Friday, April 1, 2011

Spa Day

Yesterday morning I brushed the dust off my clippers and headed out to try to get some of the winter off my horses.

Because Betty has never been clipped (and remember, she hasn't even been halter broke for long), I decided to let my other horses "show" her how it's done. Whenever possible, I try to let my other horses do the work for me.

So rather than pulling them out of the herd to clip them, I went ahead and just haltered and clipped them right there, with everyone trying to nose their way in for attention. Of course, it's not all that fun for me, or the most efficient way to get things done, but because Betty is such a follower, and so curious and friendly, I figured she'd see everyone else not worry about the clippers and hopefully follow suit.

True to form, everyone was practically in my lap, wanting attention, even if it was for a clip job.

Paula, Bambi, and Fabian (Eddie's babies) are all super-easy to clip. It's just something that doesn't bother them at all.

I did Paula first since my blades weren't the sharpest. If I ran out of cutting capacity, I wanted her to be done at the very least. We're going to a clinic tomorrow and I'd prefer us not looking a complete mess.

Paula is shedding a bit, too.... By the way, all four of my horses (not counting Moose since he's in "sale pending" status) are in the above photo. See Bambi's legs behind everyone?

I'm happy to say that the plan worked. Not only was Betty not afraid of the clippers, she actually fell asleep while I was trimming her! I didn't do her ears because I figured she was being so good that we'd end on a good note. I usually don't do ears unless I'm getting a horse ready for show anyway.


Wake up, cutie!

All done....

Betty is really coming around to be such a super nice horse. She is so sweet and willing that it's hard not to completely fall in love with her.

Especially with a face like this.

And I think she knows it.


Photobucket

9 comments:

Grey Horse Matters said...

Betty (and I love her name)is just too adorable.

Alan T Hainkel said...

And you're right, I think she does know it...

Nicole said...

Glad the other horses didn't act up... my luck... they would :)

smazourek said...

She is darling. Good thinking using Paula and the others as an example for her. More people need to learn that trick.

TeresaA said...

I love Betty's face!

Calm, Forward, Straight said...

Don't you love it when a plan comes together! Cute pix of your sweet horses :)

Anonymous said...

Just out of curiousity:
Why do you clip your horses in the spring? I've always been told that clipping in spring is bad for their summer coat.
Plus by this time of year the horses are always shedding like mad. (I pulled a large cat-sized pile of hair off of Jack the last time I groomed him)
Mind you, I'm on Southern Ontario so that might have something to do with it.

Jessie said...

Life: That's a great question and actually true--I wouldn't clip their coats at this point. I only clipped the long hair off their noses, under their chin, around their eyes and their bridle path. The hair on the ground is just from using a shedding blade--not the clippers! :)

Krazy Cindy said...

Paula looks like a mule in that second pic! Haha!

On spa days... I have yet to give the first spa day of the year because it's been RAINING FOR THREE SOLID MONTHS!!! Sorry, a bit of frustration there. Do I live in Seattle?

Anyway, your ponies look MAH-VELOUS, simply mah-velous.