Clipping Help/ recommendations

[DarkHorseB]

Also in Stable Yard

I have a 5yo 16.2hh ISH. His coat has got a bit thicker than his summer one but is no means alot of coat (my old TB has more for instance) but it is starting to get very sweaty when we are doing more intensive work.

He is going to a show once a week either dressage or SJ and one or two lessons a week plus whatever other flatwork or hacking I can fit in. Questions are:

1. What time of year do you usually clip first? A couple of weeks the guy that was going to clip him said he wasn't really hairy enough though it has grown a little.

2. What sort of clip should I get him? The TBs just tended to have their neck and belly done. But I was thinking maybe a hunter clip. He is stabled but try to make sure he gets let out most days usually just onto the arena. I want to be practical but still look smart for dressage.

3. Depending on clip would he need rugged in stable or just outside. He has a big stone barn stable with very thick walls (about 200 years old!) so it is quite cosy

 

[Barneykins]

I have already done 1st clip & my boy is nearly ready for his 2nd. It really depends on the horse.

I would take it all off (saddle patch on if you want) - it's much easier to clip and better when coat grows back.

He will need to be rugged all the time. Mine will wear 2 stables rugs in the v v cold weather and a heavy weight turn out.

Good luck

 

[cyberhorse]

We have done our first clip this week. We clip fully and just leave a little thin stripe on the withers (to ensure rugs/numnahs can't rub). We do a similar amount of work to you, but he is a warmblood who does sweat up quite easily (especially when he is excited with the SJ)

He has 2 MW stable rugs and a heavy turnout on top, on a warmer day he will have a stable rug taken off. Last year we only needed to clip once as he was rugged up well. We did not find he overheated rugging up like this as we kept a daily check on him and the weather.

Also bear in mind you may need a thicker traveling rug once clipped - we throw on two coolmastas after he is clipped when travelling.

ETA: his stable is also inside an old barn so not directly open to the elements and the doors are shut up at night.

 

[simplyhunting]

did our first clips near the end of october, only did blankets on them so next time the hunter clips

a little blanket clip maybe might be suited? looks smart enough for dressage and doesn't take too much off. One of mines out with a hunter clip (TB )and only in a middle-weight so far and shes toasty

the others are in similar weights but they have a really cold wind across their field! but the heavy's wont go on unless it starts freezing over...
as for rugging with a blanket they should be okay with just a light stable rug, maybe even just a fleece to keep any chills off, and just a middle-weight for the field? this is what mine have, but they are rarely stabled...

 

[DarkHorseB]

Thanks for the tips. Will have a think about what would suit best - getting him clipped tomorrow.