clipping advise please :)

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blonde bombshell

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this is going to be long winded but i will try keeping it short... here goes...

my friend has asked me to clip her horse this winter for her, i said i would but she wants a full clip on him. he is ridden usually 4times a week at the moment (with the light mornings and evenings) but only quietly hacked, he rarely competes. but when winter comes i know she wont be able to ride him more than twice a week because it will be too dark when she finishes work, the weather will be rubbish, and she wont let others ride him. i think it wouldnt be fair on the horse to get fully clipped if only working quietly twice a week. i told her this in the nicest way but she wont listen and wants it all off as she says its easier for her to deal with if he isnt hairy. i understand that but stil think a trace or blanket clip would be nicer for the horse if not in alot of work. afterall, he can still be rugged too.

what do you think? should i do what she wants regardless to whether i think it would be unfair on him? help needed, thanks x
 
There was 2 horses fully clipped at our yard last year which were either not rode or rode once/twice a week and tbh it didnt cause them any discomfort and they were happy bunnies. They were both very unfit so leaving them with there very hairy coats would have caused problems with sweating and possible chance of catching a chill if left all sweaty. If the horse was fit and didnt sweat much then id probably do a high trace but if it was a really hairy beast and unfit then id take it all off but leave a saddle patch, half head and legs. But just my opinion lol :D
 
We fully clip ours, (that is OH & I) regardless. That way when we do fast hacks, rather than a quick schooling session they don't get too sweaty.

Provided she has plenty of rugs and spares for when the others get wet, I can't see a problem.
 
she has a couple of rugs but not loads. he doesnt tend to get very sweaty at all, proberly cause she doesnt work him very hard.
i said i wasnt keen on doing a full clip and she got lairy with me so ive told her to ask someone else. she wasnt gunna pay me to do it and they are my clippers, and i got to do mine and a few others that are family or paying. so i think shes in a strop with me now :S everyone is entitled to there opinion right? i was just saying mine. i think i caught her on a bad day though x
 
Tbh I fully clip mine - and big boy who is not sound and in only very light work will be done too! Makes life a lot easier grooming and keeping generally clean! Also none of the excess hair at 'change of coat time'!

I also clip horses for other people and tbh whatever anyone wants for their horse is entirely their business - they are the customer/owner afterall! Therefore if someone wants something unorthodox or specific for their horse then that's what I'll do! Equally so - if I think that they are novice owners and need advice on rugging - then they will receive that too!
 
makes sod all difference.
providing they are rugged appropriately why does it matter how much hair they have. if they are been ridden, and possibly becoming sweaty its far kinder to have them clipped, purely so they dry quickly and dont catch a chill.
 
I reckon it's ok as long as the horse is rugged sufficiently, but I prefer to do a sort of hunter clip - leaving some on the back, but maybe that's just me.

Anyway, I think you should just do it even if you wouldn't if the horse were yours, because the owner sounds the sort to stick to her guns and just get someone else to do it, so you might as well.
 
Your clippers and no pay....I assume you aren't insured to clip other people's Horses? Friend or not I wouldn't. All it takes is for the Horse to panic and get injured - given the blame culture these days......................

As for the how much to clip. I definately wouldn't clip the legs! But, each to their own so long as you rug. Mine lives out all year and I do a cross between a blanket and a trace. I take the whole neck off (where he gets hot) then do a trace down to the back of the belly. Means his bum is warm for the cold wind up on the hill.
 
Tbh mine are clipped right out, ears, faces, legs every last bit comes off, they are then rugged accordingly, neither of mine compete anymore but one is a barsteward to groom at the best of time so this helps me avioid being kicked or bitten once moulting time comes, and i figure if i'm doing one i might as well do both :D
 
my old (31yo) retired baby still gets a bib, he gets such a thick coat and sticky under his armpits (he wont use linx:P ) its makes him more comfy. My HUGE rug box has a rug for every occasion so no probs. As long as your pal keeps him warm, cant see a problem. If you feel that uneasy, say no and ask her to get someone else to do:)
 
no im not insured but do it for good friends as a favor and only do the horse if i know whats it is like and they know the possible risks/accidents that could happen.
she is like family and always ask me for advise with him. i was talking to her the other day and she has agreed to have a trace/blanket clip as he will still be rugged and will have to have face and legs left as he is a sensitive pony so now shes happy again cause had time to think lol x
 
earlier you said you clipped some for money. you really do need public liability ,3c liability, personal accident insurance (tho this is optional) a circuit breaker and your machines need to have a service record and current PAT testing.hope it all goes well, and good to know you can afford a court case without insurance(should you unfortunately do an eye or a tendon or anything else!)
 
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