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Clippers - purchasing
As you know if you have been reading along, I recently purchased a set of clippers. If you've never used clippers on your horse (I've been doing bridles paths and fetlocks with scissors for the past 16 years!), and are thinking about buying a set, here are some things to be aware of.
Clippers, like most electrical devices, come with many different options. You can opt for cordless or with cord, multi-speed over single-speed, with an extra handle or without. You have a variety of blades available too. Each has its own advanatges and downfalls.
You may be enticed by the lure of cordless clippers, but some things to consider is that they tend to be more expensive to purchase than corded clippers. Add to that the frustration of getting your clipping job half done and have the battery run out - when you are supposed to be in the ring in less than an hour, that can add way too much stress!
You can purchase a second battery pack, so as to keep one charged at all times, but again you are looking at increased cost. On the other hand, many rechargers are now done in 30 minutes, which means you don't have to wait too long, and not having to worry about dragging a potentially dangerous cord around may be worth the added cost.
When I bought my clippers I opted for single-speed over the multi-speed model. My reasoning (and no experience to back this up, this was just my reasoning!) was that the second speed was only 1/3 faster than the other, and I was paying an increased price. Add to that the possibility of more breakable parts (seems to be a standard rule, the more options, the more can go wrong!) and the single speed looked like the better deal for the money. Not having any further experience with the two, I couldn't recommend one over the other.
The extra handle is used on some of the bigger clippers, like those used to shear sheep or body clip show cattle. I chose to stay with the smaller, easily maneuverable regular style, and was unsure how the others would feel in the hand.
Next week, blades and more... |
| If you have tips or questions on equipment care, purchases, fit, or anything else to do with equestrian equipment, please mail them to kristi@hiway16.com |
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Western, English, Penning or Trail riding, all equine sports have a voice on Northern B.C. Horse.
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If you are new to Northern B.C. Horse, check out all the previous issues on the Archive page.
Kristi is building a great knowledge base about horses, with the emphasis on our area of the world.
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Supplements for hair removal
All sorts of supplements and treatments were suggested by various people - I am not condoning any of these but simply sharing with you some of the ideas I heard.
One lady told me to deworm my horse right away, as a thick hair coat can be a sign of worms. While in some cases that may be true, my horses are on a regular deworming schedule, so I don't think that's the problem.
However, another lady, who shows palamino horses in the States, told me to avoid using ivermectin. For the last 10 years, the palomino circuit breeders and competitors in her area have discovered that using ivermectin makes a horse "hair up" much more than other dewormers. She also suggested a full dose of Panacur or Safeguard dewormer 5 days in a row, as that is something most of the people there do routinely to shed hair out fast.
Apparently it was a vet that put her on to this idea, but I am not suggesting anyone do it without consulting their own vet! I have asked her to try to find documentation on it for me and will share it with you when it arrives.
A suggestion of adding corn oil to the feed was also given. The advantages are several - adding fat to the diet can help poor keepers, you are adding oils to the hair coat from the inside, and apparently also corn oil encourages shedding sooner. The disadvantage of using corn oil (or any oil) on a regular basis is that in time, the gut walls can become lined with oily residue, hampering nutrient absorption. I'm not sure how true that is for horses whose feed is top-dressed with oil, but I do know that people that eat a lot of deep-fried foods have problems like that, so there may be some basis in fact there!
Products that are high in fatty acids (as well as other supplements) can be chosen instead of straight oil. There are lots on the market - just leaf through any national publication or browse the shelves at your local tack store. Still, always check with your veterinarian before adding something to your horse's diet - they may have heard warnings against products that we haven't heard.
All in all, everyone has their own special remedy or method to deal with winter coat shedding, and taking care of your horse's diet is always a good place to start!
If you have tips or questions you'd like to share with other local equestrians, please mail them to kristi@hiway16.com |
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Clipping - but first, other methods of hair removal
Well, have you been waiting with baited breath as to whether or not I decided to clip my horse? The answer is, yes I did. Did I do a good job? The answer is, well, let's just say I'm glad we have another month before our first clinic so (hopefully) the clipper tracks can grow out!
Am I glad I did it? Yes, partly for the removal of the hair itself, and also partly for the experience (now you can use me as a guinea pig reference source - haha!).
So, now to run through the techniques behind clipping - I must say it was was real eye opener. As I mentioned last week, I turned to the mailing list to ask my questions, and boy did I get answers! All sorts of them! Over the next couple of weeks I'll try to share some of them with you.
To start with, really consider before clipping why you are planning on doing it. Horses will still shed after clipping. Those hairs still have to come out even though they are shorter, so if you are just doing it because you don't like the loose hair in spring, don't bother.
Get out your grooming kit, and use it. Start with the shedder blade to remove the loose hairs from the surface, then go to your rubber curry and really deeply work your circles in the coat. This not only pulls more loose hair to the surface, it also increases circulation to the skin and pores, which results in faster shedding and increased oils being moved through the hair coat (which makes for a healthier-looking, shinier coat).
If there is lots of loose hair left behind, shedder blade again, then go to your dandy brush to flick dirt out of the coat. Finish with a soft body brush to smooth the coat and to spread the hair oils through the coat evenly.
Exercise your horse regularly - exercise stimulates the system and helps them to shed faster as well. If you can ride, go for it, or lunge your horse, or even just get him to run around the pasture a few times. After exercise, complete your grooming routine again - the exercise will have warmed the horse and may encourage more hair to drop.
If you have tips or questions you'd like to share with other local equestrians, please mail them to kristi@hiway16.com |
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