Clipping a Shetland

[imafluffybunny]

Has anyone ever clipped a shetland for the purpose of aiding weight loss?
Someone suggested that I could partially clip my shetland, obviously he would wear a rug, and then he will need to use more energy to keep warm which will help keep his weight down.
He is currently living out with a good field shelter, no rug, a tiny feed of safe and sound each day (only because the others get fed) and hay with the other horses in the field.
He is quite fat so anything which may make him loose a little would be great but not at the expense of him being cold and miserable.
Has anyone else done this and did it work?

 

[T_K]

I wouldn't really worry about him being slightly overweight at this time of year TBH. Shetlands by nature store up fat in the run up to the really cold weather so that they can live without food, in the islands when it snows it could be upto 2 weeks before they find food.

As long as he is still moving OK and getting regular exercise I would leave him natural and start a weight maintenance scheme before spring.

IMO

 

[wizzi901]

I hope you are having a giggle!!

No it doesnt aid weight loss at all, bit of a myth that one, we have two minis that we had to clip last year for mini hoys, it did not affect them whatsoever, however we of course rugged.

Whilst they are porky little things these shetlands, clipping all their natural defence off and leaving them unrugged is fairly cruel IMHO.

How would you feel if someone took all your clothing for the rest of the winter but said hey you need to lose some weight but here is a shelter....!!!

He would be cold and miserable and you may find yourself ending up with a shivering wreck. Mine are fat but still get cold and wet and shaky when they are cold, despite the fat layer!!

Could also make them colic, get chills and end up costing you vets fees.

Personally, I think whoever suggested it, is nuts!!¬

 

[T_K]

Is he fatter than this?

 

[imafluffybunny]

The thing is he lives all spring summer and autumn in a very bare paddock and the winter is the only time he is allowed into the big field with the others when the grass has gone! I was hoping if it worked, I may get a bit of weight off him before the spring as he seems to store fat as if he is never going to eat again!
Maybe I need to 'hop' on and take him for some long hacks!

 

[JM07]

if you are going to clip and rug...you may as well not bother....

give him a high trace...above elbow/flank and dont rug....

ETS...I wouldn't say she's having a giggle....it is a well proven way to keep weight off during winter months...

 

[luckilotti]

never done it for weight loss reasons and TBH i dont think i would? however my shetland often has a small bib clip, mainly as he walks a few feet and starts to sweat up! hence a ickle clip helps him be comfortable.

 

[imafluffybunny]

[ QUOTE ]
I hope you are having a giggle!!

Whilst they are porky little things these shetlands, clipping all their natural defence off and leaving them unrugged is fairly cruel IMHO.

How would you feel if someone took all your clothing for the rest of the winter but said hey you need to lose some weight but here is a shelter....!!!


I did say I would rug him! <font color="black"> </font>

 

[JM07]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I hope you are having a giggle!!

Whilst they are porky little things these shetlands, clipping all their natural defence off and leaving them unrugged is fairly cruel IMHO.

How would you feel if someone took all your clothing for the rest of the winter but said hey you need to lose some weight but here is a shelter....!!!


I did say I would rug him! <font color="black"> </font>

[/ QUOTE ]


don't worry...there are quite a few who read alot into stuff or just don't read stuff on here...

 

[Honeypots]

Mine gets clipped...never known him to shiver yet

he's never worn a rug either...he'd never keep one on tbh!

I don't so much clip for weightloss but I'm sure it helps. My boy just grows such an almighty thick coat that he swealters.
Mine goes out in the big field in winter too but I find the increase in exercise he gets from moving around more helps keep his weight down anyway.

 

[wizzi901]

ah!!! misread that sorry!!! If you are going to rug him, waste of time really, you are replacing hair with rug!!

If you are that worried about his weight, either lunge him, long line him or take him on lunge line if you are able when you hack your horse!! We take ours up to the school round the corner when they get tooooo fat and loose school them over jumps etc, works wonders for the flab!!

 

[wizzi901]

JM07 like you say in your siggi, speak up, well I am! - I have apologised to the original poster so keep ya nose out!! - i have just finished a long day with over 7 hours driving end to end, so we are all entitled to misread stuff!!

THere are people that would clip a shetland and not rug it believing it will help! and then end up paying vets fees!!

 

[JM07]

you apologised AFTER i had posted, gobby..


so shut the ffk up, eh????

 

[wizzi901]

these were our two last year as Appy one had to be clipped out including legs for MHOYS, pain in the neck. I actually didnt take them this year 1) as was busy doing jumping champs and 2) the arsse of having to clip them in November just to rug them for the rest of the winter.

This year they are woolly fat and living out!!! without rugs!

