How To Trim A Horse
Trimming is completely down to the owner.
It is done for appearance (especially for showing) and sometimes for health reasons.
It is best to use blunt ended scissors in case the horse moves.
Always make sure you tie your horse in a safe area and your horse is happy with the noises that scissors or clippers make.
EARS
The hair outside the ears can be trimmed so dirt and wax do not get clogged there and also for appearance.
NEVER TRIM INSIDE THE EARS AS THEY NEED THIS HAIR TO PROTECT THEIR HEARING.
Hold the ear firmly, do not use the scissors until your horse is completely happy with this.
Use the scissors just outside the ear without cutting anything to make sure your horse is fine with the noise.
If your horse is calm and unbothered, gently trim the hair in a straight line leaving a couple of millimeters of hair just outside the ear.
LOWER JAW
This is done for appearance.
Gently trim the hair with scissors or with clippers (you can get excellent human hair clippers that are great for this).
IMPORTANT– if you need to put the headcollar around the horse’s neck make sure you untie your horse first. This is because if they get scared while tied like this, it can tighten around the throat or slip off over the face, really scaring them.
Make sure you are cutting towards the chin or throat, as if you cut across it will leave untidy ridges.
Finally, trim the cat hairs (the long hairs) from around the side of the face.
WHISKERS
I WOULD NEVER CUT THESE AS THE HORSE CANNOT SEE RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEIR NOSE,SO NEEDS THEM FOR FEELING THE GROUND AND WHAT THEY ARE EATING.
If the hair is excessively long and the horse is in good condition you can trim them to a reasonable length.
LIP HAIR
Our wonderful cobs and native breeds sometimes get large beards or lip hair. Again they need some hair for feeling which is why they developed it in the first place but, if they are healthy and kept in good conditions, then they do not need this extra growth.
Very often they are quite sensitive here so trim a little to check they are okay. It is better to do a small section at a time than have just half a beard left.
THE MANE
It is common to pull a horse’s mane using a mane comb by pulling the hair from the roots, I do not believe this is okay. Many believe the horse has little sensation in the hair here, but I have seen many a horse (almost every day over the summer) have a fly land on their mane and they shake it off. Because of this obvious sensitivity I can not believe that they have no feeling there. I do believe they become used to and accepting of pain caused by us, therefore becoming unreactive. I keep the mane in order by cutting rather than pulling so the horse is not hurt in any way.
Tie your horse in a safe area.
Comb out the mane.
Take a small section of hair, I start from the wither but I do not believe it makes a difference which end you start.
Hold the hair just below the length you want. I aim to have it about a mane comb length, so that I can use the mane comb as a measure, so it stays the same length all the way along.
Backcomb the remaining hair so you are only left with the long hair, then cut in a diagonal line. Do not cut straight or you will be left with an odd line of shorter hair.
Work your way along the mane keeping the same length.
With the really thick manes you can thin it by backcombing and cutting nearer the crest but again make sure you cut diagonally.
Use the same method for the forelock. I cut it shorter on the sides to stop the straight cut look.
I never cut a bridle path (the complete removal of hair where the headpiece rests) or withers, this is because if your hair is cut short and then constantly rubbed (which it will be with headpieces or numnah), it will irritate especially as it grows. If you look carefully at the skin in these areas once cut they generally have tiny sores and redness.
THE TAIL
Tie your horse in a safe area.
Never stand directly behind your horse
If you can beg an assistant to put an arm under the tail so it is held in the same place as when ridden, that is a big help.
Cut straight across so it is about a handspan below the hock when the horse is working.
THE FEATHERS
The feathers have grown for protection so should not be removed unless necessary. We have found that our hairy cobs do not do well with our salty, sandy, marshy soil and some react by getting sores or redness. We have found they are better off having their feathers removed. I do not cut the feathers really short as I like to leave some protection.
Gently backcomb the hair with a mane comb and trim the hair as you go. Never cut straight across as you will get unsightly lines.
If the hair is really thick, I hack it off and neaten it after.
The human hair clippers are excellent if you want them really short but check if your horse is happy with the noise, and start in a hidden section in case they are not cooperative.
Before
After
Before
After
Final Thoughts
Trimming your horse, unless for medical reasons, is your decision.
Do not be bullied or talked into doing what you are unhappy with.
Your horse’s health and happiness is your responsibility, so his comfort must come first.
Think carefully about the reasons you are trimming and how you are doing it, so the trust your horse is putting in you is deserved.