Wagtail
Horse servant
Why? Trimming the feathers, fair enough, but fully clipping the legs, in this weather? 
Surely it is bad for tendons and ligaments to get cold?
Surely it is bad for tendons and ligaments to get cold?
Clipping the legs!
- Thread starter Wagtail
- Start date
L&M
Well-Known Member
Agreed in principle, especially if living out, but sometimes a necessity to check for nicks and wounds, and in the treatment of mud fever.
I clip my cob's legs out every second clip - this leaves him with some hair for warmth and protection, but allows me to clean his legs and check for any damage after hunting more effectively.
I clip my cob's legs out every second clip - this leaves him with some hair for warmth and protection, but allows me to clean his legs and check for any damage after hunting more effectively.
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Wagtail
Horse servant
If there's a medical reason, all well and good, but leaving hair on is very good protection agains damage too.
ClobellsandBaubles
Well-Known Member
isn't it better for the tendons to be cold rather than hot?
Roasted Chestnuts
Well-Known Member
I clip the legs out for showing and for convenience.
I agree better for tendons to be cold than hot. My horses legs havent ever suffered from being clipped out.
I agree better for tendons to be cold than hot. My horses legs havent ever suffered from being clipped out.
Wagtail
Horse servant
No. You are confusing the fact that injured ligaments and tendons get hot and therefore we cold hose to reduce inflamation. Muscles, ligaments and tendons are more susceptable to injury in the first place if they are cold when the horse is exercised.
Wagtail
Horse servant
So not for the benefit of the horse. Clipping out legs for showing is fine in the summer. I am talking about this cold weather. Must be awful for them.
L&M
Well-Known Member
A few years ago I hunted a lovely welsh cob and always left his leg hair on for protection.
He cut his hind leg out hunting - the local vet treated it as a nasty wound but the horse was still lame 3 weeks on. So I decided to get another opinion from a horse vet who clipped his leg out to find a bowed tendon!! It was so obvious once the hair was clipped off - but with hairy legs and feathers was not visible to either me or the other vet.
The horse fortunately came sound but it was a long road.......if his legs had been clipped maybe I would have spotted the injury quicker, but doubt the recovery period would have been any different.
Maybe that has made me paranoid, but certainly with anything I hunt, I always take the hair off at least twice a season.
He cut his hind leg out hunting - the local vet treated it as a nasty wound but the horse was still lame 3 weeks on. So I decided to get another opinion from a horse vet who clipped his leg out to find a bowed tendon!! It was so obvious once the hair was clipped off - but with hairy legs and feathers was not visible to either me or the other vet.
The horse fortunately came sound but it was a long road.......if his legs had been clipped maybe I would have spotted the injury quicker, but doubt the recovery period would have been any different.
Maybe that has made me paranoid, but certainly with anything I hunt, I always take the hair off at least twice a season.
Littlelegs
Well-Known Member
My 14.2 has the most amazingly fluffy legs, that being grey are a pita to keep clean. And difficult to trim over winter, because you have to trim the feathers to the same length as her fluffy legs. Yet, I'd never clip them off, they are good protection, even though they'd look brilliant. Ideally I'd like some type of guard for the clippers so I could clip them, but leave the hair an even 1/2" long all over. Meantime, she'll sport the leg warmer look. Used to clip one for medical reasons, but we'd do it end of September so it grew back a bit for the cold weather.
Wagtail
Horse servant
I think it is quite possible to clip legs so that you leave an adequate amount of hair on to keep the legs warm. But clipping so the hair is as short as it is on the body must be uncomfortably cold for them in this weather.
Wagtail
Horse servant
I actually like seeing nice fluffy legs when a horse is clipped. Maybe I'm strange.
Littlelegs
Well-Known Member
I like seeing them too, but when they are a combination of rank yellow stable stains & wet mud they don't look too fab. And I refuse to wash/hose them daily, just brush when dry, which takes ages & isn't always possible when still wet. So often they don't look great.
The Fuzzy Furry
Living in 🦄 🦄 land
I've only ever fully clipped animals who go hunting over winter.
So much easier to see & deal with cuts/sprains and also if you are in hedge jumping country you can find any stray pricks from thorns etc, better management for horse too.
