Catch 22. Any ideas?

[Annagain]

Wiggy is sweaty. He’s on box rest and being in all the time means he’s warm. I need to clip him to stop him sweating but I need to stop him sweating so I can clip him. He’s permanently damp, no more than damp, wet.

I can’t turn him out into his pen to cool off as he’ll get wet and muddy and I can’t put a rug on him to prevent him getting wet and muddy as that will make him even more sweaty. I think I’m just going to have to take a strip off while he’s damp and hope that’s enough to cool him off enough to take some more off. I don’t suppose anyone has any better ideas? I’m tempted with a hairdryer on a cool setting!

 

[fredflop]

Guessing you don’t have any heat lamps?

 

[Equi]

take off any dry bits you can, hopefully they cool him enough to dry enough to clip even if it’s bit by bit. If he had a thick mane plait it up and tail too to get as much air about as possible.

 

[KittenInTheTree]

Would thatching work to dry him off?

 

[rabatsa]

Aim to clip very early morning when the cool of the night will have helped to keep him dry.

 

[Pinkvboots]

Can you tie him up outside so he can dry off obviously if it ever stops raining of course.

You can also buy chargeable cooling fans from amazon you could put it on a bracket in his stable to keep him cool, it's been ridiculous warm weather lately for October no wonder his getting warm.

 

[Burnttoast]

You can clip backwards (with the hair), slowly, stopping to clean and oil blades frequently, and that makes the hair short enough for them to dry. Less chance of the blades sticking this way. Then hot cloth and clip as normal. Start with sharp blades and expect to sharpen them again afterwards.

 

[whirlwind]

What clippers do you have? I clip for a living and have done a couple with cushings recently that have been like this. With a decent pair of clippers I just hacked off the worst with a coarse pair of blades on, hot clothed and then went back over with a set of mediums. Won’t be the best for the clippers but as a one off should be fine with plenty of oil. Neither of these guys were able to be bathed either.

 

[Annagain]

What clippers do you have? I clip for a living and have done a couple with cushings recently that have been like this. With a decent pair of clippers I just hacked off the worst with a coarse pair of blades on, hot clothed and then went back over with a set of mediums. Won’t be the best for the clippers but as a one off should be fine with plenty of oil. Neither of these guys were able to be bathed either.

Mine are pretty cheap, more of a heavy duty trimmer than clippers. I normally do a small apron clip with them in early October then get him done by a pro later on. I could get the pro to do him but I don’t want them to wreck their clippers.

 

[Annagain]

Aim to clip very early morning when the cool of the night will have helped to keep him dry.

He’s sweaty at 7am!

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

You can clip backwards (with the hair), slowly, stopping to clean and oil blades frequently, and that makes the hair short enough for them to dry. Less chance of the blades sticking this way. Then hot cloth and clip as normal. Start with sharp blades and expect to sharpen them again afterwards.

This above.

It's what we've had to do in the past with my mini shetlands who had sweaty armpits and necks. (Later on I used to get a bib and belly done much earlier by mid September and redo every 3 to 4 weeks, but that's no good for OP).

 

[Dave's Mam]

What about a warm bath & then thatch, or use a fleece to dry him off?
My thinking being that clean pony would dry better than sweaty pony?

 

[whirlwind]

Mine are pretty cheap, more of a heavy duty trimmer than clippers. I normally do a small apron clip with them in early October then get him done by a pro later on. I could get the pro to do him but I don’t want them to wreck their clippers.

Trimmers won’t do it I don’t think, I used my big masterclips. Ask your pro, I don’t love doing the sweaty huge Cushing coats but if it’s a genuine welfare need then happy to help.

 

[Melody Grey]

I have unbranded horse/ cattle clippers (think old fashioned master clip style). They were inexpensive and get through anything, the downside being they’re very noisy. Might work if your horse is good to clip/ you’d normally sedate anyway? Have clipped damp/ unclean horses as needed.

 

[Jambarissa]

I used my fine trimmers to go in the direction of the hair which removes the majority then can hot cloth and clip later.

Is he sweating because he's in pain rather than just warm? I know you said he's on box rest, could he need stronger pain relief?

 

[Annagain]

I’ve managed to get a strip off his neck, down to in between his front legs, about three blades’ width. It’s not pretty but hopefully it’ll be enough to get him dry enough to do a proper job soon.

 

[Annagain]

I used my fine trimmers to go in the direction of the hair which removes the majority then can hot cloth and clip later.

Is he sweating because he's in pain rather than just warm? I know you said he's on box rest, could he need stronger pain relief?

No he’s on week 9 of box rest and it’s only been a problem this last week. He’s sound now, it’s just a long recovery. He’s always been a hot horse and it’s ridiculously warm with us at the moment. I’m totally happy that there’s no underlying reason.

 

[Mrs Jingle]

Can you manage to get hold of the old fashioned hand clippers? My very old hairy cob sweated like mad but if I did a quick rough clip with the hand clippers he would quickly cool off enough to then do him properly with the charged clippers.

I have a feeling you can still buy them and they aren't expensive. They don't half make your fingers ache though!