 

[wizzi901]

I posted apology due to re=reading the original post, I hadnt even read yours twat!! Gobby I am and proud of it! Wont be bulled by idiots like you

 

[Stinkbomb]

I have no problem with clipping shetties but for weight loss no. The only way it would help was if you were working your shetland and he was getting too sweaty. At this time of year i would leave his coat well alone and start a fitness regime next year. Exercise will get rid of the pounds not a clip!!

This is how my shetty lost the weight. I started when i got him in July last year by sensible feeding, limited grazing and plenty of exercise. he went from this July 07...

to this Feb 08..

My other mini is also holding a few pounds this time of year but with the correct exercise and feeding he will go from this, which is currently..

to this at the start of the show season next year..

So it can be done by simple feeding and exercise.

I do clip mine around feb/march time as my show season starts April and i need to assess their condition before hand. plus minis are shown clipped anyway but would not consider clipping over winter

 

[sandr]

Honeypot your shetland is sooooo cute!!

 

[JM07]

[ QUOTE ]
I posted apology due to re=reading the original post, I hadnt even read yours twat!! Gobby I am and proud of it! Wont be bulled by idiots like you

[/ QUOTE ]


bullied????


PMSL...


you VERY RARELY read the whole of a post before making a sanctimonious reply at best .... because ALL of your animals have been here, done that....SO they must be far better looked after than most, eh?


TWAT????....interesting word.....google it...i'm sure it's one of those little words that Admin ISN'T too fond of...


as you say, gobby, and proud of it....gobby types are rarely bullied......unles, like your ponies, you are SPECIAL....

 

[wizzi901]

hey there stranger!!

Totally agree with your post. It sounded as if OP does not understand that shetlands if fat need exercise as a larger horse would, rather than making it work for its temperature!

But hey we all live and learn. As for Ty you did an amazing job with him, you even got rid of his cellulite!!! He was very lucky pony to have found you!

 

[JM07]

[ QUOTE ]


Totally agree with your post.

[/ QUOTE ]




NO YOU DON'T!!!!!!



you said further up that, in your opinion, clipping doesn't aid weightloss..........


bless you, you must have a hell of a job to make you this forgetful.....

 

[Stinkbomb]

Hiya!! Yes Ty was rather obese to say the least!!!

JM07 - [ QUOTE ]
TWAT????....interesting word.....google it...i'm sure it's one of those little words that Admin ISN'T too fond of...


[/ QUOTE ]

I googled it just out of interest and got..

[ QUOTE ]
Your search - twat - did not match any documents.

Suggestions:

Try different keywords.


[/ QUOTE ]

 

[hedgehog1]

mrs stinkle twinkle you did an amazing job of skinnying down that 1st shetland !!

 

[wizzi901]

ha ha you clearly dont know me!

I am the least self righteous person you will ever meet PMSL!!

Most of my posts are tongue in cheek and whilst I have a go in all disciplines at low level - I don't claim to be something I am not lol!!

I do rescue animals, I don't advertise the fact, hoping for approval from others.

I am a keen amateur, I f^^ck things up sometimes, dont we all, but not sure where you are coming from in your "opinion" of me lol

Those that know me and plenty on here have met me or know me in person, know exactly the type of person I am, so have your say if it makes you feel better, obviously green eyed monster but not sure why, I have nothing particularly special, except every animal I have, of course they are special!!! DOH!

PS - note to OP, sorry to have hijacked your post! You can thank JM07 silly comments for that!

 

[Stinkbomb]

[ QUOTE ]
Quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Totally agree with your post.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------






NO YOU DON'T!!!!!!



you said further up that, in your opinion, clipping doesn't aid weightloss..........


bless you, you must have a hell of a job to make you this forgetful.....





[/ QUOTE ]


PST.... think she meant me

 

[Stinkbomb]

Why thank you

 

[JM07]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twat

 

[wizzi901]

Now you are not reading the posts right!!

Yes i do have a hell of a job actually

 

[wizzi901]

lol

but how do you know which meaning I meant, as this was my meaning!! assuming only a bloke could talk like you
Definitions of twat on the Web:

fathead: a man who is a stupid incompetent fool

 

[Stinkbomb]

[ QUOTE ]
Usage

Although sometimes used as a reference to the female genitalia, the word tw*t is more often used in various other ways:

As a derogatory insult, a pejorative - 'you tw*t!'
A fool, synonymous with the word twit - 'You are a real tw*t and a half' (often used in the UK)[3]
To express annoyance - 'I caught my tw*tting knackers in it!'
To hit something (or someone) hard or violently - 'I tw*tted him one'
In its past participle form, to be drunk or otherwise intoxicated - 'Let's get tw*tted'


[/ QUOTE ]

That is hilarious i think i just pi*sed in my twat*ing knickers!!!

 

[JM07]

i think i know how this forum works..


as in who replies to who etc...it's not difficult as it's at the top when the reply is pressed...............