Clipping/ rug dilemma?

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Ali27

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Our two mares are now very hairy and were sweating like mad yesterday during x country schooling! They both have a hunter trials in two weeks time so I need to clip them before!
Now this is the dilemma!
Do I give them both blanket clips and put light weight turnouts on them ( still out 24/7 until end of Oct)
Or do I do full clips ( except legs and half head) and put medium weights on at night and change to lightweights in day?
I brought them in last year year at the end of Sept and gave them both full clips and put a light weight stable rug on at night and a lightweight turnout during the day.
I hate over rugging and mine don't seem to feel the cold too much and are both good doers.
I thought about full clips and lightweights during night too but thought that might be mean!
Any thoughts would be appreciated:)
 
Think if it was me I would do the full clip apart from the legs, and do half a face. Medium weights at night and light weights during the day, depending on the weather. Got to be more comfortable for them. At the end of the day you can always bring them in if temps drop really low at night, and leave them out on other nights. My horse has a bit of a mix and match rountine at the moment and hes got a trace clip, doesnt bother him if he has a varied routine atall. Like yours he was getting hot and sweaty and he doesn't work well atall when he's like that.
 
Have to say that faffing with rug changing in the morning in the field in my work clothes is not appealing to me!
If they are in overnight, then I go to yard at 5.30am to muck out, turn out etc. However by bringing them in early last year made it such a long winter! Hence, I want to leave them out until end of Oct so only drop by on my way to work to check they are ok!
I am so tempted with blanket clip and lightweight turnout but don't know if all the fluffiness under the saddle and on the back will be too much!
Thanks for opinions so far!
I have to say that I'm rubbish at doing lines so will have to clip right before my farrier comes on Thurs as he likes to sort my lines out for me:)
 
I hunted with a blanket clip on a hot horse last year. Should have taken the whole head off though not half as she really sweats over her eyebrows!
 
I've full clipped my hairy cob and he has been out with a 100g rug at night and rain sheet if forecast looks bad during the day, fly sheet if it is supposed to be dry. He seems quite happy with this! He does let me know if he isn't.
 
I blanket clipped my hairy old boy this afternoon.

Decided on a blanket clip as I am trying to avoid rugging yet as I'm not ready to be a slave to the weather I'm still in denial about summer being over, mine have access to field shelters but he is a dozy boy and likely to stand out in the rain!

Next clip when I'm ready to rug I will whip the lot off!
 
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