How to Shave a Horse's Dock

Maintain your horse's professional and clean look by shaving its dock. A horse's dock is the area of its tail that is nearest to its tailbone; it is often trimmed or shaved for shows in the areas of dressage riding. The rest of the horse's tail is often left alone, clipped, banged or braided to complete the look. Shaving a horse's dock requires a good pair of household clipping shears.

Things You'll Need

  • Clipping shears with shaving attachment
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Instructions

    • 1

      Hold the horses tail hair in your hand near the top of the tail. Lift it slightly, standing on the left side of the horse's tail.

    • 2

      Turn on your electric clipping shears and move them over the underside and side of the tail, removing the hair.

    • 3

      Move the shears down the underside and side of the tail approximately one-half to one foot down the tail. This can vary depending on the look you want your horse to have and the size of the horse. Leave the tail hair on the top of the dock if desired, blending carefully with the shears by pressing down lightly.

    • 4

      Move to the right side of the tail and repeat the shaving process on the underside and right side of the tail.