Clipping horses that live out

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LizScott

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Does anyone clip their horses when they live out 24/7? And if so do you do a full clip?
Mine needs clipping shortly and has always had a full clip before but not sure what to do now she's out!
 
It really depends on the kind of work your horse is in, and how many rugs you own/or are willing to buy.

I wintered a horse of mine out many years ago, left him rugless and he grew the most amazing coat. He was absolutely fine, but grooming him before a ride was a nightmare and drying him off before turning him out again afterwards was worse! Fine if you have limitless time.

If you ride a lot during the winter, enough to make yours sweat up regularly, you could compromise and do a bib or trace or blanket clip and still rug up - but you'd obviously need to make sure he was cooled off and dried sufficiently after riding, or you could rug up to the eyeballs and clip him out fully (but I personally like to leave legs/face on for protection).

Good luck!
 
Yep, I do! quick history, the first 2 winters I looked after them they were in at night, out during day and I had 2 full clipped, 1 blanket, 1 unclipped as he has a very fine coat. Last winter they had to live out 24/7 for more or less the first time in their lives.

3 had full clips, legs and half face left on. 1 with fine coat un clipped again. Couldn't believe it had to be the worst winter on record for 30 years!!!!!!!!!!!!! And the river burst its banks to flood the new land we're on.... repeatedly!!!!!

They coped very well with good rugs, here are the details:

18 yo anglo arab gelding (unclipped); heavyweight full neck weatherbeeta landa
17yo arab x welsh mare, full clip, heavy weight full neck weatherbeeta landa
13 yo daughter of above, full clip, heavyweight full neck weather beeta landa
8 yo shetland, full clip, heavyweight full neck shires stormbreaker.

All had access to shelters (all be it with earth floors - nightmare!!), and all did very well with a haynet at night. They had hard feed only when the snow hit badly, with warm water. They all did excellently, and came out of winter with good bodyweight and looking like they'd been part stabled :)

I can't do it again this year though, too knackered from last winter!!!!!!!

ETA they only had a fleece on underneath when the snow was bad too. All other times they just had the t/o.
 
You can clip but would advise not to do full clip, i would do a bib/trace/blanket at most and still have lots rugs. Iv only ever clipped mine when in as thats yard rules plus they dont live out. However full clip and living out is a little to much IMO. But you can go by how much work your doing, unless competing lots etc and going on long/hard rides then probably a trace would do IMO.
 
Start rugging up early to keep the winter coat thin, then there may not be such a need to clip so much fluff off. Most I'd go to is probably a blanket or similar, and I'd have plenty of extra layers at the ready.

My mum's won't be clipped as she's only really in light hacking work, but she's being rugged overnight when it's colder to stop her winter coat getting too thick and creating a problem (she's not built to have a bib clip, she'd look ridiculous :p )
 
My boy was fully clipped last year (half face and legs left on though) and out 24/7. Kept him well rugged and full access to a barn which is rubber matting at door and shavings at back. He came out of the winter looking incredibly well. I work my horse all through the winter and he would have gotten too hot with any less of a clip. Clipped him yesterday which is horribly early but going Autumn Hunting and BS this week so believe it's fairer than him sweating and getting uncomfortable. If you do take it off make sure you have enough rugs to compensate and spare for when the winter gets nasty!
 
I never would and I wouldn't advise anyone else too either. Have you ever been to the field and discovered your horse has ripped his rug or another horse has trashed it, imagine the liner soaked with rain and then freezing next to a clipped horse overnight.. I just think if you need to clip your horse you should be keping it stabled.

I'm sure lot of people do clip and turn out without any problems, just my opinion that I never would..
 
Should be fine but I'd only do a blanket at most and only half head. They will need good rugs with necks and a good field shelter. Checking twice a day will also be a necessity in case of the aforementioned "rug disaster".
 
Thanks everyone!

I was in a bit of a rush when I wrote it and should have said I always leave half a head and legs on anyway - not strictly a full clip but I know what I mean lol!

Yes I have plenty (half a garage full) of rugs for all weathers and as 2 of mine are the same size in rugs (and one is stabled) I usually have more than adequate amounts of turnouts and fleeces to keep snuggly warm.

I've never ever had a problem with rugs being trashed - I see her twice a day and her field mate isn't into ripping rugs and she doesn't rip them either, she was out all last winter in her rambo hw that she's had for 7years now without once being repaired :)

Yes she is going to be worked throughout the winter (wouldn't contemplate clipping otherwise!) and is a hairy beast already so there's no chance of keeping her winter coat at bay with rugs!

Also she is prone to being a big fat fatty so she is no danger whatsoever of getting a bit thin and ribby over the winter - in fact she actually came out of last winter looking fatter than ever even with the months of frost and snow we had!
 
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