1. Hold the clippers againts the back of a hand placed on your horse's body- blades facing away- to get him used to the noise and vibration.
2. Draw chalk guidelines around the areas you don't want to clip. For example, draw guidelines around the saddle (not including flaps), and an inverted "V" at the dock of the tail.
3. Start clipping at your horse's shoulder, cutting against the grain of the hair in long, overlapping strokes.
4. Leaving a patch of hair around the saddle area may protect against friction burns and rubs from your saddle pad. Overlapping your clipping strokes will prevent leaving strips of uncut hair behind.
5. Clip the tail pattern by holding your clippers upside down with the edge of the blade against the "V". Carefully clip against the growth of the hair coat.
6. Leave a thin line of winter coat along the mane. Hair clipped from the base of the mane tends to grow back unsightly, so take extra care when clipping this area.
7. The trick to cowlicks is to maneuver your clippers so you're always clipping against the grain of the hair.
8. Enlist a helper to gently lift your horse's front leg so you can easily clip under his elbow.
9. Pull any loose skin taut with your hand as you clip the belly. Crouch to the side to check your work, but don't kneel or put your head in the line of fire of the hooves.
10. Bellies can be ticklish, so reassure your horse with one hand on his back.
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