There’s something deeply satisfying about a freshly clipped horse, that silky-smooth finish, the shine and knowing your horse won’t be standing damp or cold if they sweat up during exercise. But achieving a professional-looking clip takes more than good clippers and a steady hand. It’s about preparation, patience, and even what’s in your horse’s feed bucket.
Following the success of her insider tips last winter, Kate Duffy, groom at Aloga Stables, is back to share her advice on clipping like a pro and keeping coats healthy all season long.
Patience. Always
Whether it’s the first or fiftieth time you’ve clipped your horse, patience truly is your secret weapon. “Clipping should always be a calm, positive experience,” says Kate. “If the horse feels relaxed and trusts you, the whole process becomes so much easier.”
Set up in a quiet space with minimal distractions. Take your time. A calm horse is a cooperative horse and it’ll show in the final result. If you have a particular sensitive or nervous horse giving a syringe of Foran Equine Nutri-Calm can help ease your horse’s nerves before you start the process.
Clean Coats = Smooth Clips
There’s one golden rule: clean horses clip better. Dust, dirt, and grease can dull your blades, drag through the coat, and leave uneven lines. Kate recommends giving your horse a thorough grooming or a pre-clip bath for the best results.
A powerful shampoo like Carr & Day & Martin’s GALLOP Extra Strength will lift every bit of dirt and grease in one go. Once washed, be sure your horse’s coat is completely dry again. Using a wicking cooler rug such as the Aloga Waffle Cooler are perfect for drawing away moisture quickly and help a through drying process. The cleaner and drier the coat, the smoother your clippers will glide.
Blades That Mean Business
Before you flick on the switch, check your equipment. Sharp, well-oiled blades make all the difference. “Dull blades just make more work for you and cause friction for the horse,” Kate explains. Take regular breaks to oil and cool your blades during clipping. Your clippers and your horse will thank you.
Kate’s go-to choices? 1.2mm and 1.5mm blades. Anything shorter tends to look streaky. For greys, she always opts for 1.5mm: “It gives such a lovely, smooth finish without leaving lines, and it’s kinder on sensitive skin.”
When clipping, use long, even strokes and work with the natural curves of your horse’s body. Whether it’s a trace clip, hunter or full clip, work with the natural curves of the horse’s body and muscles to get the most even lines that complement the horse’s shape.
Hot Cloth Finish
Once your clipping is done, don’t skip the finishing touches. A quick hot cloth or gentle rinse removes loose hairs and helps avoid post-clip itchiness. Keep an eye out for any signs of irritation, and make sure your horse is fully dry again before rugged appropriately. Spraying the interior of your blanket lining with show sheen can help reduce friction, helping the lining glide smoothly with your horse’s body and protecting against rubbing.
Layer Smart
Choosing the correct blanket can make or break that freshly clipped coat. When clipped the horse’s natural insulation against the winter cold has been reduced and must be replaced accordingly. This is for their overall wellbeing and to help delay the coat from growing out too rapidly. Kate loves using Aloga liners under stable or turnout rugs to add warmth without bulk. “Liners are brilliant because you can adjust blanket weights easily as the temperature changes without the need to switch the whole rug,” she explains. This flexibility ensures your horse gets the right level of insulation to keep them comfortable and helps maintain that neat, polished look for longer. Aloga liners are also machine washable meaning they can be washed independently to the body of the outer blanket helping maintain it’s functionality while keeping the areas closest to your horse’s coat clean and refreshed.
Shine from the inside out
We often focus on the outside process: the clippers, the brushes, the rugs, but a truly healthy coat starts from within. After clipping, the skin and hair follicles can be more exposed, so nutrition plays a big part in keeping the coat soft, glossy, and strong.
Supplements such as Red Mills Define & Shine are brilliant for promoting natural coat condition and helping the hair grow back beautifully. Likewise, Kentucky Karron Oil, rich in omega fatty acids, supports healthy skin and that shine-from-the-inside look.
A balanced diet, paired with good grooming, means your horse’s coat won’t just look amazing post-clip it’ll help it last throughout the winter weeks.
The Finishing Touch
A great clip is equal parts skill and care. Add a touch of nutritional support and thoughtful blanketing and your horse’s will not only look great, but they’ll be also comfortable and cosy after the process too. So, this winter, take your time, prep properly, blanket correctly and feed for shine.