This message is from: Marsha Jo Hannah <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > "D T" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > I am going to be trimming Lars' mane this weekend. I have clippers > but the more I looked at his mane I wondered if I should just do it > with hair scissors. How do you all trim the manes? Is there > something I should know. I know how much I hate my hair after > getting it cut. I don't want to send Lars into hiding for a week
I started out using clippers on my old mare (whose mane was 3 to 4" wide, behind her ears). That only works if the mane hair is clean, and you've got at least 2 sets of SHARP clipper blades on hand---and they'll be dull again after doing one horse. I had always trimmed my donkey's mane with fetlock shears, so tried that on my mare. (I've found that the curved tips on those scissors makes it easier to trim the bridle path.) That worked reasonably well, but I was having trouble finding decent quality fetlock shears (most either bind, or are too loose at the joint, and not adjustable). On the advice of folks on this list, I switched to Fiskars kitchen shears (short blade, and serrated). Those work well, although I would still prefer curved blades for some spots. However, for the first few trims that you do, your "mantra" should be, "Oh, well, it'll grow out". Even if your technique is perfect, it is almost guaranteed that the horse WILL move at the wrong instant. It helps if you can keep your fore arm against the horse's neck, so you can feel him starting to move. This time of year, flies aren't a problem, but the tiny bits of hair flying about as you snip seem to tickle---mine always have to shake their heads/necks several times. Stop occasionally to brush/comb the mane. This always straightens up a few more hairs that were hiding down in the bushy parts. P.S.---jokes about "dead skunks" (the pile of black and white hair on the floor) go with the territory.... Marsha Jo Hannah Murphy must have been a horseman-- [EMAIL PROTECTED] anything that can go wrong, will! 15 mi SW of Roseburg, Oregon
