clipping-EPSM-what would you do?

[Prince33Sp4rkle]

thus far CS is not clipped, he is moderately floofy, more so neck and tummy than body.

he IS getting pretty hot when worked, entire neck, tummy and high up flanks and thighs is wet. I have been washing down with warm water, under heat lamps, and rugging well with fleece as base layer and he isnt getting chilled at all/dropping condition.

muscle wise he seems MUCH better for not having been clipped, i guess the hair keeps any breeze/chill off his muscles.

however, now its dark earlier and NMT and I are at work, mum is bringing them in around 2.30/3pm and he's getting awfully hot stood in, in his turnout rugs.

Mum is not physically able to un-rug and re-rug him in his stable rugs, dont want to go in to details but she cant manage it. If he was in a lighter rug in the field he comes in cold with tight muscles.

if i clip he would find it easier to regulate his temp when stood in, but because of how high up he sweats it would either be a stupidly high blanket clip, high to the point i may as well take it all off rather than leave a stupid strip just over the top of his back, which will look ludicrous????

doyou think its better for him to be a bit hot for a couple of hours (and i guess when the temps drop in dec/jan he may well not get hot at all?) or to be clipped and potentially cause a muscle flare up?

rock/hard place!

 

[ellie_e]

Have you thought about keeping all the back end on and doing a chaser type clip? Ive just done this on mums old boy looks smart enough for shows but keeps back end warm and has taken enough hair off neck/belly area to not be too hot.

 

[Saratoga]

If he were mine I think I would clip, and then make sure muscles are really toasty before getting on and working him (with massage rug/hot water bottles etc.)?

 

[MillionDollar]

Hmm, that is a real dilemma. I have seen lots of racehorses with a very high blanket clip and it actually doesn't look that bad. I think if you left legs on it would look fine. Or how about doing a chaser clip or ordinary blanket clip and seeing how he goes with that as he might not sweat at all with that when worked?

 

[Leg_end]

It definitely is a hard one... TBH I think I would do a chaser and take off most of his neck as I'm sure I read somewhere horses lose about 20% of their heat through their neck so that would allow you to keep his quarters warm still but also keep him cool enough in the stable when he comes in.... I wouldn't worry about thighs/quarters getting sweaty as I think it may be eased if you take the neck off and it seems getting hot in the stable is more of an issue??

 

[zizz]

Could you not layer his turnout rugs so your mum could just take the top one off when she brings him in?

If she can't manage that then I would be inclined to give him a low trace - you may well find that he doesn't sweat so high once he has a bit of fur off, but it would still leave him with some protection. You can always take more off if needed later.

Its a hard one isn't it? Oh to win the lottery and not have to work all day!!!!!!!

 

[Polotash]

I don't know about with you but it's very very mild down here (Cornwall) at the moment. Even my clipped ones (one chaser, one blanket, I never take the hair off the big muscles) are getting warm, but I'm not taking any more off, knowing that in a matter of days we could be freezing!

With your boys history I'd be inclined to leave him unclipped and wait for temp to drop. Otherwise OPs suggestion is good, while it's mild could he wear his stable rug with an unlined waterproof on top, then your mum could just slither the top one off?

 

[Foxford]

I agree with zizz about trying the layering for turnout and then take off the top sheet when he comes in. Failling that, I'd also go with a trace clip as it sounds like he's doing well being a hairy!!!

 

[ihatework]

The horse I have just got, although not not EPSM in the slightest, was having a weird season soon after arrival and was just being a little marish and sharp.

Needing to clip her I decided to leave the back on for the short term and have done a hybrid chaser-blanket type affair. Taking a line from the stifle to wither.

Could be an option?

 

[Jenni_]

I'd say a chaser or something light if your mum can't manage even layered rugs.

Its pretty mild again though tbh - I turned out in a vest top this morning and was more than comfortable... so I'm having this dilemma about clipping the Chocolate one, and I'm thinking some off the neck and thats it.

 

[Burnttoast]

The clip I did on my friend's EPSM horse, who had obvious problems not only in his quarters but also in his abs, was a sort-of chaser that started about a foot in front of the stifle and went up the middle of the neck, tho you could easily adapt this to take the whole neck off. Once some hair was off he got less hot, in any case - I don't think it's a matter of clipping where they get hot but just taking enough off to stop them getting that hot.

