Clipping a horse not in work??????

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Loubiepoo

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As title suggests really, has anyone done this? Horse is currently on box rest (with in hand walking) but twice I've found him sweating slightly as he's stood in his stable or after I've took him for his walk. He's not stressed or anything, no colic signs and I do think its just because he is too warm with his big woolley coat. He's always been a warm horse, I've even considered clipping him in the summer but I'm struggling to justify to myself clipping him now when he's not in any type of work at the moment. Thoughts??
 
I think you'll get answers going each way. I personally dont have issue with it. If it will make the horse more comfortable then do it.
My TB is only in light work this winter but he is very hot blooded and grows a thick coat for a TB. I would rather he was clipped and comfortable than itchy and hairy. As long as you can provide adequate rugging and feed when necessary its fine.
I suppose with him not being in work I would only clip the areas which he seems to get sweaty, but again I dont follow this rule - I find it much easier to rug a horse which is either completley hairy or completley naked! Depends on how sensitive horse is - if I blanket clip mine he still sweats on some bits and is colder on others.
 
I don't see anything wrong with giving a trace or a blanket clip as this will help air his chest but keep the warmth around his back to avoid his muscles seizing up in the cold
 
My mare is not in work and i plan to clip her at the end of the month now her winter coat has started to come through as she gets ichy. vet already gave her one injection to stop her itching short term. Also she gets walked out in-hand and plan to bring her back into work end of year. Its a personal choice really see no harm in it if you have enough rugs.
 
TBH I clip the lot, in work or not, they get a full clip (legs and head left) for ease of management.
Call it lazy or whatever, but they all look good, are easy to keep clean and their condition is easier to monitor as no fluff in the way.
 
martlin said:
TBH I clip the lot, in work or not, they get a full clip (legs and head left) for ease of management.
Call it lazy or whatever, but they all look good, are easy to keep clean and their condition is easier to monitor as no fluff in the way.
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same :p much easier!
 
Do what you feel is best for your horse, there are many reasons why and indeed when people decided to clip, many differnt horses require a clip for different reasons.
 
martlin said:
TBH I clip the lot, in work or not, they get a full clip (legs and head left) for ease of management.
Call it lazy or whatever, but they all look good, are easy to keep clean and their condition is easier to monitor as no fluff in the way.
Click to expand...

Ditto this - plus when they moult it triggers my asthma.
 
I would just do a bib and belly. I opresume you are not rugging if he is not in work? I think the problem with our winters, or our weather full stop is thatwe can go from double figures one week to minus figures the next - the poor horses dont have a chance to aclimatise.
 
Yes if its necessary, my horse was on box rest last year and she had a clip as she got too warm in her rugs if the weather changed. Do what makes the horse comfortable.
 
Thanks for replies! I have plenty of rugs as he's normally in full work this time of year and has a full clip, except legs. He's mainly been sweating on his shoulder, between front legs (belly/arm pits) and base of his ears so I was thinking a trace clip should suffice, although for ease of moulting in the spring a hunter clip would suit me!!! I can't believe how woolley he is, i've clipped him every year I've had him so I've never seen his 'full' coat!

ETA - Kenzo, love your sig!
 
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Loubiepoo said:
Izzwizz - how's your horse doing? Still in work with no lameness? :)
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Hi there, yes Izzy is doing very well thankyou. She was turned out full time in May after all the handwalking and it was so nice to see her out in the field again, being a horse! We continued hacking out and shes up to 2 hrs now, mostly in walk, a little uphill trot (as recommended by vet) and on a nice surface like a grassy field, a canter. We re-started lessons with Liam in July and when she puts her mind to it, she will work well. Had the Physio to her last Friday and she was amazed at her transformation as when she last saw her she had only been back in ridden work for 1 month and her muscles were "flat". She was found to be a little tight through her shoulder on the leg that had the tendon injury so we have some exercises to do. Still in her egg bar shoes for one more shoeing then she will go into quarter clip shoes in Jan. We did 2 Walk & Trot Dressage comps in August and Sept and she did well - when not spooking. Im very pleased and proud of her. Just got to get through winter now and the slippery fields, then if we make it to Spring and shes still sound, I think I will then fully relax. She has been seen and I have seen her run around the fields and I just shut my eyes. Silly old mare at 15 should know better! Shes on the NAF MSM and I do think its been of benefit. Out of Insurance now so fingers crossed she stays well.
 
A lot of the horses on our yard are not in any work, due to retirement or injury and they are all fully clipped out, and well rugged up.

All except my horse, who is also retired due to unsoundness. I'll probably regret not clipping come spring when i'm covered in hair every day for a month! I was concerned and nearly clipped him when we had that milder weather a week or two ago, as he got sweaty armpits, but now it's colder he's ok again.
 
My horse is retired now and has been for many years but she is clipped out every autumn/winter as I cannot bear thick hairy coats and the subsequent molting in spring. It drives me to distraction.

Even when she was a youngster she grew a very thick wolly coat, and its even worse now she has Cushings although the Pergolide has really helped her winter coat to grow more normally this winter.

As long as you have plenty of suitable rugs to keep them toasty warm both in the field and stable and feed accordingly I see no reason not to, its your horse and your choice.

I know my ponio inside out and I can just tell she feels more comfortable without all the hair, plus she is SO much easier to keep clean and I can spot anything suspect on her legs/body alot easier than when she resembles a yak.

She is fairly hot blooded and many years ago I left it quite late to clip and she would just sweat standing in her stable when was freezing cold outside :eek:

Sadiemay
 
It's got to be whatever works for you, and him, my horse isn't doing a massive amount of work, but will still be clipped, she sweats after 15 mins in the school, she is a TB but grows a winter coat a Welsh Mountain pony would be proud of!
 
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