Baxter Equine Services

Baxter Equine Services Mobile clipping & plaiting services - covering Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, Lanarkshire & Dunbartonshire. Book in via Facebook messenger 😄

25/06/2026

Hogging a Shetland Pony 😱

Why are we doing that?? ⬇️⬇️

For Sweet Itch management 👍

Beautiful Broxi is one of my regulars, and she sadly suffers from sweet itch throughout the spring, summer, and early autumn months - so much so that she has ended up with open sores from scratching herself in the past.

Putting a fly rug on wasn’t previously practical for her, as she would get too warm with her thicker Shetland coat.

So for the past few years her owner has kept her fully clipped year round, and has her mane hogged from roughly April-October so as to manage her sweat itch more effectively.

By keeping the hair short, it makes any application of creams/treatments more effective as you can get it right down to the skin. As she is clipped, she isn’t too warm when wearing her fly rugs - so overall is 100% more comfortable!

Clipped using my Phoenix 🐦‍🔥

25/06/2026

I know what’s wrong with these legs, do you?
There are three conditions all happening here - two are very obvious.

Give me your answers in the comments!

24/06/2026

When clipping horses with very heavy, coarse, and dense feather, I will sometimes use my larger clippers to remove the bulk of the hair before going back in with my smaller A5 clippers.

You don’t need to press hard against the leg when doing this, and you don’t need to worry about being neat as this is the first pass.
It’s easier to see any folds and nodules, as you need to be very careful when clipping around these. It also makes it easier for A5 clippers to get through the hair.

The horse in the video has both CPL and Hyperkeratosis, so clipping his legs regularly is an important part of managing his legs.

Clipped using my Liveryman Phoenix

24/06/2026

📣Heavy coated horse owners📣

If your horse is struggling in the heat, you can clip if required 👌

Heavy horses, cobs, natives, those with Cushing’s disease, young or old, ridden or retired!

Clipping isn’t all about making them look pretty, it’s to keep them comfortable.

Clipped using my Phoenix 🐦‍🔥

24/06/2026

Basic quarter marks

Traditionally, chunkier block styles are used on horses with more bone - think hunter types, whereas smaller checkerboard styles would be used on finer show pony/TB types.

Do you have a favourite style? Add your pictures in the comments!

23/06/2026

Handsome Hamish definitely benefits from his yearly haircut!

Donkeys grow a thick and dense coat in the winter months, and many aren’t particularly good at shedding properly!

As the months warm up, shedding hair and sweaty donkeys often lead to matting - mostly around the armpits and underside of the belly. This can pull at the skin, and become tight and sore.

Donkeys can get many of the same conditions as horses - Cushing’s disease, lice, etc. so it’s important to monitor them as we do horses!

Clipped using my Phoenix

23/06/2026

There are numerous reasons why owners may choose to hog their horse - the first one that springs to mind is for aesthetic purposes, but did you know that there are health benefits to hogging?

• treatment and management of sweet itch
• treatment and management of lice
• prevention for fungal skin infections (heavy
hair + sweaty neck = moist warm environment
for fungal infections)
• there have been anecdotal reports of Hyperkeratosis showing along the mane line, forelock and down the dock
• There are different climates across the world, and not all breeds are suited to their respective climates, so clipping can help to keep them more comfortable.

Truly wild equidae (Przewalski’s horse, zebra, donkey etc) don’t have the abundance of hair that some of our domesticated breeds do - this is a traight that humans have bred into horses, and it untortunately comes with a number of down sides that we have to help manage.

Why do you hog? Let me know in the comments!

Clipped using my Phoenix

23/06/2026

Remember to give your sweaty horses a good soaking with cold water during the heatwave!

Let them drip dry - there is no need to sweat scrape them as the evaporation process will help them to cool down (I hope there is no one left that believes the water will boil on the horse’s skin 🤦🏻‍♀️)

If possible, make sure they have a nice shady area to stand.

Offer electrolytes - even your retired hairy native might need some if they have been excessively sweating!

Don’t forget to put factor 50 sun protection on those pink noses as well.
A UV mask is also very helpful for horses with pink/mottled skin around their eyes.

Two more mediums under my belt with my very patient dancing partner 😂First test on 71.33% and an overall win 🥇- very ver...
22/06/2026

Two more mediums under my belt with my very patient dancing partner 😂

First test on 71.33% and an overall win 🥇- very very chuffed with that!
Second test on 66.11 coming 2nd overall, and 1st in silver - my fault as had yet another satnav error 😂 and definitely need to work more on my walk pirouettes (if you look at the last photo, you can see my face is not convinced it’s going right 😂) her massive walk is hard to get just right.

📸 - Jamie Agnew Photography

Linda Barnes Dressage
Penhaligon Dressage Horses

Some of my Summer Essentials i recommend for everyone’s grooming/first aid kits!Lincoln Horse Care Sun Bloc - for those ...
18/06/2026

Some of my Summer Essentials i recommend for everyone’s grooming/first aid kits!

Lincoln Horse Care Sun Bloc - for those horses with very pink noses, this is a great water resistant UVA and UVB sunscreen that stays on sooo much better than more liquid creams. Use in conjunction with a UV resistant fly mask for extra protection.

Summer Fly Cream - it’s bright yellow, but honestly is the best cream to smear around pink sheaths that are liable to bug bites. I’ve also found it effective to put over open wounds to prevent fly strike (anyone with horses that have severe CPL, you need this!)

leovet UK_Ireland power Phazer spray for body, and the gel with sponge applicator to apply around the face. This spray is the best I have found on the market, and I believe has come out best in test a number of times!

LeMieux Products Medi Slosh - it’s a no rinse wash, which I like to use in the summer after riding. Add a couple of capfuls to a bucket of cool water, and sponge off. It’s cooling, and is antibacterial, anti-fungal, and antiseptic so great to use over the summer months when horses are getting bug bites etc.

And finally, the leovet UK_Ireland Silver Salve - a great first aid kit essential for all sorts of cuts, scrapes, bites etc. I even use it on myself!

What are your essentials? Anything you’d add to the list?

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