A quick clipping question... (sorry!)

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nemlin

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Right, my mare is getting a hair cut tomorrow and I'm now fed up of thinking about how much to take off.

She's a very hardy pony (ie came off the moors as a youngster) with a very thick coat. She is currently on a weight loss programme and is being ridden about 5 times a week, for about 1-2 hours at a time. She gets extremely sweaty, and even sweats up standing around the field. She is living out and will continue to do so until at least December. I will also mention she is a grey, and a mud monster!

So how much would you take off if she was your pony? I am contemplating between a chaser/blanket - would you take the whole lot off?
 
If you have a fairly sheltered field, I would whip the whole lot off, (leaving half her face and legs on). and invest in a decent turnout for the super cold weather. My boys 450g full neck premier equine is like a portable stable for him - even in the wildest north east scotland weather, he's snug.
 
I'd clip everything be head and legs, and those because they take too much time!

The use a light weight full neck rug so you get weight loss and a mud barrier. Obviously if it gets cold or she's looking miserable up the rugging as required
 
Yep I'd take it all off too (just done one of mine this morning!), and rug up according to how she feels and what the weather does. So much easier to manage rugs than a soaking wet hairy horse!!!!
 
Unless she is in alot of work and will be over the winter then I wouldn't take it all off. I would take off the least you can get away with, then take a bit more off if it turns out she still gets too warm when being ridden. Ours are both ridden 4 or 5 times a week - long fast hacks or 1hr schooling sessions. One also competes sj once a week. The one who competes has a trace and the one who doesn't (also bog lover grey!) has an irish clip. Suits their work levels and gives protection across their back and bums when it gets chillier. They both live out and will do until the ground is too wet or we are having frosts each night then they'll come in each evening.
 
I'd be inclined to take it all off. Even with a trace/blanket after 2 hr of riding i'd imagine your horse will still be pretty sweaty udner the saddle. I've taken all mine off excluding face and legs as I ride at night and would still have had to wait ages for the saddle area to dry after schooling to rug up for turnout.
 
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glosgirl said:
Unless she is in alot of work and will be over the winter then I wouldn't take it all off. I would take off the least you can get away with, then take a bit more off if it turns out she still gets too warm when being ridden. Ours are both ridden 4 or 5 times a week - long fast hacks or 1hr schooling sessions. One also competes sj once a week. The one who competes has a trace and the one who doesn't (also bog lover grey!) has an irish clip. Suits their work levels and gives protection across their back and bums when it gets chillier. They both live out and will do until the ground is too wet or we are having frosts each night then they'll come in each evening.
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I agree. Take off the least you need to. Clip to suit the horse's needs, not what you can be bothered doing... I much prefer some hair on the back and bottom, especially on things that are living out. My horse that I event is the sweatiest horse in the world, but is fine with a blanket clip. I can't bear people that clip everything off horses because they can't do lines, or can't be bothered. Get someone else to clip it then... I would start with a trace clip, and build up if thats not enough. You can always take more off, but you can't put it back on...
 
Honey08 said:
I agree. Take off the least you need to. Clip to suit the horse's needs, not what you can be bothered doing... I much prefer some hair on the back and bottom, especially on things that are living out. My horse that I event is the sweatiest horse in the world, but is fine with a blanket clip. I can't bear people that clip everything off horses because they can't do lines, or can't be bothered. Get someone else to clip it then... I would start with a trace clip, and build up if thats not enough. You can always take more off, but you can't put it back on...
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Yes but..... this is an overweight horse that needs to loose some fat, being a little chilly will mean it uses energy to keep warm which will help manage its weight.
 
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