Razoring

[MiniJoys]

I kind of understand razoring but not clearly. Can some of you educate me on this? When to razor? How to razor? Why to razor? What blade(s) to use? and...anything else relevant to razoring!!!

Thanks!

 

[ionafarm]

I kind of understand razoring but not clearly. Can some of you educate me on this? When to razor? How to razor? Why to razor? What blade(s) to use? and...anything else relevant to razoring!!!

Thanks!

You should razor as close to the show as you possibly can. I do it the night before, some do it the morning of the show.

How- trial and error teaches

I clip with a 50 blade as close as possible first

use hot water to wet the face

put on lather (gel type is good)

If you have a hot lather machine that helps a lot too

I use galette blades, the cheapest ones don't work at all,but the mid prices ones are fine

One blade usually goes for one horse.

Other than that you just have to practice getting it all off.

You need to razor up to your halter then blend in with your clippers

If you nick the horse put neosporen on it and it heals up quick.

Why?-- that is a good question. Because one of the big name trainers started doing it because they did it in Arabs and now it is the style and what most all of the judges are looking for. You look really novice if you don't now and so we are all stuck doing it. The purpose is to show off the horses nose and face more, which is good for the slender refined looking horse without tooth bumps or anything.

 

[Lisa-Ruff N Tuff Minis]

I have someone else razor my horses as I am just not good at it and can rarely get thru my legs without cutting myself

:

While I dont always razor for local shows it really does make a difference and I LOVE the way my horses look

I hear some say how cruel and abusive it is.. but really all one has to do is walk thru the barn aisles at night or early morning and see the horses standing there not tied just hanging out obviously not in horrible pain or distress

 

[CheyAut]

I personally don't like the look of it, so I won't do it. Not an answer to your questions, just thought I'd through in my opinion

Jessi

 

[backwoodsnanny]

I would like to know when the last time was that a horse who was NOT razored placed in the top 10 at Nationals? My husband has said he will NEVER let us razor a horse so was wondering if anyone has placed without razoring? I have watched two clinics now where razoring was done and at both the horse was FAR from happy I think if it were started young the horse might not mind it but the two I have seen razored hated it and it took multiple people to accomplish the task.

 

[kaykay]

i have never personally razored a horse myself. Black was razored for nationals and they did a beautiful job. Why razor? It does add expression especially to a big eyed horse. You can really emphasize nice big eyes by razoring. Im not a fan of it but know if you want to compete at nationals you have to do it.

I have watched many farms razoring horses at shows and they just lay their head in the persons hands and pretty much go to sleep while its being done. Now these horses are used to it and have had it done so much that they think nothing of it.

Ponies are not razored and I am still praying this doesnt filter over to them.

 

[Lisa-Ruff N Tuff Minis]

I think alot depends on the horse and how much handling and exposure it has had.

I have seen a horse take 3 or 4 to wrestle it just to body clip it in a 10, or to sand there feet -I know someone who has actually had a vet give up on pulling blood for a coggins cause the MINI was so out of control (that one still gets me)

Heck I know of farms that have to wrestle to halter a horse or get it in the trailer and the horses look far from happy

:

My horse was razored for the first time at 8 yrs old no problems but again every horse is different

I dont like the razored look on my B gelding as he has a huge white blaze and white chin and it doesnt look as good IMO on a white faced horse as it does on a dark horse

Bottom line though I think a nice horse will get the judges attention but the competition at Nationals has increased AMAZINGLY I mean really last year there were several that got the gate that could have been pinned but with so many nice horses in the ring only 10 can win. (although it does help to get the gate and look around and realize all the amazing horses that also got the gate) so for me.. It is something I would do to acheive that finsihed look and help with that last little detail that might be what gets you in the ribbons

 

[StarRidgeAcres]

Our stallion took 5th (in a class of 9) at nationals last year without being razored. Having said that, I personally don't use the picture I have of him from then because I think he looked pretty bad. Not just the razoring issue, but mane not thinned properly, no muscle, etc. And that's not his previous owner's fault; they paid someone else to prep him. My point is it can happen because I do think he was the only one in the class that wasn't razored.

Will he be razored this year? Yep.

 

[shane]

ive razored both my horses and they couldnt care less, my black horse looked lovley and realy expressive, were as my grey horse looked weird, i wouldnt do it again though as they havent got there heads round a long bridle path in Ireland so i wouldnt freak them out with the balding just yet lol :bgrin i only done it out of curiousity to see how they would look, :lol:

actually last year i got placed down by a judge because he said he didnt like my mares bridle path that long, he said she had the best conformation, but HE preferred the longer mane, so do you know what i did??? ive grew out her bridle path lol

:

 

[Rebecca]

I attempted to razor my mare Kassie a few days ago. Yes, it looked nice...but it never got finished. The razor was just not working with me, so all I can say is, make SURE you have a good razor that will work, otherwise you may be working on razoring one tiny area for a looong time! Kassie was very good, but eventually got bored and decided she DEFINATLEY prefered munching grass to razoring.

: Once I have a new razor, we'll be at it again, I really think the end result, if done well, looks pretty nice. :bgrin

Question- After razoring, is there anything to put on the razored area(s) to keep them from drying out?