Why do people charge so much for clipping?

[Lydia00]

Every year ive had my mare clipped, first it started off at £20 full clip, then the next year it went to £25 and then the year after that it went to £30 (all these done by different people who were liveried on my yard) This winter came and i didnt really want to pay £30 for clipping when i could have spent it on something else, so i put it off. (Good job really because i have been ill for a long time and she hasnt been in much excercise anyway) But now that i am better i have started working her hard again and nows the time i REALLY need her clipping! Only i dont have any spare money (after xmas) and i think im being ripped off really!

Does anyone here clip and if they do how hard is it to learn? I dont know how i would get someone to show me though and as im only 15 people wouldnt exactly want me to practise with there clippers! URGH its so fustrating! Also, are there any clipping services around? Thankyou in advance!

[thistle]

Time £10 an hour

Clippers £250+++ a set

sharpening blades £5 a set

travel

Washing hairy dirty clothes

Insurance and often 'danger money'

do the sums and work it out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[gordo]

I know the clippers aren't cheap or the re-sharpening of the blades either. Guess the clipper people have to have insurance to do this plus petrol etc. I think £30 is not bad really if they do a great job, I paid a friend £25 a couple of years back. But I know what you mean as its tough when dosh is tight.

[Lydia00]

ok thistle! only they dont have to travel, they're on my yard!

[jor]

Dont think 30 quid for a full clip is much. It can take over an hour to do a full clip, and obviously the person has to travel too your yard and have bought the clippers int he first place. A set of clippers suitable to go and clip other peoples horses will cost around 250 pounds, and clipping neatly and quickly is a skill. Also remember clippers need regular hygene spray cleaning and oiling, this costs money too.
When learning people often leave 'lines' on the horses coat which are unsightly when competing, it also takes some time to get used to clipping.

If you buy your own clippers to do your horse you will probably look at buying a set for around 200 pounds, you will need two sets of blades incase one breaks, goes blunt etc. thats an extra 35-60 dependant on the type of clippers you get. You will need to service your clippers every year and have the blades sharpened.

So you will probably spent out 300 pounds the first year then probably 50 pounds every year following.

[honey]

well I don't know what costs so much. we brought a pair of horse clippers a few years back at £325 and all though have four sets of blades(long story) we have never had to get them sharpened and all its cost us to maintain is one can of clipper oil and we have clipped hundreds of horses. Maybe their time an hour, but £30 is quite hefty though alot of places are the same.

[natalia]

Well I clip other peoples horses and charge this for a full clip. my costs-
clippers - £300
petrol to each yard
blades, 5 sets at the moment at £30 per set
clipper oil- £5 per can, I get through about 1/4 can per clip
turps for cleaning out the clippers after
blade sharpening £5 (i get mine sharpened every 2nd clip to keep them sharp and my clips neat and close)
time (its 45 minutes to an hour for a full clip)
risk- lots of owners don't tell you their horse would happilly flatten you at the sight of the clippers.
Extension lead.
overalls, 2 pairs so one is always clean.
there, so the cost soon adds up. Clipping is also a skill, and there are lots of people who aren't very good at it. If your no good you end up nicking the horse and therefore making it worse to clip the next time, so your better off paying for someone experianced to do it!

[natalia]

I forgot to add that clippers need servicing every year and this is another £30- £40.

[hebs]

I bought some clippers this year as I couldnt find anyone who could clip for me. I figured out if I had my horse clipped three times a year at £25 a go you soon cover the cost of the clippers. You can get some decent clippers for under £200 now. Moser are a good make, they are really quiet, and have a snap on blade which doesnt need tensioning. Yeah you've got to get them serviced, blades sharpened but in the long run it'll save you money.

[☼ WIZARD ☼]

you are paying for a job doing that you cant do youself. its a horrible nasty job which i am not prepared to do myself as i can earn more teaching other people how to do it ie lecturing etc.

[till]

I would also consider £30 for a full clip a reasonable price too. I paid £35.00 for a full clip last year.

Considering my mare wasn't going to be in as much work this winter I opted for a high trace clip instead though it would save a few pennies too.

Take heart - I was charged £45.00 for my high trace clip and this was from the same person that had been clipping her for the past two years at £35.00 for a full clip.

She won't be getting my custom again.

[amber]

My high trace clip cost me £25... considering it was his very first clip and the YO was extremely patient with him, the price was well worth the money in my eyes. He's about to be done again and because he had such a good experience on his first time being clipped, I'm hoping he will be a good boy next week.

There are a heck of alot of ponies/horses out there, that for one reason or another are a nightmare to clip, either because they've had a bad experience in the past, or they really are terrified of the clippers and have to be sedated..... My boy was introduced to clippers in a lovely way, I did alot of desensitizing work with him with my beard trimmers beforehand and it proved to be the best thing as when the clippers came out he was pretty calm for most of the session and I was very proud of him that he trusted me so much..! I am able to clip myself, but wanted to be at his head with him the first time, as a source of confidence. He will have a couple of clips over the winter every year and so I find that quite cost effective really.

[LisaM]

I clip for others. I am proficient and sensitive - I charge 30 quid full clip.

If you dont wanna pay either dont clip the horse or pay out for your own clippers is my feeling.

[Sue & Tinta]

Lydia - I think that we have established that £30 is pretty reasonable and it sounds as though you cannot afford your own clippers at the moment so why not offer to muck out & feed your experianced yard clippers horse for a few days in return for her clipping your horse and possibly a few lessons .....got to be worth a try !

[LisaM]

firefly - good thinking batman. !