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… if you want to clip a design or keep a furry saddle patch on your horse.
- Regardless of your style of clipping on your horse, leaving some hair over the withers and down the spine might be a good idea. Clipped hair is shorter than a summer coat until it grows a bit, so that furry saddle pad might be a good idea.
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 with a blade that takes off a lot of hair. A #30 or #40 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 #40 blade or so. These are trimmers that have an adjustable 5-in-1 blade.
- Step three – Clip the rest! Start a bit bigger for fuzzy designs on a clipped rump so you can work in. Start a bit smaller for clipped designs on a fuzzy rump 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 colored marker lines remaining, grab a damp cloth and you should be able to wipe them away.
How to use a stencil to create designs
6 Easy tip for clipping
Somewhere in this video there is a glaringly obvious mistake because I’m human and the loose hair obviously infiltrated my train of thought.
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- Cordless 5-in-1 clipper for precise finishing work on horses
- Adjustable blade (#9, #10, #15, #30, #40) for flexible trimming
- Lightweight design for easy control and less hand fatigue
- Dual batteries with quick swap for extended grooming time
- Quiet, low-vibration motor for sensitive horses
- Ideal for bridle path, face, ears, muzzle, and fetlocks
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- 2-speed motor (6000 & 8000 RPMs)
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- Travel lock for safe transport
- LED screen with speed, battery, and maintenance info
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- Powerful motor glides through coats
- Textured grip for better control
- Up to 3 hours cordless + corded option
- Digital display with battery + maintenance alerts
- Travel lock for safe transport
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- Upgraded brushless motor (3,700 & 4,500 RPMs)
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- Up to 2 hours cordless runtime
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- #10 Prime Series German high-carbon steel blade for durability
- LOCKGUARD tech prevents hinge closure for easy blade changes
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- Powerful, quiet motor with 7,200 SPM and reduced heat
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- Ideal for fetlocks, bridle path, face, ears, and detailing
- Includes adjustable blade, blade oil, and cleaning brush
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- Includes #10 wide Prime blade
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- Two speeds (3,000 & 3,700 RPMs)
- Two lithium-ion batteries, up to 3 hours each
- Wide blade version of the KM Supera
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- Powers through all coat types with 3 high-speed settings
- #10 Prime Series German high-carbon steel blade for durability
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- Powerful motor up to 6,000 SPM with cool, quiet performance
- Up to 2 hours cordless runtime with Lithium Ion battery
- Quick-adjust blade (#10, #15, #30) for flexible cutting lengths
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- Ergonomic design for comfort and control during grooming
These wildly powerful shears are great for thick coats, and when I say thick, I mean it.
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- Keeps blades lubricated for cooler, smoother cutting
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- Recommended after each use for best performance and longevity
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- 2-minute hospital-grade disinfectant for fast, effective cleaning
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Choose your favorite blade from a #7 to a #40 for body clippers like the Velocity, Supera, or KM Series.
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- Glide-through cutting for smooth, efficient clipping on all coat types
- Easy detachment and adjustment (#9, #10, #15, #30 & #43)
- Always cool-running blade set for consistent performance
- Ideal for bridle path, ears, muzzle, fetlocks, and finish work on horses
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Thank you!