Clipping a retired horse...would you?

E

EquiGirl1

Well-Known Member
Joined
27 July 2012
Messages
113
Visit site
As the title says really. My horse is being turned away again for winter (injury related) and I am now contemplating clipping him. He gets seriously fluffy and has every year for the past 12 years had a full hunter clip. As much as I want him clipped for aesthetic reasons I hadn't planned to as it was I thought pointless and no good for him if he is out of work (he'll still be coming in at night for the worst winter months). The problem I'm having is he is so itchy! He is rubbing constantly! I treated for lice even though its highly unlikely he had them just to make sure and there is no difference.

Would you clip? He has a full wardrobe so keeping him warm isn't an issue. He is only itching across his back and bum so I thought about just clipping his body and leaving his neck (I'll have to get over him looking ridiculous - my problem not his!). I had wanted to avoid putting a neck on him this winter as I thought (hoped) we might be able to regrow the bottom half of our mane for the first time in a long time....
 
No, I wouldn't dream of it. My girl is very itchy and grows a wooly coat. She had been hunter clipped all her life whilst in work and I prefer her looking that way, but when she retired through injury, I let her get all fluffy and enjoyed not having to bother rugging for much of the time. I think she enjoyed it too. Often it's the rugs that make them more itchy. I would try to keep him naked as much as possible then he can really have a good scatch when he rolls. I would only rug when the weather is particularly wet, and then only with a 50 - 100 g fill rug without a neck.
 
I would look into the itching more before resorting to clipping, it may just be while he changes his coat, leave him naked for now so he can roll properly.
If he has been on box rest/ medication a good detox may help clear his system and will help the itchiness.
 
No, I wouldn't clip.

Add some oil to his feed, which may well help with the itching. And consider whether you need to rug him (if you are) because he actually may be too hot.
 
Thanks for the replies. He hasnt been rugged yet, and I had only planned on using rugs if he looked like he needed them once it got really horrid. I have started feeding micronised linseed to help with his coat. Oh and he hasnt been on medication since the spring, has been living out at nights (muzzled) and in during the day all summer (only way i could keep weight off with no exercise allowed) but has recently started 24/7 t/o as the grass has finally gone down.
 
yes and I do. My old dear has cushings and I leave her au natural but rugged while it's cold then clip her as it warms up as she gets itchy. She has liver issues which make her itch too so the last thing she needs is 2 lots of itchyness!
 
As Wagtail and Amymay have said. 100% agree. Let him grow fluffy, no rug at all whenever possible, thin rain rug on to turn the wind unless it's really horrible, and you say you have him in at night anyway.

Try giving him linseed if he goes on being itchy. Incidentally, they will tend to itch, rub, scratch at this time of the year because their coats are changing. We have an elder tree by the gate whose bark is worn smooth of late with three sets of bums necks and withers bring sorted out!
 
I clip my retired girl, just as I clipped my last old lad. I call it a "welfare clip" as both Sunny, and now Mels, had/have very thick coats, but seem unable to regulate temp unless rugged.
Mels had a low chaser 3 weeks ago, which as pretty much grown out now, I took her rug off for an hour the other day as it was lovely and warm (I was poo picking in a t-shirt) and within half an hour she was tucked up and pompom coated!
I clip Mel so that I can rug her (sweaty armpits and a shivering horse are not fun!!) but I don't clip for purely cosmetic reasons.
 
I would clip my horse if she were retired! She is much happier clipped and its easier to keep her clean! Maybe just a blacket or a trace but wouldn't leave her fully fluffed! Plus think of when it all starts coming out next year! That's not fun!
 
Why would you remove the coat God gave your horse and replace it with some ghastly bit of nylon?! The natural coat is windproof, waterproof and fits perfectly. It even has automatic extra insulation when nature demands by fluffing itself out. It will never slip or get caught on fencing/hedges etc. How many New Zealand rugs can do all that?
 
sport horse said:
Why would you remove the coat God gave your horse and replace it with some ghastly bit of nylon?! The natural coat is windproof, waterproof and fits perfectly. It even has automatic extra insulation when nature demands by fluffing itself out. It will never slip or get caught on fencing/hedges etc. How many New Zealand rugs can do all that?
Click to expand...

:) Like :)
 
My old girl grows a coat like a yak in the winter, and should it be mild this winter I'm planning to just take a thin strip of hair off up the underside of her neck, along her gullet, just so she gets some cooler air to her neck, but won't loose the protection of her winter coat, however I'll be leaving this until as late as I can, and it will have to stay mild...
 
sport horse said:
Why would you remove the coat God gave your horse and replace it with some ghastly bit of nylon?! The natural coat is windproof, waterproof and fits perfectly. It even has automatic extra insulation when nature demands by fluffing itself out. It will never slip or get caught on fencing/hedges etc. How many New Zealand rugs can do all that?
Click to expand...

Agree! And as for thinking your horse prefers being clipped - who told you that, some dodgy animal communicator? One of the funniest things I've read on here!
 
i wouldnt unless it has cushings and needs a clip for welfare (as some do)
mine lives out hunter clipped as she is worked over winter as much as i can - and also makes it better for her for early HT's and events when summer coat is coming through. but if she was off for a year and i didnt plan on bringing her into work early in spring i'd not clip her - if she was due to come back into work say in feb then i'd clip then - as it is i do one clip in november and that's it - lasts her all winter (ok not as close as a full clip but near enough to make a difference when i ride etc)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top