Coat care after clipping

It goes without saying that a healthy shine comes from within.  Good feeding, exercise and a daily grooming routine are all key factors in contributing and encouraging good shine and condition to a coat all year round. However, there are certain times of the year, when additional care and attention within a grooming session prior to and after clipping can be particularly helpful in ensuring a fabulous finish, particularly when coats are on the change in the Autumn and Spring.

When clipping, if the coat is clean and as grease free as possible, the finish should be smooth and less likely to have lines showing.  When the blades go through the hair, the exertion of moving through additional dirt and grease will give the undesirable teeth mark look, as well as dulling the blades more quickly and putting more strain on the motor. 

Prior to Clipping

There are several ways to present a clean horse prior to clipping. A good hot soapy shower is quick and easy if there is access to this facility.  Alternatively, our favoured one is the hot clothing system.  This is a simple but effective way to give the horse a hot bucket bath and massage using a mixture of hot water and a dash of detergent or a specialised solution such as the Clippersharp Pre Clip wash which contains Witch hazel, and works as an astringent and grease remover.

Groom in the usual way and brush the coat vigorously to remove all caked or loose mud, dirt and dander.  Use a rubber curry comb or similar, to massage thoroughly to bring any further grease or dirt to the surface.  Finish with a final brush off using a medium brush such as a Borstiq Shaped Mex Fibre brush.  Then apply the hot wash solution with a cloth or sponge, massaging in well, and gradually working all over the body.

Dry thoroughly with a towel to remove any final dampness and dirt before starting to clip.

After Clipping

Once the coat has been clipped, there will be lots of hair and further dander that will be on the surface.  Brush off with a soft, flicky brush, before applying a further hot cloth wash to pull out the remaining grease and dirt.  This will leave the new clip soft and clean as well as giving the horse a refreshing final wash.  An additional rinse off with Super Shine lotion will ensure the skin is moisturised and the hair is conditioned giving a great after finish and shine.

Rug up with appropriate rugs, depending on the weather and time of year. This will help with keeping the coat smooth and encourage the coat to come through during the early Spring.