Whether you are new to showing or if you’ve been away for a while, here are some ideas on what to purchase and how to get started.
1. Invest in a good set of clippers
As with all fitting equipment, clippers have evolved through the years. Older-model clippers will cut the hair, but they don’t achieve the modern look. The first set you purchase should be a large-animal clipper. A set of blades that cut short, but not too short, usually come with the clippers – and that is a good place to start. As you get better and more comfortable, add tighter, ground-down blades. To start, a blade that leaves 1/16- to 1/8-inch of hair is sufficient.
Budget amount: $300 to $480 for a new clipper.
2. Invest in a good topline blower
One of the biggest problems we see in the show ring at the novice level are toplines that aren’t blown up properly. You can follow all of the steps as far as washing and rinsing, holding the brush and blower properly and working hard to get the top up, but if you don’t have a good blower, it just won’t happen. Investigate blowers with variable heat settings; your hairdresser is a great place to start. Ask fitters which blowers they prefer and decide on which one fits your needs. If you show at multiple shows each year, you should spend around $90 on a blower. If you show at a county fair or just local shows, there are great blowers under $50. Be sure to get the concentrator on the end.
3.Topline brushes
There are two to three brands of topline brushes that fitters use. Some fitters prefer a seven-row brush which allows more air to go through. Some prefer a nine-row style because it pulls more hair up. Practice with both and determine your preference. Always use a clean brush on the topline. I recommend having more than one topline brush in the show box. Brushes range in price from $12 to $22.
That’s it; that is all the equipment that you need to start clipping your own animal for the shows. Some “luxury” items you can add in to your clipping inventory are:
- Blower: A blower to work belly hair and remove dust
- Cordless clippers: Small, cordless clippers for heads, legs and finishing touches
- Blades: Additional blades that are ground down so they cut the hair shorter
- Chute: Many people purchase a clipping chute as they begin to clip. While this is a handy piece of equipment, it is not something that needs to be purchased right away. Whatever you purchase, be sure to always clean it after clipping, keep it in a safe container, and keep it all together.
What age should youth start clipping?
Now that you have invested in some key pieces for clipping, it’s time to get started. The perfect age to start clipping is when youth begin to show in 4-H classes, around 9 years old. Yes, you read that right.
If you are showing, you should be clipping. Now we don’t expect everyone to be a professional fitter or that everyone is going to enjoy clipping, but it is part of the showing process so everyone should have some knowledge of how to do it. 
PHOTO 1: Kids can begin learning the basics of clipping their animals as soon as they begin showing.
PHOTO 2: Clippers, blower and brush Photos provided by Katie Coyne.
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Katie Coyne
- Owner
- Mill Wheel Dairy Show Clinics
- Email Katie Coyne
