Clipping field kept horses

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AutumnDays

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I'd like to clip my two pasture potatoes, as they are very hairy, and need to be kept clean for their physio courses. They are currently unrugged unless it's cold and/or wet and windy, as they find it a bit warm even in a lined 0g. Trouble is they are a little muddy now 🫣 and I don't have anywhere to bath them and dry them off before clipping them. Any tips on coat prep? I know washed is best, but they'll still be wet this time next week if I thoroughly wash them
 
cauda equina said:
I clipped mine yesterday from the field, just kept him in for a couple of hours for the mud to dry then gave him a good groom
I never bath mine before clipping
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How much did you take off yours? That's my next conundrum!
Patterdale said:
I brush them really well and bath after. But they’re my clippers - a professional might charge you extra.

Definitely worth doing though!
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I'd have my clippers once I go ahead and buy them! It's the drying them out after bathing that's stumping me, only have cold water and a field shelter!
 
AutumnDays said:
How much did you take off yours? That's my next conundrum!

I'd have my clippers once I go ahead and buy them! It's the drying them out after bathing that's stumping me, only have cold water and a field shelter!
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I did a low Irish clip so he can still be out without a rug unless the weather is awful
I might take more off later if he's still getting sweaty ridden

Even when a pro was going to clip him she didn't say he had to be bathed, she just wanted him in overnight so he would be dry

Instead of a full bath afterwards you could hot cloth him with hot water from a thermos flask
 
Patterdale said:
Oh you’ll be fine then. Just wash them over afterwards.

I always take the lot off, more comfortable for them I think.
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Brilliant, I was thinking all off would be nicer for them. They could do with using their metabolism a bit this winter!
cauda equina said:
Even when a pro was going to clip him she didn't say he had to be bathed, she just wanted him in overnight so he would be dry

Instead of a full bath afterwards you could hot cloth him with hot water from a thermos flask
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Ah that's great to know, and a good idea for after! Think this will be my plan of attack

Thank you both, very helpful 😊
 
I would take the whole body off leave legs and top of the head on thats what I do with mine as they are ridden and need to be clean, it's been so mild so during the day they have a no fill on at night a 50g or 100g depending on how cold it is.

I don't always bath before clipping just a good brush and a spray of coat shine helps the clippers so through a bit easier.
 
I’d give them a good brush and perhaps hot cloth with some baby oil before you clip to remove the top layer of grease and to help the clippers glide through. Nothing wrong with clipping field kept horses if they are well rugged.
 
Pinkvboots said:
I would take the whole body off leave legs and top of the head on thats what I do with mine as they are ridden and need to be clean, it's been so mild so during the day they have a no fill on at night a 50g or 100g depending on how cold it is.

I don't always bath before clipping just a good brush and a spray of coat shine helps the clippers so through a bit easier.
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Coat shine is a fab tip! I was wondering about leaving head and legs on, my lines are a bit rubbish, so I was tempted by all off. They aren't under saddle, as they are both write offs, but I want them to be comfortable, this mild weather is hard to navigate... For them and perimenopausal me, but clipping isn't an option for myself!
 
spotty_pony2 said:
I’d give them a good brush and perhaps hot cloth with some baby oil before you clip to remove the top layer of grease and to help the clippers glide through. Nothing wrong with clipping field kept horses if they are well rugged.
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Thank you for your reply! They could do with running a bit colder to reset their winter/summer body changes I think, but I wouldn't let them freeze.
 
I’ve just taken all off bar the legs and half head on the 23yo Cushing’s mare. She was getting too hot unrugged in her winter woolies. She’s much happier now.

I’ve done an Irish clip on the 18yo Cushing’s PSSM mare, as I like to give her back and bum maximum protection.

I used my Heiniger Xplorer clippers with the Charolais (cattle blades), they coped fine. I prefer a coarse clip on horses that live out. I got the neds as clean as I could before clipping, then sponged them off afterwards.
 
I'm about to take it all off my field kept native - she looks like she's already grown 200g and she's itchy & cross.

Cold water and no water pressure here so a good groom and away we go
 
I always leave the back and bum on my field potatoes, so their kidneys don't get too cold (I'm not sure where I heard that, but I don't like a cold midrif, so I'm sure they don't either). I do an Irish or low blanket type shape - no one cares about perfectly straight lines in the field!

A dry coat, a good brush over and a spray with oily coat sheen and you should be fine. I leave their manes as thick as possible if I clip their necks though, so they don't ever need rugs with necks on. Keep the blades well oiled, and hot cloth over afterwards.
 
Mine is field kept and to clip I just bucket bathe the areas I'm clipping the afternoon before, then put on a no-fill rug overnight. Never had an issue doing that (as long as the rug is clean). I add a flask of boiling water to the bucket and just enough cold water to make it tolerable. I'm afraid he does get rinsed with cold water, but it's not such a shock when already wet and I'm quick.
 
I clipped mine a couple of days ago- I take a container of hot water to the field with me to mix with hose water and it's so mild at the moment he was dry within an hour or so, initially with a thermatex on but then naked once the worst of the wet was gone
 
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