Clipping, late but advice needed esp from showing buffs.

[custard]

Right, Cat has a big party to go to on the 20th. He has been out at night so haven't clipped him and he's been well wrapped up to now. Trouble is he is uber hairy and although I've ran the clippers down his legs he still looks really cuddly IMO, cute yes, sleek and sporthorse like,no!

Unlike some of the other neds he's shedding a few hairs but not much, I can't see much evidence of the summer coat as yet. Would it be too late just to clip him out or do I risk damaging it. Am also worried it will make him sharp as S***t!!!!

 

[FMM]

I think I would leave it to be honest. If you are doing shows later in the year, then whipping his coat off for one early one is not worth it.
If you have a lycra rug, stick one of these on for a few nights - it makes all their hair lie down and gives a much sleeker and less hairy effect!
It does depend on the colour though, as you can clip greys and not really notice that much, whereas darker colours show a bit too much.

 

[custard]

Thankyou fmm I've never clipped this late before. It's for a derby house young dressage horse qualifier and there is another one near us in May anyway so it'snot a big issue.

We'd also like to do a couple of novice RH on a day ticket before he gets any bigger and needs a height cert. I think he'll end up 15.3 TBH

Have you got any recommendations as to which shows would be good a bit later in the season?

 

[Janette]

Agree with FMM ( hi there

) a full body lycra thingy will flatten the coat and make it look sleeker.

 

[FMM]

Here is a list of all the show dates with the BSHA. You can enter the open RH classes on a ticket if they are not qualifiers for RIHS or HOYS, and there won't be many pros in those classes. Sometimes the novice classes can be a bit of a bun fight.
http://www.britishshowhorse.org/images/stories/showdates2008.pdf