Clipping in order to rug??

[SatansLittleHelper]

I have a friend who clips her horses so that she can rug them over winter because, like mine, they live out 24/7. It's not something I've really thought about doing but I really want to get my boys back into work as, with one thing or another, they've done sod all for a while. With the weather being as constantly wet and manky as it can be over winter I'm now wondering if this approach is a good idea?? I don't want hot horses being rugged up to the nines and much prefer them au naturel but I'd like to be able to just tack up and ride without so much hassle. However, neither will really be doing enough to warrant a severe clip.....thoughts??

 

[Barton Bounty]

How about a bib clip? Just enough for the sweaty areas

 

[SatansLittleHelper]

How about a bib clip? Just enough for the sweaty areas

Would that be enough of a clip to warrant a light rug do you think??

 

[Barton Bounty]

Would that be enough of a clip to warrant a light rug do you think??

I would say so, your not putting a heavy one on.

 

[Barton Bounty]

I always do the bib or apron clip sometimes I take it a bit further back like the irish/bib clip

 

[MereChristmas]

I call it an unzip clip. The line varies depending on the thickness of the coat and the amount of work the horse is doing.
There are not many things more disappointing than having time to ride on a sunny winters day and finding your horse thick with mud.

 

[ihatework]

I would quite happily clip a horse to rug/keep clean for riding purposes.
If the horse was out 24/7 I would aim to leave a blanket on.

 

[teddy_]

If you're leaving the head and legs on and have adequate rugs, just go for it ! My horses are always fully clipped regardless of work level / turnout situation, as I don't like lines .

 

[meleeka]

If you are making up for the lack of hair by rugging I don’t see a problem with it. The benefit is you can also rug according to temperature, so in theory the horse should be better off, rather than having a thick coat which is sometimes too hot and takes ages to dry.

 

[TheMule]

I do, but taking just a bit off makes it extra important to get the rug off on nice days IMO as it's very easy for them to over-heat. I always delay it as long as possible but, looking at the state of my 2 the past couple of days, they're pencilled in for next week

 

[Nudibranch]

I do. Mine hs a myopathy and struggles with the cold and wet so she's better off rugged. Being native she sweats up really quickly in work as well when her winter coat starts to come through. And it is nice being able to just whip a rug off and do a quick brush over instead of battling mud, grease and scurf!

 

[Widgeon]

If you're leaving the head and legs on and have adequate rugs, just go for it ! My horses are always fully clipped regardless of work level / turnout situation, as I don't like lines .

I'm glad someone else has admitted to this - I don't even clip my own - I get a friend to do it for me - but a full clip leaving just head and legs on makes everyone's life so much easier! Plus I avoid the months of shedding that come with a coat of polar bear density. So long as the horse is comfortable and a good weight (not needing to gain or lose any) I can't see a problem....

 

[Floofball]

I have for the first time in years this year. Usually manage him with a bib clip and lightweight rugging but due to various medical issues I thought he needs to get rid of that coat! I used covercoat blades that leave 5 mls on so he’s not bald - and I’ve taken everything off apart from the front of his face and ears. He’s been much brighter and happier since I did it. He seems to sweat like a normal horse now, it was like the sweat would get trapped at skin level? His coat is incredibly dense (suspected cushings going on as well). His legs have stopped filling if in overnight too. Been a bit of a rush this week to sort suitable rugs for him as temperatures have really dropped (any excuse to shop! ) so yes, I have intentional clipped in order to manage him with rugs this winter

 

[blitznbobs]

If in doubt i clip em out - especially the cobs - so
Much easier to handle and deal
With and to keep vaguely respectable…

 

[PSD]

I’m putting it off as long as I can’t but my lads getting sweaty when ridden as it’s still fairly mild during the day here. I’m opting for a big clip, just because I can’t be bothered with rugging and he’s a bit porky - though he is stabled

 

[SatansLittleHelper]

Thanks everyone I'm thinking maybe an Irish clip will suit for them but I was worried that clipping them just for my convenience was a bit mean. Not that I suppose they will care

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I clip to rug all the time as I can't stand muddy wet stinky horses I just make sure I have plenty of clean dry rugs, and mine do have stables to come into as I don't have shelter and they don't like being soaked.

I would just clip the front end off and put a light weight on if yours are living out.

