Clipping, would it be unfair?

[Degan]

Would it be unfair to hunter clip a 24 year old welsh cob?

He is still in medium work and is currently in good condition, so would this be unfair or should i stick with a blanket at the most or even a high trace?
Hes starting to sweat up now and hasnt got his full coat through yet.
So my thinking is if it wasnt for his age i would give him a hunter clip, but im just not sure, what would you guys do?

thankyou in advance

 

[Brandy]

No its not unfair. My TB was clipped until the year before last and is 29 now. He sweats so much that it is worse to not clip him - he doesn;t do walk on even a gentle hack and jogs and getx excited and sweaty. Which then I have to wash off and then he is cold and wet. So clipping is best. I did do blanket clip for the last few years though but that was becuase he was only being ridden a couple of times a week, but it got the hair of the worst bits to sweat - flanks, between legs neck and chest.

As long as he is properly rugged and fed I wouldn't worry.

 

[monkeybum13]

No it's not unfair.

Why not start with a blanket or a trace and see how that goes, then if he's still sweaty you can take the rest off?
It's easier to go back and take more off than wait for new hair to grow through.

 

[Honey08]

No - if he's doing the work to merit it, and he doesn't seem to get cold (ie you don't struggle to keep weight on him in winter) I'd do it..x

 

[Pipkin]

Monkey bum beat me to it

 

[FleabittenT]

What about an Irish clip, like this? http://www.horsegroomingsupplies.co...7253400-trace-clipping-a-horse-irish-clip.jpg

Suits my Cob x in medium work - stops her getting too sweaty, but easier/cheaper to manage & keep her warm than a fuller clip

 

[cumbriamax]

No it definitely wouldn't be unfair, I personally think it would be more unfair to work him in heavy coat and having him sweat al the time.

 

[Trinity Fox]

If he is doing enough work then no better to be clipped than soaking wet and sweaty taking hours to dry.

 

[lauraandjack]

Why are people obsessed with clipping being "unfair?" As long as the horse gets adequately rugged afterwards, I can't see the problem with any clip!

But then apparently I am cruel, because according to our yard special, I clipped my horse "on the coldest night of the year"

He got a rug afterwards, so what's the problem? (and I might add, he was on the verge of sweating just standing in the field unrugged the other night, so he obviously needed clipping!)

 

[fitzaud2]

No it definitely wouldn't be unfair, I personally think it would be more unfair to work him in heavy coat and having him sweat al the time.

I agree, what we take away in hair, we can more than compensate for in rugs, and not lather of sweat. My 25 year old mare had full clip last year, and needed it!!!