Clipping Q...

[Sol]

Hopefully clipping Horseh tomorrow as he's proved now that the clippers are NOT the most terrifying thing ever

However - I was planning to do a chaser clip on him... and thinking about it, the point is to take off the hair in the areas where the horse gets most sweaty, so it dries quicker and doesn't catch a chill? and I'm thinking surely it also makes sense that he dries quicker so he isn't stood in soggy rugs half the night either.

But with the chaser clip, he'll still have to have his saddle area washed off, and the hair will still be long....

This is probably the part that gets most sweaty and needs most washing too!

Maybe I'm being very dumb... as I know even hunter clips usually leave the saddle area for extra protection, but, surely it makes sense to remove this bit too?!

He's worked for about an hour 6 nights a week, with some XC, jumping every thursday, and at weekends maybe 1/2hr schooling + 1hr or more hacking... plenty of rugs available, can get him a new quarter sheet, stabled at night...

I just want him to be comfortable and wondering how much difference it will make? Would like some other peoples opinions than my own!

 

[Maisy]

It really depends on *how* sweaty your horse gets!!! I clip mine fully......normally the saddle area too (though I left a teardrop kind of shape last year, due to some ingrowing hairs!), but she is an extra sweaty beast......

I would go with the chaser first and see whether that is enough, and if not, take a bit more off......

 

[Sol]

He's been getting noticeably more sweaty since his winter coat started coming through

45mins of flatwork at dressage (and a lot of that walking as we were killing time!) the other night and he was very hot and sweaty around his throat/neck/shouders/saddle & girth area and a little on his flanks...

Was thinking about that idea, but just wondered if anyone thought otherwise beforehand, save me clipping twice in a week!

 

[ofcourseyoucan]

leave the legs on and take the rest off. you will need to re clip in 3 to 4 weeks anyhow as coats are only quarter to half through. yo never get much time out of a first clip unless you wait til november? its all to do with daylight hours andf a hunter clip is so muchh easier to o if a first ever clip as no lines to try to balance! and he wont freeze as temps even at night are still good!