Clipping Dilemma

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kandm

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Not so much with the horse, but with the owner...

The woman which I loan Max off is ever so lovely but with that ever so traditional. She really does not like the idea of clipping a horse. Her reasoning is the 2hours out of 24 in the day which I ride Max it's not worth clipping him. She states that it gets so cold up the yard that it's not fair for him to havehis fur clipped off. However she doesn't seem to understand he has over £200 worth of rugs to keep him warm and compensate for the loss of hair.

It wouldn't bother me too much, however he is a welsh and as you can imagine gets extremely hairy, so he sweats up very easily. Today for example his neck was dripping not because he's unfit but just because he has so much fluff. Then I feel really bad for having to sponge him off, or even leaving him with sweat as he will get cold in this weather. I don't feel it is very nice for him.

At the moment she has agreed to let him have a bib clip, which is a start, however how would you gently prob to allow her to agree that he needs more off??

Hope that makes sense.

Thanks in advance :).
 
Is it a full loan? If so, surely the management of the horse is down to you? :confused: I have a loan horse atm, and I've just clipped him - didn't occur to me to consult his owner first... I'm sure she wouldn't object, however. Could you maybe talk to his owner about the possible negative effects of having a hairy horse lathered in sweat on a cold winter's day? Maybe take a photo of him after working if she doesn't believe he gets that sweaty?
 
I have a horse out on full loan at the moment I expect she has had him clipped by now too but consulted me, nor would I really expect her too, i chose a loanee that I trusted and was experienced therefor if she thinks he requires it then thats fine with me.

I would be tempted to just do the bib at the moment and see how you go with that, then if he needs more off you will have good evidence and agrument fto have more off in the next clip, or just go slightly higher with the next clip and hope she dosen't notice too much.
 
nutkin said:
Is it a full loan? If so, surely the management of the horse is down to you? :confused: I have a loan horse atm, and I've just clipped him - didn't occur to me to consult his owner first... I'm sure she wouldn't object, however. Could you maybe talk to his owner about the possible negative effects of having a hairy horse lathered in sweat on a cold winter's day? Maybe take a photo of him after working if she doesn't believe he gets that sweaty?
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Yer thats what i thought my daughters pony is on loan, and the owner shares another horse at our yard, i just clipped him i didnt even mention it to her first. I treat him as my own, send her pics by email once a month. If i see her down there i tell how weve done at shows ect. But thats it she doesnt interfere any other way?

But i wouldnt expect her to tell me what clip ect i could or couldnt do?
Is it full loan you have? Is it in your contract that you can only give a very small clip?
 
If this is a full loan, then I'd say she'd be hard pressed to expect you to agree with this.

However, if this is a couple of days a week share - well that's a different matter.
 
amymay said:
If this is a full loan, then I'd say she'd be hard pressed to expect you to agree with this.

However, if this is a couple of days a week share - well that's a different matter.
Click to expand...

Ditto the above!

A full loan should be able to decide things like that themself. If you wanted to hog the mane, or take the feathers off a tradi cob it may be polite to ask, but really a horse on loan should be like your own horse.

I would bib clip him, you may find this helps, but if not, take some photos of him returning from rides sweaty and ask what she proposes you do to prevent hom catching a chill. He is more likely to catch a chill from standing around wet after a ride than from having a clip and being rugged up.

I can see her point, many people over clip for fashion reasons, rather than practical ones, but in this case the horse needs clipping. I have two ISHs. One can work with not much clipped off and not sweat, so he only gets traced, the other sweats all the time, so needs more taking off if its being worked...
 
It's an odd arrangment. It is a loan but isnt a loan. She has a private yard, and loves owning horses but doesn't have time for them. She practically bought Max for me two years ago, and he is mine in her will when she dies. We pay for everything except insurance and livery, bought all his tack, rugs, bedding, feed, anything and everything. But there is no contract which states what is black and white. So she always has final say, quite rightly to as it is her horse at the end of the day. I don't want to fall out with her over it either, as she is very kind, and a long time friend of the family. However it's the welfare of Max which is most important to me.

From riding him last winter, not doing much as he was only three I can honestly say now that he needs more off than just a bib. But I think I'll go with your suggestion of clipping a bib clip now and somehow proving that he needs more off. Idealy he really needs a chase as his neck and chest just burst into sweat.

Thank you for all the replies :).
 
Will definitely try a bib clip first. I am 99% certain he will need more. After all if he is sweating up this much now, and not even all his coat has come through, then I honestly believe he will need more off. Just hope his owner realises it. :)
 
We have a real hairy at my yard who actually only has a bib cut. To be honest the amount of work he does actually do in the winter - it's fine.

So unless you're going to be working this horse every day for an hour or so - then I wouldn't worry about it. I'm sure he'll be fine.
 
My incredibley hairy cob has a small chaser clip, just keep it very low and small and its practically a bib! She is being ridden, allbeit lightwork, more or less daily. I clipped the other day, it was really warm and she was sweating despite doing nothing!
 
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