Clipping questions

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tatty_v

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Hi all

This winter will be the first winter for me and my horse so I'm thinking about clipping. He's a quite a warm chap generally and although he doesn't look or feel that woolly at the moment, he got quite sweaty after a 30 minute schooling session yesterday evening. I sponged him off, let him dry as best I could and then put him in his no fill turnout overnight (he's a white grey so always wears this for cleanliness in the stable!) and he seemed both dry and warm this morning, but I worry about him being damp and uncomfortable, particularly as it gets colder.

Would it be usual to clip around this time or is it worth hanging on a bit longer until the temperatures stabilise a bit? At the moment I turn him out naked at 6am when its 4 degrees, but its about 16 degrees by lunchtime!

Also, given that he will be working 5 days out of 7 over the winter, would a hunter clip (leaving the saddle patch) be appropriate or would it be better to start with something less dramatic?

Thank you! x
 
We hunter clipped a couple of horses a few weeks ago as they were getting sweaty with work. They are out during the day and in at night. At night they are wearing a fleece - the unclipped horses are unrugged. I turn out at about 7.30 and like you put them out without rugs on as the day time temperature is pretty warm.

If you are worried about him being damp overnight after a sponge off then either a fleece or thermatex instead of the turnout may work better than a no-fill turnout.

I would be tempted to give him a blanket clip if you are good at lines (I'm rubbish hence the hunter clip!).
 
guess it depends on the horse! my mare is very warm so I wouldn't be too worried about her being out naked for an hour or so whilst it warmed up! would rather her be a bit cold for a couple of hours than too hot for the rest of the day. Just give a nice warm breakfast before turning out :)
 
We've fully clipped out 5 of ours already, legs and everything, if your horse is getting hot and uncomfortable just go for it. Our clipped ones are still living out in middleweight turnouts overnight as it is getting chilly, stripped off through the day as it's still getting up to 17 degrees! It's an awkward time of year.

All horses are different, some of ours hardly have much coat at all and the others are like wooly bears.
 
I clipped my lad last weekend. He's out 24/7 and is a TB, so I did a Hunter clip. Started low with the idea I can always take more off.

He's out in the day in a rain sheet just to give him shelter from the wind, and in 100g at night, but need to sort my rugs out this weekend ready for the temperatures changing
 
I clipped mine in August/ start of Sept. He's a connie x and was moulting like crazy plus sweaty when worked so gave him a hunter clip. He was rugged (no fill rainsheet) for a couple of weeks but his winter coat has come through (the clip just took off the moulting hair mainly) so he's now out naked 24/7 unless it's pouring with rain. He's got plenty to eat and is plenty warm enough, plus being a bit chilly overnight won't hurt him as I'm not working him as much as he needs so he could do with losing a little. During the day it's been nearly 20deg here this week so I'd prefer him to be cool over night but unrugged during the day as he'll just sweat.
 
mrsh2010 said:
I clipped my lad last weekend. He's out 24/7 and is a TB, so I did a Hunter clip. Started low with the idea I can always take more off.

He's out in the day in a rain sheet just to give him shelter from the wind, and in 100g at night, but need to sort my rugs out this weekend ready for the temperatures changing
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What do you class as a hunter clip? I always thought a hunter clip was almost a full clip, but legs and saddle patch left on?
 
I rode yesterday and my boy got really sweaty (and he was quite hot just standing in the field beforehand as well) had to just give him a quick sponge off and turn him out. He doesn't currently wear rugs.
I think as soon as my new clipper blades arrive I'm going to have to clip him, it seems really early though
 
mrsh2010 said:
That'll teach me to proof read before sending - sorry!

I meant I'd done an "Irish Trace clip" so I've left his face fluff on and done his throat to stifle
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:D ahh makes sense now, I was wondering how you could take much more off :)

this is the sort of clip I will do on my youngster when my clippers are serviced, if she will let me
 
If you are clipping yourself, it always makes sense to me to take the minimum off at first as you can extend the clip any time you need to.

So in my own horse's case, I would start by taking off a bib (known as gut and gullet in this neck of the woods) and then extending that to a chaser or trace when necessary, or eventually to a hunter or full clip. That way, I don't have to worry about needing additional rugs until I've extended the clip and a bib or chaser is ideal for this time of year when the temperatures are so variable at different times of the day. Mine is also naked from first thing in the morning when it can be quite chilly.

Last year, I didn't do more than a bib as it was his first year clipped and he never really got too hot - though I did extend the bib slightly higher when his proper winter coat arrived. Clipping is a challenge for him so it's also a good way of never having to do too much at once :)
 
Is everybody rugging overnight? I'd like to do my horse as he's getting warm very quickly in work, but I'd struggle to change/derug in the mornings. He's quite a warm horse naturally and I was just going to blanket clip.
 
moleskinsmum said:
If you are clipping yourself, it always makes sense to me to take the minimum off at first as you can extend the clip any time you need to.

So in my own horse's case, I would start by taking off a bib (known as gut and gullet in this neck of the woods) and then extending that to a chaser or trace when necessary, or eventually to a hunter or full clip. That way, I don't have to worry about needing additional rugs until I've extended the clip and a bib or chaser is ideal for this time of year when the temperatures are so variable at different times of the day. Mine is also naked from first thing in the morning when it can be quite chilly.

Last year, I didn't do more than a bib as it was his first year clipped and he never really got too hot - though I did extend the bib slightly higher when his proper winter coat arrived. Clipping is a challenge for him so it's also a good way of never having to do too much at once :)
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This will be the first time my girl has been clipped, but she is starting to get sweaty when worked now. I will start with the bib clip and see how we get on, if she is good I may leave it for a couple of weeks re-do the bib and take a little more off, I am hoping eventually she can have stifle to throat ie Trace clip.
 
I like the idea of starting with a less dramatic clip and working up. It's my first time clipping, although I've had a go at running the clippers over him to see how he reacts and as long as I don't touch his legs (which I wasn't planning on doing anyway) he seems fine :) so many things to learn in this first year! x
 
Floxie said:
Is everybody rugging overnight? I'd like to do my horse as he's getting warm very quickly in work, but I'd struggle to change/derug in the mornings. He's quite a warm horse naturally and I was just going to blanket clip.
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Mine has a low trace and is out 24/7 naked still. I feel very mean but he's warm enough and seems more comfortable without! He is a heavy cob though, I wouldn't be happy not rugging at least overnight a clipped lighter breed!
 
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