Tips for Clipping Your Horse Tips for Clipping Your Horse
Before:
Before clipping, bathe, dry or groom your horse to get hair as clean as possible as dirty (and wet) hair dulls clipper blades rapidly and doesn't cut well.
Gather a rag and a small brush to clean your blades, plus an extra set of blades or two if you are body clipping.
Oil blades well by applying a few drops between the upper and lower teeth while the clipper is running. Point the blades down to prevent oil from entering the motor. Wipe away excess.
During:
Remember to brush hair off and lubricate blades periodically while clipping. Upper and lower teeth create friction as they cut, which produces heat, causes dulling, and can burn your horse's skin.
If you use spray lubricant, it should not replace oil. Some professional groomers use only oil on their blades. Note some horses have allergic skin reactions to silicone in the spray lubricants.
To clip cleanly, run the blades flat against the growth of your horse's hair. Stretch skin slightly with your free hand, and overlap strokes to avoid leaving tracks of hair and uneven patches.
When you encounter whorls, such as on the flank, move your clippers so you continue to work against hair growth.
If your blades move but won't cut, feel them. If they're hot, the metal may have expanded. Allow the blades to cool, then clean and oil them before trying them again. If they won't cut after cooling and oiling, they have probably become dull.
Some clippers become less effective, leave lines in hair, or begin to make noise if the clipper blade drive needs to be replaced. Refer to instructions accompanying your clipper for help changing the drive.
After:
When finished clipping, brush your horse with a soft finishing brush to remove fine hairs. A good currying and thorough brushing will reduce the amount of grease exposed on the skin, which will in turn soil your horse's blanket.
Dull clipper blades with intact teeth can be sharpened by a professional. Depending on the type and composition of blades, most can be sharpened successfully about three times.
Soften the blunt ends of freshly clipped hair and soothe your horse's skin with an equine coat conditioner spray.
Clear debris from clipper blades with a small brush and clipper cleaner, making sure after cleaning to oil your blades thoroughly. Store your clippers in a protective box, tote or bag.
Our Guarantee 100% Satisfaction Guarantee
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Shop with 100% confidence at Dover Saddlery. If something doesn’t fit you or your horse, return your original purchase within a year, and we’ll make it right with a refund, exchange or replacement.
Our experience as riders and horse owners ourselves is that in most situations a year’s time is fair enough to evaluate proper fit and function. PLUS: For manufacturer’s defects, we’ll extend the manufacturer’s warranty to a maximum of 24 months, regardless of their individual policies. (AND: Manufacturer warranties longer than 24 months will be honored and supported by us as well up to the length of those warranties).
Exceptions: Safety items such as helmets and protective vests may only be returned within 30 days, with their original tags intact. Saddles and riding boots may be returned within the one year period, but are subject to a prorated refund based on usage. Used saddles may be returned for 30 days only. For everyone’s protection, treats and vet meds which have been opened are not returnable, and returned blankets must clean and free of debris. Underwear is not returnable or exchangeable.
Special Conditions
To protect all customers and ensure that every return or exchange is handled fairly, we may require a receipt or decline a return in these situations:
• Item was not purchased directly from Dover Saddlery. (It was purchased at a used tack sale or from a retailer or online seller other than Dover Saddlery.)
• Item is missing a label or has been defaced.
• No receipt and no valid identification in our stores.
• Item is wet, dirty or contaminated, or until it has been cleaned. (For health and safety reasons, we cannot accept returns on used, defective or poorly fitting blankets if they are UNWASHED.)
• Item has been lost, stolen, damaged, or misused.
• On rare occasions, based on the nature of prior transactions.
• Supplements have been opened or used.
• Multiple returns of the same item.
• Personalized items may not be returned unless defective.
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Dover Saddlery understands your concerns regarding online security. We share in your concerns and therefore work hard with experts in the field to maintain a highly secure ordering environment. Along with our comment to security, we offer you a Secure Order Guarantee - this gives you 100% protection for your credit card transactions on Doversaddlery.com.
Our Secure Order Guarantee means that you will never have to pay any money related to unauthorized charges to your credit card account, as long as those charges are a direct result from a transaction on Doversaddlery.com.
How it works: If you experience credit card fraud, the Fair Credit Act specifies that your credit card company can hold you liable for no more than $50.00 in fraudulent charges to your account. Our Secure Order Guarantee will reimburse you for any amount up to $50.00 billed to you by your credit card company for unauthorized charges to your account, if those charges result from an order you placed with Doversaddlery.com. For this protection you must promptly notify your credit card company of fraudulent charges and follow their procedures as outlined in your credit card agreement.
