withers and down the spine a bit. Clipped hair is shorter than a summer coat until it grows a bit, so that furry saddle pad might be a good idea. Oh, and video below – with a mistake!
Full body clip with a saddle patch remaining.
How to create saddle pads and designs
- Step one – draw it out. Use a water-based marker in a contrasting color to your horse and trace a numnah or half pad for the saddle area. For designs, you can use masking tape, a stencil, or draw freehand.
I place the half pad, then trace around it. I go wider than I think I’ll need, so I can do some fine-tuning if I have to.
- Step two – grab some clippers that have a blade that takes off a lot of hair. A #30 blade is good. Hold these clippers like a pencil, and at an angle, to trace the lines you have drawn or taped. You may need to flip the clippers around to find the perfect angle to cut a line into your horse’s coat.
Use a blade that removes a lot of hair to edge out your design. Think #30 blade or so.
- Step three – Clip the rest! For fuzzy designs that will be on a clipped rump, start a bit bigger so you can work in. For clipped designs on a fuzzy rump, start a bit smaller so you can clip out. I switch to a #10 blade to clip the actual design, it leaves more hair than a #30 or #40.
Stencils are helpful, too.
- Don’t forget to start with a clean horse! And clean and sharp tools! For more on clipping prep, read this. For more on post-clipping shine tips read this.
- If you find that your horse has some marker lines remaining, grab a damp cloth and you should be able to wipe them away.
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TRIMMERS
Wahl Professional Animal ARCO with 5 in 1 blade
The Chromado, also available in black.
The Creativa, also availabe in pink.
The Bravura
BODY CLIPPERS
The KM10’s are the gold standard for body clippers.
The Power Grips, also a nice body clipper.
The Pro Ion, this is a body clipper that uses 30-15-10 blade system.
The Lister Stars – the best shears!
Blades for body clippers, the detachable style.
The 10 Wide blade for body clippers, the detachable style.
A 5 in 1 replacement blade.
Lister Star blades, fine cut.
30-15-10’s adjustable blade.
BLADE CARE
Coolant
Clipper Oil
Sanitizer
GROOMING
Easy Out No Rinse Shampoo
Hot water kettle
Grooming Oil