Baxter Equine Services

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

10/06/2026

Clipping Cob’s Legs

Some owners choose this because they like the look, but many choose to clip legs to help manage some skin conditions that cobs are prone to.
Here are a few of the most common examples-

• Hyperkeratosis (aka Mallanders and Sallanders) is an over production of keratin, which results in scabbing and sore behind the knee, in front of the hocks, and sometimes down the back of the tendon and fetlocks.

• Mites - these are microscopic parasites that eat dead skin (hairy horses produced a lot of keratin!), and cause itching in the lower legs (though they can travel up the legs and onto the belly in severe cases). Horses will stamp their legs, itch their heels on and with various objects, and have been seen to lie down to gnaw on their legs.

• Chronic Progressive Lymphedema (CPL) is a build up of lymphatic fluid in the lower legs, which can be painful. It causes skin thickening, and folds which can vary in size depending on the severity. Horses are prone to skin infections in between the folds,so clipping helps to keep these areas drier, and makes management and treatment more effective.

Clipped here using Harmony Plus with 2.4mm Wide Fine blades.

Sunday was my first go at Medium with Seren, and what a star she was ✨A couple of wee mistakes (unnecessary flying chang...
10/06/2026

Sunday was my first go at Medium with Seren, and what a star she was ✨

A couple of wee mistakes (unnecessary flying change 😂) but a few 8s throughout and great feedback on what we need to improve on, we came away with 70.6 and 72.3 🎉🥇🥇

She’s filled out and muscled up so much since I picked her up at the start of February, and to feel and see the difference in the power she has is phenomenal already - with still quite a way to go!

Thank you to .barnes.dressage for all of your help!

Penhaligon Dressage Horses

📸-

09/06/2026

Blended Half Head 🐴💈

For those who don’t like a half face line, this is a good option that gives the unclipped look.

When the Horses summer coat is in, it’s easy to flick your blades at the end of each stroke to get an easy blend.

If blending winter coats, you will most likely need some different blade lengths to achieve the same results depending on your horse’s coat.

Here I’m using the Harmony Plus with 2.4mm Wide Fine blades.

*video has been sped up x2

*All photos and video are copyright Niki Baxter.
Businesses must ask permission before reposting.

June Clipping Availability 🐴💈✂️I am *full* for the whole week leading up to the Highland Show - I have no spaces to sque...
08/06/2026

June Clipping Availability 🐴💈✂️

I am *full* for the whole week leading up to the Highland Show - I have no spaces to squeeze anyone else in.

There are then scattered slots available from the 23rd onwards.

July diary is open now.

For those needing services for shows, please book in well in advance as these dates fill up very quickly - make sure to specify the date of the show when booking.

For those with hairy horses that struggle in the warmer weather - it is never a bad time to be getting the coat off!

Contact me via Baxter Equine Services on Facebook to secure your appointment

N🖤x

08/06/2026

A lot of you asked ‘how do you take the plaits out?’

It’s easy!!

I prefer to use a seam ripper rather than scissors, so there is no danger of cutting hair by accident.

In the video, I use white thread so that you can see what I am doing.

The seam ripper also works on rubber/silicone bands. I don’t tend to re-use these as they are more likely to snap the second time they are used.

Seam rippers are available in some tack shops, or you can buy multipacks online.

Hope this helps!

*All photos and video are copyright Niki Baxter.
Businesses must ask permission before reposting.

07/06/2026

Mane blending is a more modern clipping technique to create a seamless finish along the mane line.

Previously, it was common to clip the line as close to the mane as possible - however this tends to leave a line of fluffy coat, or if you get too close then you could accidentally clip some of the mane.

When blending, you need to use adjustable head trimmers. Here I’m using my Nova.

