Confused with Clipping?!

edgedem

edgedem

Well-Known Member
Joined
20 July 2012
Messages
368
Location
North Somerset
Visit site
I have a haaaiiry cob. She's fat so using winter to lose a little weight, currently not rugged an out 24/7 but Everytime I bring her out to ride she is so wet I end up not riding or wasting tonns of time drying her.

The worst is her under belly which you could make a jumper out of! And her neck is very fluffy.. Back and bum aren't over the top... Yet!

So my question is: do I clip her to give me half a chance at winter riding? If so what clip? (Total newbie to this)

then do I leave her Unrugged or get a rain sheet? Can I clip it all off but leave the legs??

Also if I choose not to use a rain sheet; what's the best way to dry that back!

Sorry to over load!
 
Does she get sweaty when you ride her? If so, I would give her an apron clip like in the picture here:
http://images.google.com/imgres?q=a...&ndsp=17&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:0,i:77&tx=128&ty=70
That should help with the sweating. If you take any hair off you will need to rug. As she is pretty hairy and you will not be taking too much hair off you should be ok with a lightweight turnout with no neck, but be guided by her - feel her ears and armpits every day (preferably twice a day) to see whether she is hot or cold and rug accordingly. Definitely don't clip her head, back or legs if you are keeping her out!
If she is not getting sweaty, just put a rain sheet on her so she is clean and dry for you to ride. Something I find very helpful with mud and grooming is to brush pig oil through mane, tail and feathers and smooth it onto legs, face, ears, elbows and belly to stop the mud from sticking. I don't like to smear it on everywhere as it makes them greasy but lightly on the face is much better than brushing mud off. Coat shine also helps to keep the mud from sticking too much.
I hope that helps and good luck getting your coblet fit!
 
Get a rain sheet! Yes you can clip and leave legs on - and I would do as she's living out. You could do any number of clips! In fact really whatever you wanted! In your case - if she's getting hot I would take her lower neck and belly off for now. You could always take more off later if needs be! If you find someone to come and clip her then they should be able to give you good advice.
 
why do you have to dry before riding? use old sadle cloth under sadle to keep sadle clean scatch the worst of mud off in girth area and get on with riding the horse is going to get sweaty but will soon deal with sweat marks with a good roll when it comes happily back to its nice muddy field,
just make sure you use your fingers to feel round under the coat on any areas that might rub and in feathererd areas on legs on a regular basis.

if you still feel the need to clip just do down the windpipe and chest
between legs to girth area, may be a little off the shoulders but not much this area wouldn't be covered by a rug anyway so you can get away without rugging
 
Personally if you clip her (probably won't need more than a Chaser if she's living out) then I would put more than just a rain sheet on. My mum's OH's horse is out in a rain sheet and anything more than a heavy shower he gets soaked right through, so a light weight fill or pref middle weight - helps to keep clean too :p
 
Just use an old towel instead of a numnah. I'm not keen on using rainsheets on horses out 24/7 when its cold, rugs stop them fluffing up for warmth, so if the rug has no lining you're more likely to make the horse cold with one.
 
Thanks for your advice. I was always told "a horse MUST be dry before you ride"
Which doesn't make sense to me as they r wet, then sweaty then back into wet field to roll around and get even more wet!

The mud isn't an issue when it's dry, brushes out lovely with pig oil/show shine, it's just the wet mud/water on those long belly hair hat make It a pain! Ill try and find someone to clip her and see what they think!
 
Last winter my cob was over weight and much to hairy - ridden wise she got too hot. I took a strip off under her neck and went into a bib clip under her chest and between her legs. I left her out unrugged and she was fine :D (shes out 24/7()
When she got fitter and lost the weight i increased her clip with the work load and only when she had a trace clip and it got very cold i then put a rug on her.
So long as the cob has shelter to get out the rain and plenty of hay then there often okay :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top