Posts Tagged ‘handy tips’

Anyone who has ever had a horse with a full or part clip knows they are a lot easier to keep well groomed than a horse with a think woolly coat – especially when they’ve been rolling in a bit of winter mud! But those that show all winter long, they also know the frustration of trying to get a good shine on a clipped horse. Those short, thick hairs just don’t seem to ever glow the way a summer coat does!

But there are a few tricks – the clippers you have in your horse grooming supplies can make a big difference, and there are a few other handy tips to get a show ring shine on a winter horse.

Step one – when and how you clip

The first thing you need to know is that a horse just clipped will be at its least shiny. The short, thick winter hairs will have blunt ends after clipping, and they won’t want to lie flat. If you need a shine for a particular event or show clip at least two to three weeks before so you have some time to get let the hairs grow out.

How you clip will affect how much shine you can get. To get an even finish, you need to clip against the lay of the hair, but this will cause the ends of the hairs to bend upwards, causing a dull finish. It’s important to clip in small sections, and after each section go over the hairs with a damp brush to get them flat right away. Keep a clean, soft brush in your horse grooming supplies specifically for this purpose. Use warm water to smooth the hairs flat after each section is clipped. Spraying the hairs with some leave-in conditioner also helps, or you can put a little baby oil into the water bucket to help smooth the hairs down.

Another factor is temperature – when a horse is cold, the hairs stand up on end to trap warm air. When you clip, after you’ve finished a section and have smoothed the hairs down, make sure you keep your horse warm. A light cotton blanket or sheet laid over the newly clipped sections won’t catch the hairs, and will keep your horse cosy – and the hairs flat. Likewise, keep your clipped horse warm before you go into the arena at your show!

Step two – have the right tools for the job

To get a good shine, you need the smoothest possible finish from your clip. If you are clipping for shows, or clipping frequently, that means you should invest in the best horse clippers you can afford for your horse grooming supplies. Most major equine clipper suppliers offer both corded and rechargeable models, and each has their own benefits. Cordless horse clippers are usually quieter, and you don’t risk getting tangled up in the cord – or not being able to reach all parts of your horse, so they are good for fidgety or nervous horses. If you don’t have easy access to electrical sockets, you may have to opt for a rechargeable model. Corded models have the benefit that you don’t need to recharge them, so if you have a big horse or one with a very thick coat, several horses to clip, or need to clip often, a corded model is probably more convenient.

First, always choose clippers from a reliable manufacturer. This way, you will get a good warranty, and replacement blades will be easy to find. Plus, you can be sure that by sticking with the best suppliers, like Wahl, Andis, and Oster that your clippers will be safe – and that’s important anytime you use electrical products around horses.

Try to choose clippers that give you a good choice of blades. If you need to clip a very woolly horse, you’ll need to start with large, broad blades to get through the hair. But for touch-ups, repeat clippings, and to get the best possible finish, you will want to choose the smallest blades you can. That’s why regular clipping is essential for show horses that really need to shine – you want to be able to use the smallest set of blades in your clipper supplies!

Here’s a selection of some of the best choices of horse clippers from the top suppliers:

• Wahl horse clippers. The Wahl Liberty Clipper is one of the best cordless models, With low noise and vibration, it’s ideal for sensitive horses, and when fully charged you can get up to 2 ½ hours of clipping time. As with all Wahl clippers, a full range of blades are available, including a fine set to get the maximum shine!
• Oster horse clippers. The Oster Golden A5 two-Speed Clipper gives you a choice of blade speeds for different types of clipping. The ‘normal’ speed is best for a careful finish or precise edges, and the ‘fast’ speed gets through a thick coat quickly. You can use the same blade sets and attachments as most Oster clippers, so combine a set of fine blades with the precision settings to get a professional finish.
• Andis horse clippers. The Andis AGC Super 2-Speed is great value choice and still gets excellent results. The two speed motor, like the Oster Golden A5, gives you the quick option if you have a lot of horses to do or need to get through a heavy coat. The Andis has a super-cooled motor, so unlike other clippers it doesn’t need any air vents – this means you don’t get a draft blowing the unclipped hairs around, and so you can get a really smooth, even finish. Not only can you use a range of Andis blades, but this Andis model is compatible with Oster A5 range, so you can be sure you can always get replacement blades.

Step three – maintain your horse clippers

Finally, to get the smoothest finish and the best shine, you must take good care of your clippers. Clean the blades as you clip – hairs caught in the blades will lead to rough edges! Keep the blades oiled, and let them cool down if they start to get hot. For the best shine, you want the hairs cut as cleanly as possible, and that means sharp blades. If a good shine is important to you, then keep a few sets of blades in your horse grooming supplies – that way you always have a sharp set for each clip, and you have spares for when you need to get the blades resharpened.

Properly maintained, your clippers can be one of the most useful tools in your horse grooming supplies. For a hard working horse in winter, or one that needs to dazzle in the show ring, a good quality set of clippers and replacement blades will be the first step to both your horse’s comfort, and to your success!

