Clipped feathers in winter

[Ranyhyn]

I clipped Ed's legs out in June/July, they are yet to grow back fully - only about 1-1.5" of a usually 3" feather.

Firstly, will he be ok through winter? And secondly does anyone actually clip feather out through winter also and what are the precautions needed with doing so?

Kitty

 

[somethingorother]

If you don't mind about him 'looking tidy' then i would keep them and see how he goes, as long as there is no sign of mud fever etc now, it should help prevent it. but keep a close eye on them and maybe if it does start to appear then whip it off again so you can get to it better.

You've not had him that long have you? So won't know yet whether he suffers or not usually?

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

He'll be fine whether you leave them or clip them. My cob currently has long feathers but i will trim them up a bit round her hooves before the mud comes - i don't clip off her legs as I will be showing her next year but previoulsy I have just kept trimming them all year round when she was hogged and clipped out.

 

[Ranyhyn]

No - it'll be a year in Dec, and last winter he had full feather and didn't get MF even in a field that was just mud

so I don't think he's prone to it - well hopefully. I think I will leave it for now and see how he gets on, its a considerably better managed yard so although we get mud, its fetlock deep as opposed to knee deep

 

[Flint12]

I clip my lads all year round, he suffers from mud fever.

I just make sure legs are dry after coming in from the field and after riding. I have ordered a pair of thermatex (i think that is the make) leg wraps to wick away the moisture.

He got it really badly last year to the point e wahs sedated and the vet was called.

 

[kirstyhen]

I clip Hen's legs. He normally has them completely clipped (body, legs and head out) but I sometimes clip them with a comb to give him a bit more covering.
He has never had mud fever in the 8 years of me doing it, and has been out in some awful mud! It makes their legs dry quicker, so you haven't got nice warm, wet heels, checking them is far easier and you can do it more thoroughly.

He is actually worse with feathers, he gets really itchy and, in bad mud, ends up with dreadlocks.

 

[Ranyhyn]

Thanks guys, its a steep learning curve for me - all this fur, all my previous horses have been a higher percentage of TB and not had any feather!