1st time show clipping for me

[Sunrise Valley]

I have a weanling colt that I am going to show at the Fletcher show. I have never done a facial. I have never clipped except just routine springtime clips with # 10 blades. HELP!

He is a bright bay minimal pinto, white socks and stockings. How far in advance do you clip your bays? #15 on body? Same blade for white legs?

I have a diagram for the face, but am not confident! His face is so small. Any hints?

Also, his feet are so small. I have seen folks touch-up with a wide marksalot marker. Would it be harmful to use one on the full hoof instead of commercial hoof black?

I had all kinds of confidence.... but as time gets closer, not so much. I don't want to make a mess of him.

I will be grateful for all the helpful hints you have!

Lisa

 

[kaykay]

I only use a 15 on solid colored horses. IMO it doesnt look good on a pinto. Remember its best to clip a horse at least 2 times before a show if they have never been clipped.

I clip them slightly damp. Use plenty of shosheen after bathing. Always go against how the hair grows! If you have never done a real facial I would just do a 10 on the head and use a 30 on the muzzle/ears.

We clip all of ours about 6-7 days before the show. This lets their color come back in nicely

 

[targetsmom]

Just to show how opinions differ on clipping - I have only pintos and I usually use a #15 blade. I clip up to a full week before the show to avoid the "pink" look. I do the body first, then a few days later the legs, and then the head/ears the day before the show. I do not have the energy to do all the clipping at once, and if I show more than one (which is usual) I try to stagger the bodies and legs.

I also clip damp, and well Show-Sheened. And I don't panic too much about the spots I miss and do "touch-up" clipping the next day (or days!) with my cordless clippers.

I don't do facials and use the cordless clippers to clip the muzzle with a #30 or #40 "blade".

Good luck!!

 

[Sunrise Valley]

Thank you!

I am so relieved that I don't have to do a complicated facial!

Any opinions on the majic marker hoof blacking?

Lisa

 

[disneyhorse]

When it comes to clipping and show prepping WEANLINGS, I pretty much just try to get them "presentable." Especially for just a local level show. Nationals, well hopefully they are a little older and easier to work with and are somewhat trained to set up and stand.

But I just clip them with a #10 or #15 blade all over, run a #40 on the nose and bridle path, and that's it. I might or might not clip out the ears if the foal is quiet about it and the bugs aren't bad.

Then, just make sure they are clean.

As to the magic marker, that is okay but it will not have the shine that Hoof Black will have. But like I said, it's just a weanling.

Weanlings don't stand well in halter, they may or may not lead and trot off for the judges

All the rules are out and hopefully your judges are experienced enough to be patient with the babies.

Just go and have fun, and try to make the experience educational, not stressful, for your little guys.

Andrea

Here is a colt I had, at his first show (five weeks old):

 

[kaykay]

You can spray the hooves with ultra shine to make them shny after coloring them.

I have to say though we trained our weanling to stand for halter and honestly it was really easy to do. We just practiced with her about 10 mins a couple times per week and she showed like an old pro at 2.5 months old

The clipper size is really personal preference I guess. We prefer not to use a 15 on pintos

Also I forgot this was a weanling. I would probably just do the entire head in a 10 and skip the closer clipping

 

[icspots]

Most all of mine are pintos and I clip with a 15 or even a 30 about a week before the show, with a baby I think I'd do a 15, I am awful at razoring, so would clip the muzzle and over the eyes with a 50, majority of the head w/ a 30 and blend with a 40. With four white socks you could show natural color like the Disneyhorse baby (makes their legs look longer, and no black mess on socks!) I did try magic marker on baby feet one year and it didn't take long for it to take on a purple like look to it, so don't really recommend that.

 

[The Simple Life Farm]

Most all of mine are pintos and I clip with a 15 or even a 30 about a week before the show, with a baby I think I'd do a 15, I am awful at razoring, so would clip the muzzle and over the eyes with a 50, majority of the head w/ a 30 and blend with a 40. With four white socks you could show natural color like the Disneyhorse baby (makes their legs look longer, and no black mess on socks!) I did try magic marker on baby feet one year and it didn't take long for it to take on a purple like look to it, so don't really recommend that.

Ditto for me here too.