Otherwise have never clipped out legs in winter except on medical grounds
So much easier to see & deal with cuts/sprains and also if you are in hedge jumping country you can find any stray pricks from thorns etc, better management for horse too.
Otherwise have never clipped out legs in winter except on medical grounds
Auslander
Well-Known Member
Ive got some Wahl Pro trimmers (for dogs apparently), which can do legs as long as they are clean and dry, and come with several guards. Not mega expensive, and I'm pretty impressed with them
Hoof_Prints
Well-Known Member
I full clip including legs on the first clip at October time- then full clip on the second clip if it is still mild.. so that when they need clipping again, the hair has grown back enough to offer a bit of protection but has been shortened ! I then leave legs on
Nightmare before Christmas
Well-Known Member
I always clip the legs
Wagtail
Horse servant
Why?
Wagtail
Horse servant
Cold muscles and connective tissue such as muscles and ligaments have less elasticity when cold and are therefore more prone to injury. Also, the horse will feel uncomfortable.
Auslander
Well-Known Member
If I'm clipping woolly mammoths, I will clip the legs on the first clip, then not again. I prefer taking the legs off hunters as its far easier to find and treat thorns and other injuries. I also think its better for the legs to be dry before the horse goes to bed, and clipped legs can be washed and dried far more effectively than hairy old yeti boots.
I think the protection a bit of hair gives is minimal, and its not as if they have lots of hair on their legs in the summer! As long as the horse is appropriately rugged so that the large muscles are warm, and on a decent bed, I don't think that cold legs are really a massive problem. I have no issue with lightly wrapping clipped legs either.
Mine is however, unclipped and fluffy all over, and has (whispers...) feathers, because I can't face sitting there for ages trimming them.
I think the protection a bit of hair gives is minimal, and its not as if they have lots of hair on their legs in the summer! As long as the horse is appropriately rugged so that the large muscles are warm, and on a decent bed, I don't think that cold legs are really a massive problem. I have no issue with lightly wrapping clipped legs either.
Mine is however, unclipped and fluffy all over, and has (whispers...) feathers, because I can't face sitting there for ages trimming them.
Jesstickle
Well-Known Member
I would absolutely clip the legs of something which was hunting over winter. I would also clip the legs of something which has mud fever/gets mud fever regularly and the legs of something which knocks itself all the time. I seriously considered taking the legs off my filly last winter as she blows up from the tiniest nick and you just can't find them in a load of fluff.
Aus beat me to it but better to have cold, dry legs than constantly soggy warm legs. Constantly soggy warm legs are the worst thing in the world for skin health. A perfect breeding ground for bacteria and fungus.
I don't see it being any problem whatsoever as long as you warm up and cool down correctly.
Which you should be doing whether the horse's legs are clipped or not surely?
Aus beat me to it but better to have cold, dry legs than constantly soggy warm legs. Constantly soggy warm legs are the worst thing in the world for skin health. A perfect breeding ground for bacteria and fungus.
I don't see it being any problem whatsoever as long as you warm up and cool down correctly.
Which you should be doing whether the horse's legs are clipped or not surely?
MrsNorris
Well-Known Member
They sound like just the thing! I try to keep my boys legs trimmed without removing it all, but its very hard to do a neat job with ordinary clippers even though he's very good and hardly moves. He is mega hairy tho with very coarse feathers, do you think they would be up to the job Auslander? Thanks.
Roasted Chestnuts
Well-Known Member
Sometimes I dont even know why folk bother to reply to your threads, read my post again and note the word CONVENIENCE, IE checking legs, looking for any issues that thick cobby feathers would hide in winter and so I can keep the legs clean. Both have lived out, the oldie for years with clipped out legs and not an issue so ill leave the proof in the pudding I think
What and Why others do stuff with their horses with no detrimental effect really isnt your place to judge or get them to explain themselves to jo blo on a forum.
If you could prove without a shadow of a doubt that clipping legs in winter is going to cause dramatic and irrevocable issues for a horse then maybe we wouldnt do it but with the amount of people who do without issue I doubt you could
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Auslander
Well-Known Member
They sound like just the thing! I try to keep my boys legs trimmed without removing it all, but its very hard to do a neat job with ordinary clippers even though he's very good and hardly moves. He is mega hairy tho with very coarse feathers, do you think they would be up to the job Auslander? Thanks.
