Some of The Shea Center’s equine members are shaved/clipped during the winter and summer. Shaving the horse’s entire body helps them cool down quicker after being worked and stay cool during the hot summer months. For fun, some horses get fun clipped designs.

However, throughout all the seasons, we clip bridle paths and the hairs under the horse’s jaw. The bridle path is at the top of the horse’s head near the poll. This area is called the bridle path because the halter and bridle sit there when the horse works. The area is trimmed short using clippers, allowing the tack to lay comfortably and flat on the horse’s head. The reasoning behind clipping under the horses’ jaw is primarily cosmetic. We choose not to clip the horse’s whiskers (the hair around their muzzle and chin) because they use those for sensory navigation. Horses use their muzzles and whiskers to feel and find food, such as hay and treats.

Check out this before and after of a trim on Baxter!