When meeting with clients during their pre-session consultations, one of the most common questions I get asked is “should I clip my horse for his photoshoot?”
What is Horse Clipping?
Horse owners have been clipping horses’ winter coats to enable them to cool down and dry off quickly after strenuous exercise for many years. In fact, if you want to see some very cool images of some old-school horse clipping, make sure to check this article.
There are many different types of clipping including a full clip, blanket clip, and a hunter clip. To learn more about different types of clipping and what they are used for, Horse & Hound has a helpful article here.
And, if you want a great article on tips for clipping, check out this article on clipping by Horse Journals.
Should I Clip my Horse for his Photoshoot?
Clipping your horse is up to you. It’s a personal preference and based on what type of workload your horse currently has.
But, to simplify it, my question to you is how do you wish your horse to look in their final images? After all, there really isn’t a way to “hide” that he’s clipped. If you clip, it will definitely be seen in the final images.
So, are you going for a natural-looking, relaxed in the fields? Are you wanting to show your braided working hunter off in the show ring?
Quick Tip
If you do decide to clip your horse, please do so a week or so prior to your photography session. This will allow time for clipper tracks to grow out just a touch.
Your horse will look well-groomed and clipped without bothersome track marks showing up in your final images.
Got more Questions?
If you have more questions about horse photoshoots, make sure to check out our other blog posts including:
What if my horse doesn’t behave during his photoshoot?
Questions to Ask a Horse Photographer BEFORE Booking
Can we Have a Horse Photoshoot in the Rain?
Do I need Professional Photography to Sell My Horse?
Why you Should Take Professional Pictures with your Horse
Ready to Schedule your Horse Photoshoot?
Interested in scheduling your horse photoshoot with Ride the Sky Equine Photography? You can send Ride the Sky a message here.
Betsy Bird of Ride the Sky Equine Photography spends her days doing insane things to make horses look at her. Clearly, she’s desperate for attention. When she’s not celebrating the stories of the amazing horses in her clients’ lives, she invests time and energy into perfecting her equine photography skills and growing her business, hanging with her favorite rescue dog, Nitro, and planning her next big adventure. She also tries to spend some time educating and entertaining her fans and potential clients by blogging and posting on social media about whatever catches her fancy at the moment.
Betsy is a Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) with the organization Professional Photographers of America (PPA). The CPP designation is held by fewer than 2,000 photographers nationwide and is a hallmark of consistency, technical skill, artistry, and professionalism. Ride the Sky specializes in on-location photography for equines. Ride the Sky also has the option of bringing the studio to the stable. Based in Chattanooga, TN, Ride the Sky Equine Photography works on location in Tennessee, North Georgia, and beyond.