Difficult to say - but they work on Alf, who is half Shire. Having said that, I don't generally let him grow much feather, as he's easily embarrassed!
I do have to go slowly, and I wouldn't try and clip down to skin with them.
Littlelegs
Well-Known Member
Thanks auslander, I'm certain my friend has those for her dog, never thought of trying them. I do have some cheap wahl human hair clippers with the attachments, bought for summer beard clipping & for my 7yr old to practice on reclips with. However, even my mares fine but dense fluff blunts the blades on a first clip. Will definitely try the dog ones.
Wagtail
Horse servant
Sometimes I dont even know why folk bother to reply to your threads, I know I wont be any more your such a judgemental and narrow minded individual.
What and Why others do stuff with their horses with no detrimental effect really isnt your place to judge or get them to explain themselves to jo blo on a forum.
If you could prove without a shadow of a doubt that clipping legs in winter is going to cause dramatic and irrevocable issues for a horse then maybe we wouldnt do it but with the amount of people who do without issue I doubt you could
You are a funny one. This is a discussion thread. I am quite happy to be proved wrong, and have had my mind changed on a few occasions on here. Have you not heard of making a statement on your stance regarding an issue in order to invite heathy debate? You think I am judgemental, I think you are an incredibly touchy/prickly individual. You get your knickers in a twist every time someone disagrees with you. But feel free to avoid my threads.
muckypony
Well-Known Member
My old pony would come into season throughout the winter (tart ) she would have sticky, smelly back legs quite often so i had to wash them. Clipping her legs out meant i could wash them quickly and they would dry quicker and wouldnt be wet and cold for her for ages.
I wouldnt clip a horses legs out if they were out 24/7 or if there wasn't a valid reason though. But different people will always have different ways of doing things!
) she would have sticky, smelly back legs quite often so i had to wash them. Clipping her legs out meant i could wash them quickly and they would dry quicker and wouldnt be wet and cold for her for ages. I wouldnt clip a horses legs out if they were out 24/7 or if there wasn't a valid reason though. But different people will always have different ways of doing things!
Roasted Chestnuts
Well-Known Member
Roasted Chestnuts
Well-Known Member
You are a funny one. This is a discussion thread. I am quite happy to be proved wrong, and have had my mind changed on a few occasions on here. Have you not heard of making a statement on your stance regarding an issue in order to invite heathy debate? You think I am judgemental, I think you are an incredibly touchy/prickly individual. You get your knickers in a twist every time someone disagrees with you. But feel free to avoid my threads.
maybe I am so what? I just cant stand those that sit in judgement of others just becase they dont do a certain thing themselves.
Statements generally arent judgements. i stated why i clipped legs, you then proceeded to put it down as not for the horses benefit, judgement?? Think so on your behalf
Wagtail
Horse servant
maybe I am so what? I just cant stand those that sit in judgement of others just becase they dont do a certain thing themselves.
Statements generally arent judgements. i stated why i clipped legs, you then proceeded to put it down as not for the horses benefit, judgement?? Think so on your behalf
I think you are being very judgemental there.
Blitzen
Well-Known Member
My mare is prone to feather mites, has mallanders/sallanders, and due to the tough skin round her fetlocks (which cracks when constantly getting wet then drying out) she also gets mud fever. So her legs are clipped out all year round - it makes it much easier to keep an eye on the condition of her skin, and also I can get the pig oil into every nook and cranny of her bumpy ankles
Cobby youngster, however, is a fluffy scruffy mud monster at the moment, and will be until he is brought into work in the spring. His fluffy leg warmers and mohican are quite impressive! I'm itching to get the clippers on them, but there's no point yet, I'll trim the bottoms of his legs with scissors for now, just to keep the feather out of the mud
Cobby youngster, however, is a fluffy scruffy mud monster at the moment, and will be until he is brought into work in the spring. His fluffy leg warmers and mohican are quite impressive! I'm itching to get the clippers on them, but there's no point yet, I'll trim the bottoms of his legs with scissors for now, just to keep the feather out of the mud