Clipping feathers but leaving mane?

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Jingleballs

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I have a HW gypsy cob – he’s got the lovely long mane, tail to the ground and lovely thick feathers.

He also has mud fever that is a bit worse this year than previously. :(

I’m contemplating clipping off his feathers – I really don’t want to at all but unless the mud fever starts to clear up and become more manegable then I don’t really have a choice and as much as it pains me to do it, I had always said that if it became a problems I’d clip him as I wouldn’t have him feeling uncomfortable just for the sake of looking pretty. He is clipped regularly as he is a very hot horse and is currently sporting a full clip.

I don’t show him anymore - he mainly does unaffiliated dressage, SJ & XC.

I do however want to keep his mane – its lush, keeps him warm in the winter and keeps the flies away in the summer plus gives me something to grab onto over jumps.

Would it look stupid to clip his legs but leave his mane & tail? Has anyone done this and if so can you post pictures?

I’ve not 100% decided what to do but this will help me decide!
 
Sympathy for having to clip out the legs.

If he is a good HW type and not too traditional in looks, ie could get away as a show cob, then I would bang the tail and hog out as I do like to see cobs either full hair or hogged out.

Personally, if I had to do this with my lad, I would shorten his mane and tail to that of a show section D as a really long mane - I am talking 2' plus which Stinky has and tail on the floor really look best with feather and Stinky is too much of a traditional type to show as a show cob. His mane would be too thick to easily pull and plait, hence going for the native look.
 
I clip out my boys legs but he is a TB x ID so not a heavy weight, so he used to be shown plaited and tail pulled with his legs clipped off...he didnt have full feather though but somewhere in his breeding he developed feathers!! He is in my phto album. personally if he is a heavy cob i think you may need to hog his mane although as you dont show it is kind of upto you as you wont get marked down in your disciploines by not having his hairy legs but having a mane!!
 
I have a Welsh D who is clipped right out, legs and all but has a wonderful long curly mane....everyone who sees him says he looks fab and I love him to bits na dhtink he is beautiful!
 
If it were me I would just take off the legs and leeave his mane and tail. His feathers wont be long in coming back but it will take you years to get his mane back.

In less than 6 months you wont even know you clipped his legs :)
 
NiknKia said:
If it were me I would just take off the legs and leeave his mane and tail. His feathers wont be long in coming back but it will take you years to get his mane back.

In less than 6 months you wont even know you clipped his legs :)
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agreed.

I had to do this to a mare of mine as she got bad mud fever. It may technically be 'incorrect' but I did a running plait in her mane for hunting and dressage - no problems. She actually looked very very attractive - lots of people thought she was some fancy baroque breed - naah, just a 'mongrel'.
 
Thanks all!

He is quite a traditional looking type so I was worried he'd look silly with the long mane and no feathers.

I'm going to continue with the mud fever treatment for a little while longer but if it doesn't improve he'll be getting his legs clipped :(
 
My Iberian x has no feathers but a 'cobby' flowing style mane and tail. It is difficult to keep him 'correct' but he does look very smart in a spanish running plait for hunting, so I suggest you try this style for your cob. It is much quicker to do than traditional plaits too!
 
NiknKia said:
If it were me I would just take off the legs and leeave his mane and tail. His feathers wont be long in coming back but it will take you years to get his mane back.

In less than 6 months you wont even know you clipped his legs :)
Click to expand...

I agree. The feathers take no time to grow, and best to get the mud fever sorted. Good luck :-)
 
Here's a picture of him at a show a couple of years ago - don't show him anymore as its too get much work to get him clean!

HL1.jpg
 
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