 

[LansdownK310]

I'd say take as little as you feel comfortable off - so a trace maybe that starts at his stifle, monitor him to see how warm he gets and how his muscles react.

You can always take more off if it isnt enough rather than the other way around

 

[OliveOyl]

Leave them all out until someone can bring them in and change their rugs??

 

[JGC]

Have you thought about the Bucas rugs? They cost an arm and a leg, but at least you can sell some other rugs to fund them! I got mine because I was at a yard that was bad about changing rugs (have moved now, fortunately). They cover a good temperature range if you get the right one. Also they do dry under them - oh yes, we had lots of fun experimenting with them in the beginning.

Not associated with the company in any way, btw. Just it really put my mind at rest as we get big temperature fluctuations here - -5 to +10 in one day anyone?

 

[Puffin]

I'd go for a low neck and belly/chaser affair, take off about half the neck, a little over the shoulder and a low bit of tummy and leave it at that.

The riding school I used to work at did that on quite a few of the hairies that lived out (in light rugs) and it seemed to let the heat out - without it they would sweat up all over, but just a low clip was enough to keep them cool.
We used to take the underside of the jaw off too for tidyness and becasue the throat area used to get very sweaty/itchy for them, and it really helped with the cooling.

As has been said you can always take more off later.

 

[Prince33Sp4rkle]

thanks everyone.

my gut feeling is that not clipping will keep him most comfortable, so am going to look in to Bucas rugs and also experiment with some layers.

They cant stay out until i get home as start pratting round in dark.

 

[Jesstickle]

Needing to clip her I decided to leave the back on for the short term and have done a hybrid chaser-blanket type affair. Taking a line from the stifle to wither.

Could be an option?

Like this kind of thing?

I actually find this a really useful clip (and dead easy to do on a knob head that hates the clippers) and both of mine will be getting it this year. Once they can lose heat from their necks they don't seem to sweat up round their stifles so badly I find.

Let me know how you go if you get a Bucas. This is the second winter I've been hugely tempted but they're just so much money. If they really work though I guess they make it up in the number of rugs you can get rid of?

 

[ArcticFox]

I did this with my horse a few years ago - worked really well.

Layers sounds like a good idea, as long as your mum is ok to do it.

You could always just start a clip from behind the girth, then go up to the shoulder and up to a blanket clip so you remove all the neck/half the head and under the girth. Like a hybrid apron/blanket clip. His belly would be left on then which would keep him warmer out in the field, but his neck would be off for when he is working.

 

[Firewell]

Iv'e just given J this which I think looks quite nice and seems a compromise between clipping him and keeping him warm:-

I was on my own so couldn't twitch to do his ears so stuck to a 1/2 head but I should imgaine it would look very nice with their full heads clipped out. Or a blanket, that will keep his main back muscles warm. You could then still clip his head and legs if you wanted him super smart.
I find once their necks and bellys are clipped they stay cooler and so don't generally sweat high up their stifle.
I have heard today as well though that it is meant to get freezing soon, snow and everything. A lady at work was talking about it.

 

[Prince33Sp4rkle]

NMT has heard same firewell so think we are going to hold off clipping and see................even yesterday it had dropped just a degree or two and he was only sweaty in his armpits (which TBH is the perfect temp for him, when he's *just* breaking out in his armpits thats when his muscles are warm and soft and ready to work).

so, am going to see how temps go next 2 weeks and monitor him closely, will have to try some different layers if he's still getting VERY hot when he comes in, but temps look like they are dropping between now and middle of next week :bahhatewinter:

if we have to clip i like your clip firewell and also jesstickles version, with whole head off. Was debating legs on/off as thus far he's not had any probs with scabs/cellulitis either so am thinking the floof is keeping his pink skin that bit warmer and drier and healthier.

if he doesnt need a new saddle on mon, his ROR winnings will go on a Bucas rug too

 

[lucemoose]

Im no help..... the Bucas rugs are fabulous though!!!