 

[fidleyspromise]

How warm is your horse normally?
Mine used to be so warm I'd do a high trace clip and leave unrugged. She was one of the warmest horses on the yard despite others being unclipped and in medium weights.
Same horse is now one of the first horses on the yard rugged, has just her neck clipped out as she's sweaty. (COPD appears to have changed her core temperature regulation).

Hopefully clipping and ruggibg works for you. It is much easier being able to whip a rug off and having a clean grey pony.

 

[saddlesore]

I hunter clip and my boy lives out. He’s a right sweaty boy and needs it to stay in work. Rugs these days are so good that the ‘old’ rules no longer really apply IMO . And to add I’ve had horses for over 30yrs so would consider myself old school!

 

[SEL]

I'm clipping my native this year. She's already looking like a woolly bear and hates being rugged when she's got her full coat. Fine in snow and ice but plastered in mud isn't great for riding.

 

[Carrottom]

I do a cross between a blanket clip and an Irish. So don't do the hind end at all. This means less lines and they can turn bums to yhe wind and rain.

 

[OlderNotWiser]

I do a cross between a blanket clip and an Irish. So don't do the hind end at all. This means less lines and they can turn bums to yhe wind and rain.

We do similar, we call it wither to willy! Irish clip but with all the neck removed.

 

[southerncomfort]

That's what I like about an Irish clip, you can take the line as high or low as you feel is appropriate.

I was quite conservative for Bo's first clip but will take the line a bit higher next time.

 

[little_critter]

At the moment the only clipped horse on the yard is my retired lady. She’s a native type and last weekend was sweating so I gave her a clip somewhere between an Irish and a trace clip.
Still not rugged at the moment and will probably only be fairly lightly rugged until it gets Baltic.

in previous years I’ve given her a bib clip but then I ended up spending every weekend “just taking off another inch”

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I clipped Louis a few weeks back as it was 23 degrees and he was sweating just stood in the stable and he was left naked up until a few days back when it was torrential rain, its actually dropped to 12 degrees now during the day so he has a no fill on now.

 

[awelshandawarmblood]

I've just trace clipped by Section D who isnt in work at the moment for a few reasons.
He grows a thick coat & was sweating & in turn getting very itchy the last few weeks, also to aid with a bit of weight loss!
He's not fat, but once that coats grown & he's got a round bale out over winter, he just wont use any of the chub he puts on as he's so toasty!
The most he has on is a 40g in the worst of it, but usually nothing or a no fill.

 

[splashgirl45]

I have for the first time in years this year. Usually manage him with a bib clip and lightweight rugging but due to various medical issues I thought he needs to get rid of that coat! I used covercoat blades that leave 5 mls on so he’s not bald - and I’ve taken everything off apart from the front of his face and ears. He’s been much brighter and happier since I did it. He seems to sweat like a normal horse now, it was like the sweat would get trapped at skin level? His coat is incredibly dense (suspected cushings going on as well). His legs have stopped filling if in overnight too. Been a bit of a rush this week to sort suitable rugs for him as temperatures have really dropped (any excuse to shop! ) so yes, I have intentional clipped in order to manage him with rugs this winter

If you suspect cushings it’s worth getting him tested as the earlier you start the treatment the better and even if he isn’t fat or on good grass a cushings horse is quite likely to get laminitis and now is a bad time for cushings horses

 

[Auslander]

I take everything off, as its easier to rug properly if they don't have two vastly different hairy bits underneath.
I've always thought that blanket clipping then rugging is a bit like shaving your legs then putting a woolly hat on to keep warm!

 

[Floofball]

If you suspect cushings it’s worth getting him tested as the earlier you start the treatment the better and even if he isn’t fat or on good grass a cushings horse is quite likely to get laminitis and now is a bad time for cushings horses

Hi, yes it‘s a worry isn’t it he was in the grey area for the first time on this years test - tested the last 3 years. Tried a Pergolide trail but he had a severe reaction to the drug so taken off it - he’s recovered now but was really poorly for a while, suffered severe dehydration! He’s currently on chaste berry and due the stim test in Nov

 

[splashgirl45]

The only thing that works is prascend as far as the experts are concerned. It might be worth starting him on it again at a very low dose and give him very sloppy feeds and soaked hay so he gets plenty of liquid. I know how horrible this affliction is as my mare was eventually on 4 prascend daily and got to the stage where it wasn’t controllable , I lost her in 2016 and although she was a good age (25) if she hadn’t had Cushing she could have been around for longer