Clipping advice?

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Hoofprintz

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Hi, I have a hairy cob who is worked 5-6 days a week & sweats a lot. He only became mine in March but I was lucky enough to be riding him for 12mths previous to that. He was clipped out late December last year mainly because I wanted to take him to the Boxing Day meet. Now I own him I'm not sure when it's correct to clip him out? I hog him & have kept his feather short all Summer & actually clipped him right out in the heat of Summer as he was sweating stood in the stable. Is it too early to clip out now? Does it make any difference how early it's done or is there something I should be looking for with his coat? He is currently moulting a lot but tbh it seems like he's always moulting!! He is worked in a variety of aspects ie dressage, jumping, hunter trial & fun rides/autumn hunts. I have rugs & a stable... I think I know what people are going to say but something in me isn't sure!?! Any advice gratefully received.
 
I clipped mine last week. He was getting waaaayyy too hot and sweaty, especially with this mild weather we are having.

I used to keep my old mare clipped all year round, so unless you're intending on showing, there is no right or wrong!! Thats the joy of owning your horse....:-)
 
You shouldn't clip until they've finished moulting. If you clip mid moult you'll ruin te coat that's coming through and could delay the moulting.
My sec D is hairy and getting sweaty when I ride now but still moulting like crazy so I'm having to wait! I've been rubber curry combing lots to get it out.
 
You can clip now if you want but he might need doing again in a few months if you do. I know there seems to be a cut off date for clipping, like January or something, but maybe someone else can explain the logic behind it. Before then you can clip as much as you want. My mare hates being clipped so she only gets done once at end of October. So I struggle at this time of year as she has her woolly coat but it is mild still. But it is just something I put up with as she needs sedation by the vet to get clipped so one a year it is!!
 
Patterdale said:
You shouldn't clip until they've finished moulting. If you clip mid moult you'll ruin te coat that's coming through and could delay the moulting.
My sec D is hairy and getting sweaty when I ride now but still moulting like crazy so I'm having to wait! I've been rubber curry combing lots to get it out.
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What difference can it make if you are clipping all the off coat anyway, it will need doing again sooner if he has not fully changed his coat but for his health it is better done now when he really needs it, leaving another month may mean weight loss, poor skin if it is hard to groom properly and it is hard to dry them off before rugging to turnout, clip as often as required it will do no harm as long as they are rugged appropriately.
 
Clip when you need to - i.e. now ! The only thing if you clip before the coat has come through is that you'll need to clip more often. I did a first clip at the beginning of September as I was getting my horse fit for hunting and I had to clip again at the weekend.

Your horse's comfort is the most important thing.
 
I clipped out 3 at the yard yesterday and doing mine this week, he is just far too hot and sweaty for his own good but trying to wait out for him to put a bit of weight on

You will probably end up clipping again in a few months but i personally would rather that than have a sweaty itchy horse
 
Speaking as someone who has clipped professionally for many years, and until having a baby would clip approx 150 horses a winter (including hunt horses for 2 hunts), if you clip a coat that is mid moult, you will mess up the coat.

You should get grooming, get as much moult out as you can and then clip. Should only delay your clip by a week or so.

People always seem to be in such a rush to clip before the coats are ready!
 
My big mare moults all year round, so it would be very hard to know when to clip her!!! I clip mine fully so it doesn't matter if I "mess up the coat" because I clip it off again anyway!!

I also cannot stand being covered from head to foot in white hair every day as they moult....so yes, definitely in a hurry!!
 
I've had to clip already, regardless of whether the coat was ready or not. Horse was getting v sweaty and I'd prefer him to be comfortable than worrying about whether I mess up his coat. He was pretty hairy, being a native type, and if I ride in the evening, he gets sweaty, needs washing off then takes ages to dry, it's pretty unfair on him. Plus it can't be v comfortable for him to get sweaty quickly. Last weekend it was 22C here and I took him XC - imagine doing that with a big fur coat! He got a fairly low trace clip a week last Sunday and TBH I should have taken more off. Even though the temperature has dropped a bit, he's still too hot when working really. Sometime this week I will probably give him a blanket or hunter clip.

I have no problem with clipping regularly if it needs tidying up. I also clip in Jan/Feb so that I don't have to go through the winter hair loss - my horse was still losing his saddle patch and legs in June and I'm glad that's all he had left!

OP, if the horse is sweaty and uncomfortable then clip :)
 
Patterdale said:
Speaking as someone who has clipped professionally for many years, and until having a baby would clip approx 150 horses a winter (including hunt horses for 2 hunts), if you clip a coat that is mid moult, you will mess up the coat.

You should get grooming, get as much moult out as you can and then clip. Should only delay your clip by a week or so.

People always seem to be in such a rush to clip before the coats are ready!
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TBH i think that only applies if you start very early and are trying to do as few clips as possible, so trying to go months between clips...............i always end up clipping every 4 weeks to keep them tidy, so the coat is kept super short and glossy and doesnt ever get to the cat hairy stage.
i generally clip CS 3 times and have never had to clip after xmas, and normally have a summer coat well on the way through by march.

Bruce we had to do every 10 days from Sept to end Jan to keep him neat, but thats the irish bog genes!
 
Patterdale said:
Speaking as someone who has clipped professionally for many years, and until having a baby would clip approx 150 horses a winter (including hunt horses for 2 hunts), if you clip a coat that is mid moult, you will mess up the coat.

You should get grooming, get as much moult out as you can and then clip. Should only delay your clip by a week or so.

People always seem to be in such a rush to clip before the coats are ready!
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What if a horse is clipped all year round?? When I bought my cob 2 years ago he came to me clipped in summer as they said he had a thick coat and sweated a lot. I didn't clip again that summer, clipped in winter, when he started moulting and then last clip end of December. The second and third summer he was with me, I didn't clip but followed that routine in winter. He still has a very 'thick' summer coat and sweats just stood in the field.

I don't know much about clipping so would be interested to hear your opinion.

Thanks.
 
Thanks for all your advice, experiences & comments. Been really interesting.

I think I'll clip this week. On closer inspection he actually isn't moulting as much as last week & is just getting sweatier during work. I'll probably clip several times before Jan/Feb anyway.. At least I'll know for next year how his coat responds ;-)

Now for trying to avoid those tramlines!!

Thanks all.
 
Patterdale said:
Speaking as someone who has clipped professionally for many years, and until having a baby would clip approx 150 horses a winter (including hunt horses for 2 hunts), if you clip a coat that is mid moult, you will mess up the coat.
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Blimey!!! I think I would lose the will to live having that many to do, a few clips a year is enough for me :eek3: :eek3:
 
my hairy monster is clipped & hogged all year round - just waiting for clippers to come back from service & then he will de done again x
 
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