Anybody ever hog a shire?

[Jonathan1967]

Hi there, I’m 57(M) been riding 25 years or so. I have a 2.5 year old shire but I don’t plan to show him in shire shows, just ride him like any heavy cob. Purists don’t shoot me but has anybody ever hogged their shire and shaved the feathers off? I’m not wedded to the idea but just trying to find out if anyone out there has done it. I prefer the hogged look and feathers don’t seem to have any health benefits but harbour mites and mud fever.

 

[Highmileagecob]

Mine is a hairy piebald cob, full feather and full mane and tail. They give protection in wet, cold weather, and he does get daily turn out all year round. He's still out 24/7 at the minute. Depends on your set up I suppose, but a couple of scrubs in mite shampoo soon sorts out any livestock and stops the itching.

 

[Equi]

Your horse, do what you want.

 

[scrat]

The mounted police have shires and clydesdales that are hogged and no hairy legs. Not my preference but hairy horses do require a fair bit of attention, especially to their leg hair. Equally you may encounter problems by taking the hair away. Definitely fly rugs and masks in the summer.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Yeah just do it I prefer the clipped hogged look over hairy as well.

I fear we may not be popular though

 

[adamntitch]

was going to say the police horses round here (edinburgh) have shaved feathers but pulled manes think it looks smart but not what i would do to a shire or clyde as to me thats part of what they are

 

[AdorableAlice]

I have a Shire x Vanner who is kept with clipped legs and a pulled mane and tail, he looks very smart. Horses in full feather are nothing but a pain to look after and often a horror story of grief under the feathers. CPL, mites etc.

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

It would make it easier to keep a close eye on any CPL, reduces the risk of feather mites.

I suspect the farrier will be grateful in winter.

Your choice and it removes the need to try to manage and try to keep the feather clean.

ETA it could be a full time job keeping the feather from regrowing.

 

[AdorableAlice]

It would make it easier to keep a close eye on any CPL, reduces the risk of feather mites.

I suspect the farrier will be grateful in winter.

Your choice and it removes the need to try to manage and try to keep the feather clean.

ETA it could be a full time job keeping the feather from regrowing.

At this time of year I clip my heavies every 7 days, full clip and legs x 2 every 7 days. Blooming nightmare but I can't be doing with scruffy horses

 

[Tiddlypom]

Your horse will thank you for clipping his feathers off, but personally I think a neat short mane would look better than a hog.

 

[94lunagem]

I had a Shire x who would grow full feather if I let him. I always clipped them off. Far easier to deal with.

I personally prefer a pulled and tidy mane but he’s your horse and if hogging is what you prefer go for it!

 

[Surbie]

My horse has a Shire X on one side and a Clydesdale X on the other at the yard. Both have trimmed manes and clipped legs. The Shire X in particular looks very smart like that.

Like others have said - your horse, your choice. Hair grows back if you don't like it.

I have a heavy cob and had to clip his feather one year. It looked awful. Mostly because his legs are a little too short for the rest of him.

 

[dottylottie]

there was a clydesdale on my old yard who just had her mane pulled short, i think it looked really smart. equally i think they look good hogged, anything hairy would be hogged for me i toyed with the idea of a show cob until i remembered id have to keep taking the hair off!

 

[Tiddlypom]

Hogged horses look very smart, but I prefer to have some mane to hang on to if things get lively and I can’t get hold of the neck strap!

 

[Jonathan1967]

Thank you all very much, those replies are very helpful. I guess I was afraid there’d be horror from the purist shire community but as many of you say, my horse my choice and also they do cut the tail incredibly short based on tradition only (ridden horses won’t get it tangled in machinery) so I guess they can’t really say anything. I’ll give it some further thought though.

 

[4Hoofed]

Honestly I think many hairy horses would be better off clipped and hogged especially if you don’t want to deal with feathers etc.

It’s a large reason I got a Suffolk and not a shire or Clyde as my heavy!!!

I am jealous though as i show my lad but id love to hog him! Think he would look class! Do post some nice before and after pics for us to coo over!!

 

[FFAQ]

I never hogged my shires but I did clip their feathers off. The cobs had naked legs too. My first loan cob had terrible skin issues hiding under multitudes of feather that the owner wouldn't let me take off. The feather certainly didn't protect her legs. Since then I've had a rule that if they start itching their legs or stamping even a tiny bit the feathers come off. And they come off in the winter because they just don't dry otherwise. And it's a pain in the arse to trim feet hidden by feathers!