Clipping question

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Annagain

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My horse is being clipped on Friday at 1.30. He is already in overnight and I don't know what to do about Friday morning. He gets incredibly grumpy and unco-operative if he's left in much later than 8am. He is normally ok to clip, just needs twitching for his nether regions and around his ears but he's always been done very first thing in the morning before he has a chance to get twitchy.

If you were a professional clipper, would you prefer to clip a horse who had been in a long time so was completely clean and dry but incredibly grumpy, unwilling to stand still etc or one who had been turned out for a few hours so would stand still happily but might have the odd damp bit?

He is having a trace clip and will have a lightweight rug with neck cover on. I'll get the mud off his neck on Thursday and put his snuggy hood on. A friend will be able to put him out at 8am and then get him back in at 11 after she's ridden. Will this be enough time to get him dried off? I won't be able to get there until 12.45. so will only have 45 mins to get him ready.
 
Tough one! Nothing worse than trying to clip a muddy, greasy or wet horse though - so Id keep him in & rely on the competance & patience of the clipper!

scotia
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Tough one, do you have anywhere sheltered you could tie him up perhaps, this tricks my mare into feeling less confined!
Or perhaps turn out in the school or somewhere mud free, with a rug if it's not going to make him sweat?
 
Does he get over himself if you leave him in or just stay grumpy? If the former, I'd leave him in.

But if not, and presuming he's not going to hooly round the field and plaster his belly with mud, and that his rug keeps most of the relevant bits clean and dry, turn him out. When I clip I find it much more annoying to have an uncooperative bargy horse to deal with than the odd damp patch that I can leave till last. You can always offer a little extra for blade sharpening.

Why not ask your clipper what they'd prefer?
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Id have the same problem with my boy. Would have no chance clipping him in if he had stayed in that long.
He would be too grumpy to be compliant!
Id turn out
Is there no chance of getting him clipped early morning or around the time he would be coming in?
Good luck! Glad it aint just me with a grump!
 
I did ask her - she said it was up to me
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She knows what he's like as she's done him twice before.

No, he won't just get over it, the longer he stays in, the more hassle he will cause. He tolerates the stable in that he doesn't stress, box walk, weave or anything like that, but he doesn't half take it out on me when I get there! At weekends, even if I'm riding first thing I turn him out for 30 minutes as it makes things so much easier than having to deal with Victor Meldrew fidgeting, refusing to stand still and waving his legs around when I brush him (he'd never actually kick, just likes to express his displeasure!) It doesn't help that he's being shod tomorrow morning so will be in a bit later then as well!

I wish I could have him done first thing but my clipper is going away for 2 weeks on Sunday and that's the only time she can fit him in when I can be there and although he's ok, he's not good enough to be clipped without me there, it wouldn't be fair to her. I think I'll turn him out and hope for the best, he'll have 2 1/2 hours to dry off if he comes in at 11. He is a big heavy 16.2 ID and when he gets bargy it's not like dealing with a naughty pony!
 
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