Use one had to hold the mane down - this means that just the fluffy coat will be left standing up. Gently push your trimmers in an upwards motion (starting on the longest length setting), and work your way along the mane.
If needed (depending on what length you have clipped the rest of the body) you may need to go down to a shorter setting, and blend the coat a bit more.
•
*All photos and video are copyright Niki Baxter.
Businesses must ask permission before reposting.

05/06/2026

Puffy Plaits 🪡🧵

To get proper puffed up plaits, sewing your plaits in is the best option (you just don’t get the same results with rubber bands).

There are a few different ways to do this, and a few different ways to sew in, so I’m just showing you one way today!

I like to work with a damp mane - so at the start you can see me misting the hair with water.

Plaiting wax is great for adding a bit of grip, and for taming any flyaway hairs - my favourite at the moment is the Taming Wax (from UK)

Use a comb with fine teeth to disperse the product through the hair.

Split the hair into three equal sections for plaiting. The first ‘crossover’ shouldn’t be tight - I want this firm, but not so tight that it’s pulling the scalp.
After the first crossover, make sure you keep the rest of the plait as tight as possible - we don’t want hairs popping out!
Band off the end, and fold up the end of the plait to keep it neat.

Sew the plait into place (see the video!). The thread should be as close a colour match to your horse’s hair as possible.
You pass the needle and thread back and forth through the folded plait a couple of times to secure into place. Don’t wrap the thread around the outside of the plait - if your thread isn’t a colour match, it’ll be seen!

Snip the thread as close to the hair as possible, then to puff up the plait, gently tease up the left and right side of the plait to create a ‘scallop’ shape.

Products used -
Water in a spray bottle
Taming Wax
Silicone Plaiting Bands, Waxed Thread, and Plaitng Needle

*not a sponsored post

*All photos and video are copyright Niki Baxter.
Businesses must ask permission before reposting.

04/06/2026

Chopping out the waxy, matted ear hair has to be one of the most satisfying thing I get to do 😂

I find that very hairy horses can be prone to this waxy build up - the ears are self cleaning, but as there is so much hair, the dirt doesn’t actually make it out.
Ears can sometimes get very itchy when they are like this, so you may notice your horse trying it itch them more.

There is definitely a fine balance between wanting to leave the inner ear hair totally untouched, and having too much hair - a neatly trimmed ear is ideal in my opinion.

01/06/2026

The weather is heating up in the UK! And there are a lot of horses that would benefit from a clip, even if they are not in work.

Older horses, horses with Cushing’s disease, and native/cob types can have thicker and longer coats, even in the summer months.

Horses with Cushing’s are particularly susceptible to overheating, as their coats are super long and thick, and they can effectively regulate their body temperature.
Most owners know, that a constantly damp, sweaty horse ends up very smelly, which flies love - this can increase the chance of fly strike if there are any open sores.

Matted hair can happen very quickly, usually seen around the armpits and belly - this pulls at the skin and can be sore for the horse.

Lethargy is also common - some horses will tired quickly when exercised, be sweating just out a walk hack, or even just standing in a stable.

Clipping is available year round - if your hairy horse or pony is struggling in the heat, make sure to book in for a haircut!

31/05/2026

The people that think you should never, ever use scissors on a horse’s mane, are the people that don’t know how to use scissors ✂️

Pulling is a pretty outdated technique, and (in my opinion) it’s been drummed into a lot of horsey people that it’s the only way to do a mane correctly 🙄
The vast majority of horses find it sore or uncomfortable at best.

There are loads of different methods that you can use to tame a mane - including various cutting techniques using scissors, thinning knives, and rakes (when used correctly).

There are also loads of different styles of plaits that you can do to suit your horse’s hair type - is it really necessary to pull hair from the roots to try and rock one style of plaiting?

Oh! And for those that are going to go mad about a forelock being trimmed -

• Yes it grows back.
• Yes you can trim it without it looking like a bowl cut.
• Again, yes it definitely grows back, otherwise I’d be out of a job.

*All photos and video are copyright Niki Baxter.
Businesses must ask permission before reposting.

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