This is the fourth in a series of five articles on horse grooming. This article has some excellent tips for getting a winter shine on a clipped coat. Not only does it provide some great winter tips, but also makes recommendations on the right horse grooming supplies for a great looking coat anytime.

Author: Marcus Koll
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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A well-broke horse is a joy to work around. A horse that always tries to get his own way can be a nuisance. They can also be dangerous. Proper training can put the respect back in a horse and make him more enjoyable to work around. Training shows a horse that it is easier and more comfortable to do as we ask than to do otherwise. A horse should respect you and your cues, not fear them.

I’ve compiled a list of handy tips that if used consistently, should put the respect and trust back in your training program with a minimum of effort. As your horse gains in respect and understanding, you’ll find that he tests you less and less, making him easier and more enjoyable to work with.

If you are leading a horse and he tries to drag you, walk past you, or pull the rope from your hand, stop him and make him back five to six steps. Ask him to walk forward. Repeat the correction as needed. Once he understands that he will get corrected each and every time he tries to drag you, he will stop trying.

Teach a horse to respect you and your cues on the ground and that will carry over to work under saddle. If you teach a horse to respect a verbal “Whoa!” command from the ground, he should also respect that command when given from his back.

If you teach a horse to lead respectfully along side you, loading into a trailer should no longer be an issue. He will learn that he must go where you direct. “No” is not an option.

Use the law of opposites. If you’ve asked your horse to stop, and he tries to walk forward, make him back four or five steps. If you ask him to stop, and he turns to the left, turn him twice as far to the right. If he moves to the right, turn him twice as far to the left. If he wants to go forward, make him back a few steps. Enforce that you , not he, choose the direction of travel. You are the driver, not a passenger. Do not “give in” because it is easier. That teaches a horse that he can ignore your cues. It will become harder and harder to make your horse obey if you don’t enforce obedience each and every time you ride.

Remember that long standing habits will take more than just one correction to cure the horse. Do not get mad or punish him, just repeat the correction for as long as it takes. (It may take weeks, even months, but continue correcting each and every time.) Given enough time, most bad habits can be broken and replaced with good behavior.

If a horse refuses to cross an obstacle, dismount and hand walk him over it. Lots of patience may be in order, but spend the time until he will cross. It may mean that you have to hand place a foot, rub his neck to praise him to tell him he responded correctly, hand place the next foot, praise him, etc. Do not give up and let him win, but be sure not to get angry and react in anger. Patience is a virtue. Spend the time today to show him what you want. It takes as long as it takes. It will be shorter tomorrow, and even shorter the following day. If a horse trusts that you will never put him in a situation that will hurt him, and that he must always obey the go forward cue, you’ll find the horse will not only learn to cross that same obstacle, but many of the others that you place in front of him. Go forward means go forward. You are building trust and respect.

Ask a horse to do something three times, then go on to something else. Asking more than three times can cause a horse to think that he is being corrected. Asking a horse to perform the same maneuver over and over will make him sour on that maneuver. If that was his best maneuver, soon it will become his worst. He will learn to hate it if you ask him to repeat it over and over.

The easiest way to train a horse to do anything is to reward good behavior. You must let a horse know that he has done what you are asking of him. If you teach a horse to back up, and he takes a half step back, immediately release pressure and praise him. A small step today becomes a big step tomorrow and two steps on the following day. Ask three times and go on to something else. Ask again the next day. Training takes time!

If you ride in arena, and your horse tries to cut towards the center to make the circle smaller, make him circle to the outside, in the opposite direction from that in which he chose. Small circles are uncomfortable for a horse and he will try to avoid that which causes him to be uncomfortable. Make three tight circles to the outside, then continue around the arena. If he cuts in again, repeat the correction. If you correct him, each and every time he cuts in, he will learn that it is easier to stay on the rail.

Any time you correct your horse, remember that you have three seconds or less to correct him so he will associate the punishment with the “crime”. If you miss that three-second time frame, wait for the next time he misbehaves. Waiting longer than three seconds to punish a horse will confuse him. He will not understand what the correction was for.

Begin each ride with a short session of walking. This is not only good for a horse’s physical well-being, but it keeps him thinking mentally slow while you mount and begin each ride. A horse that is taught to walk off will seldom try to run off while you’re mounting.

End each ride by walking. Walking for four to five minutes after each ride allows the lactic acid (which builds up in the horse’s muscles) to dissipate so he is not muscle-sore the next day. It also lets him unwind mentally. This will teach him to begin and end each ride slowly and calmly.

Never dismount by the gate. A gate becomes a magnet to a horse. Many horses stop at one in anticipation of you getting off. Dismount in a different area every time that you ride. Keep him guessing as to when the ride ends!

Enforcing obedience develops a successful partnership between horse and rider. He learns what you expect of him and you learn what he will give. Always use a fair and consistent approach that enforces obedience and thoughtfulness. Both you and your horse will benefit. May all your rides be safe and enjoyable.

Author: Laurie Truskauskas-Knott
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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