Full body clipping can take a few hours - and it feels like most of that is waiting for your horse to dry from his pre-clip bath. You may also find that you need to bathe one day and clip the next. But what about body clipping your horse when they're wet? It seems like a good idea, but it's not.
The downsides to wet clipping your horse
The biggest problem with clipping a wet horse will be his comfort level. Wet horse hair gets gummed up in the blades, causing the clippers to pull and tug. Most horses find this uncomfortable, and the entire clipping process will take longer.
Wet clipping also tends to make your horse's coat look chopped and uneven. This look is also due to the clumping of damp hair in the blades. You may find that your finished clip has a lot of lines, too.
Clipping a wet horse will also hit your pocketbook. The moisture and collection of damp hair in the blades will dull them quickly, so you will sharpen and replace your blades more often. If these blades are stored without proper cleaning, drying, and oiling, they will rust.
You will also be going through coolant and clipper oil at an alarming rate when you wet clip. The clogged blades have a lot of tangles and friction, making them run hot. You stop more, you need more coolant, you need more oil.
There is also the risk that moisture will get into the clipper body, rusting out and damaging parts of the motor. The inside of a clipper body collects tiny bits of hair and dust, and if that can happen, water can also creep in. You may find that your clippers need servicing, repair, or replacement sooner rather than later.
The benefits of clipping a clean and dry horse
Prepping your horse for clipping is the best thing you can do for your equipment and your horse's comfort.
When you are clipping a clean and dry horse, minimal dust and dirt can get stuck in between the fast-moving clipper blades. Those bits of gunk create friction and heat while working to degrade and dull the blades. The result on your horse is uncomfortable tugging, clipper lines, and an uneven coat.
The clipping process will also be much faster, as clean and dry hair glides through the clipper blades. You still need to stop every five minutes to brush out the blades and reapply clipper oil.
The challenge, of course, is to be patient enough to help your horse dry completely.
How to help your horse dry
Depending on your horse's needs, you may find that clipping season starts when the hair coat is just starting to come in. Shorter hair means a quicker dry time.
After bathing or hot toweling your horse, sweat scrape often and thoroughly. Rubber edges on sweat scrapers are best for legs and bony areas. Use clean and dry towels and rags to buff your horse and remove more water.
It's often helpful to use nature to your advantage. Sunny, breezy days are best where your horse can be outside to dry - if it's warm enough. Do your best to tempt your horse to stay in the warm sunshine without having a quick roll in the dirt.
If warm weather is not on your side, use wool or fleece coolers to keep your horse warm and to wick away moisture from the coat. Fleece coolers are affordable and easy to wash and dry. Wool coolers tend to wick more moisture away, although heavier and not as convenient to clean.
Stacking coolers on the horse with a thick coat is one way to speed things along. There's added warmth and extra drying power. Remove the lower layers when they become damp, and there will be a fresh one right there.
Solariums are another option if your barn has one. These delightful overhead heat lamps make drying easy.
Get clipping
You will probably find that some parts of your horse dry faster than other parts. Start clipping the dry spots as the rest of your horse dries. Or, clip a design into his rump or hindquarters. Since the fresh bath does wonders for easy and consistent dry clipping, you can skip around clipping different parts of your horse with no worry.
When your horse is completely dry, your horse will look and feel amazing.
