The half clipped horse

Now the weather has calmed down (I realise as I write this I'm tempting fate) I decided to do the horses final clip of the winter. All my horses are very good to clip but there are limits as I found out yesterday!

Picnic was first in the queue and being half shire means her coat grows very quickly as do the feathers! The sun was shining with not even a breeze, perfect clipping conditions ... Or so I thought.

Happily clipping away having nearly finished I hear Ranger, our dog, barking and look up but as normal he's barking at nothing so I carry on, next thing Picnic is acting like a 2 year old launching in all directions, I persist as only have her quarters left to do and that at 17 she really ought to know better. What I didn't realise as she progressively got worse and I couldn't hear over the noise of the clippers was something I forgot about... the hunt was out and currently right outside our drive :). Standing back to admire my 3/4 clipped horse looking like a devil possessed and wondering how I'm going to finish, I admit defeat. The hunt now in full view and the followers arriving Picnic was trying her best to join them as we made our way back to the safety of her stable, a few near misses but we made it, then luckily I notice Ranger in time as he's about to run after a pack of hounds in the next field, phew, disaster avoided!!! 

 

Just in case you're wondering the designer clip has been made more traditional after all the excitement was over we were able to finish - but not until about 5pm!  Lets hope for less drama with the next horse in the queue for clipping.  



Picnic - The completed clip

 

Ranger - The Yard Supervisor