• There are four main types of clip ranging from a minimalistic 'bib' clip, to a trace, blanket and full (or hunter) clip. Each exposes more of the main muscle groups of the horse and thus will aid with cooling for horses in work. If your horse lives out, is rugged and is in light or moderate work, you would use a bib or a trace clip. Horses living in who are in heavier work, will usually have a blanket or full / hunter clip.
• Generally, it's only the full clip where all the hair on the head is also removed, otherwise hair is only taken off the sides of the face.
• A full clip can retain a saddle patch for extra comfort under the saddle, or take all the hair off the back. A full or hunter clip may or may not remove the hair from the legs. If you are hunting, it's best to leave 'the legs on' as this helps to stop thorns from penetrating too deeply.
• You will need the following: Clippers (fully charged if you are not clipping on mains) with sharpened blades and fitted with a circuit breaker, clipper oil, small clippers for the head if your large clippers are noisy, chalk, a brush, a headcollar with an open-fronted noseband, something safe to stand on, a helper for the fiddly bits and possibly a lip twitch when you come to the head. Wayne suggests using a twitch for the eyes upwards if you taking off all the hair on the head. You also need a bathed and dried horse and a clean, sheltered area to clip in.
• It's best to wear all-in-one suit overalls to avoid hair getting into your clothes and your underwear, unless you live on site and can peel your clothes off into the washer, and jump in the shower afterwards!
• Chalk the main lines for the clip you intend to use onto your horse.
• Always clip against the hair in long smooth strokes. The pressure is light (lighter than you would use to hold a pen).
• With whorls, you will need to clip against the hair in a variety of directions!
• When you come to fiddly bits, eg. under the forelegs where there are creases and folds in the skin, gently pinch and stretch the skin so you can clip without nicking the horse. You will need a helper to pull out the front legs to properly get under the armpits.
• Oil your clippers everying 7 to 10 minutes, when they feel hot and / or the noise they make changes.
• If it's a cold day, rug half of the horse while you clip the other half and vice versa.
• Be aware of where the wire of the clippers is, if you are connected to the mains and ensure the horse doesn't stand on it!
• When you start clipping a line eg. the boundary of the clip, focus your attention on the end point, as this will help to make a straight line.
• When you come to do the head, use a headcollar which opens on front so you can keep the horse tied up while clipping, without restricting your movements. If your horse is worried about having his head clipped, you might consider getting a helper to carefully twitch his upper lip (especially for doing the eyes and the ears) as this will subdue him a little and avoid him getting fretful. It should also avoid creating an unsafe situation for your and your horse. Ensure you take good advice on how to use a twitch!
• Once you have finished, it's a good idea to 'hot-rag' your horse. Get some hot water in bucket and wring out a small towel or rag in it. Wait until the heat has subsided to an acceptable level and then rub your horse's coat with it in all directions. This will remove any dust and scurf that has come up from clipping!
• If you are at all unsure, get a professional to instruct you in how to clip or ask them to clip your horse for you!

This video and these key points reflect the views and preferred method of the person demonstrating the technique. Horse Hero recommends you ask an expert for advice if you need guidance or are unsure how to do this yourself. Please take every precaution for the safety of you and your horse. (www.horsehero.com)