Hi again, I needed to clip my little filly yesterday, she was good, layed on hubbies lap while I tried doing it, (first time I did this) poor little thing I made a mess, she turned out streaked, I used a 10in blade, what size should I of used and do they make foal clippers? Going to have to try to get her looking better today. My poor little baby.
Tips on clipping babies
- Thread starter Sue S
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Dona
Well-Known Member
:bgrin I have found there is NO easy way.
: Tried clipping on hubby's lap...but I just couldn't manuver the clippers the way I wanted that way. The easiest way (for me) is to teach them to stand tied first...and I've done this as early as 2 weeks old. But if they haven't learned to do that very well yet.....I tie them & then stradle them with my legs so they don't try to fling themselves on the ground. (well...they'll still "try"
: ...but my legs prevent them from doing so, or hurting themselves) I will start right above the hocks & work my way up the butt & around the tail on both sides. Then I do their back & sides & belly. Then I change positions & start working on the front half. Backbreaking work, as I am bent over the entire time.....and I work very slowly...and patiently. But it's what works best for me.
: I also usually don't do the entire foal all at once. I'll do the body....then will come back later & do the head & ears.....and then legs.
Reble
Well-Known Member
Hubby found our little 7 week old foal, bounced, jumped, hopped, reared, all the way to the area for clipping.
Started up the clippers Double K's and touched her body and amazed she stood there like a trooper and he said he would take 20 more minis like her, she let him do her legs from hoof to neck in one stroke and never lifted her leg, and amazed when doing her ears and face was NO problem. :new_shocked:
I know it is hard to believe but so true
:
Sorry no tips, had no problems
Started up the clippers Double K's and touched her body and amazed she stood there like a trooper and he said he would take 20 more minis like her, she let him do her legs from hoof to neck in one stroke and never lifted her leg, and amazed when doing her ears and face was NO problem. :new_shocked:
I know it is hard to believe but so true
Sorry no tips, had no problems
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Little Wee Horse Farm
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Yep, I teach them to stand tied first. Once they have that down: I let them smell the clippers while they are turned off; hear them turned on from afar & then closer. I don't right away go to clipping, I let them feel the backside of the clippers while they are shut off. Then turned on. I usually do this right above the shoulder near the base of the neck on the side. And reach for baby and pull away quickly if they respond badly. It's the same as pull & release in rein training, basically.
Unless they were going to a show, I only did a basic body clip, & didn't do the legs or ears (inside or out) or face. I let that come later on perhaps the second try on another day. Maybe just get one part at a time (per session). Slow & easy does it for babies. If one is just terrified of the whole event, I'd let it go until it matured more & trusted me more.
And make sure mama is very near by. I usually tied baby & mama right next to each other. Mamas generally don't care if they can see what's going on & touch the babies & babies get so much out of her nearness.
Oh, and I've never heard of foal clippers, tho some makes & models are definitely quieter than others. I think a #10 blade is fine for body clipping a foal. I couldn't imagine wanting to get REALLY close to a baby's skin, unless showing, then still I, personally, am aprehensive about it. But that's just MHO.
Unless they were going to a show, I only did a basic body clip, & didn't do the legs or ears (inside or out) or face. I let that come later on perhaps the second try on another day. Maybe just get one part at a time (per session). Slow & easy does it for babies. If one is just terrified of the whole event, I'd let it go until it matured more & trusted me more.
And make sure mama is very near by. I usually tied baby & mama right next to each other. Mamas generally don't care if they can see what's going on & touch the babies & babies get so much out of her nearness.
Oh, and I've never heard of foal clippers, tho some makes & models are definitely quieter than others. I think a #10 blade is fine for body clipping a foal. I couldn't imagine wanting to get REALLY close to a baby's skin, unless showing, then still I, personally, am aprehensive about it. But that's just MHO.
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It is amazing how well it works to bring the mare up with the baby and clip her first. As long as the mare clips relatively easily, the baby seems to learn that that scarey noise is nothing to be scared of and stands to be clipped relatively easily.
Amazing as it sounds, that is one thing I don't have too much trouble with.
I do tie up the mama right there.
I sit in a chair or on my stool and just hold the baby.
I put a really big halter on the baby so I can manuever the clippers on the face and that helps me get the face done easily.
Then I just start at the neck and they seem to take to it right away.
I always seem to need help doing legs and ears. Nobody stands for that very well around here.
I do tie up the mama right there.
I sit in a chair or on my stool and just hold the baby.
I put a really big halter on the baby so I can manuever the clippers on the face and that helps me get the face done easily.
Then I just start at the neck and they seem to take to it right away.
I always seem to need help doing legs and ears. Nobody stands for that very well around here.
