Connie smartening help!

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KEK

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Ok, all you experienced Connie/native owners. Total native newbie here. What should I be doing grooming wise to smarten him up ? Apart from the obvious that he is yellow (my husband calls him Big Bird) due to him rolling in the yellow sand whenever he gets hosed, should I be doing anything with his mane and tail ? I wasn't going to clip him for winter, but starting to wonder if I maybe should, as he got so sweaty in his session with my RI today (mind you it's still horribly hot here ). Finally, how's his weight looking ?
He is an absolute sweetie, comes whenever he sees me, cuddly as anything. He looks lovely for my RI now, she says I am up onboard on Thursday and isn't spooking at anything on our weekend hacks with the standy. Has bucked a couple of times in canter with me on but am pretty sure that is my fault, doesn't do it with RI. 20200323_161221_resized.jpg
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Did you trim his fetlocks already? I can't see that unicorm tuft of feather they usually have.

I would clip if he is getting sweaty. The tail looks a touch long - is he at risk of standing on it? If so I would shorten it. Wrap it around the hock inside to out and trim off what falls below the lower line of the hock. Personally I would pull his mane a touch - if only becuase he will sweat up under it. But I know others have a different view.

Obviously being yellow is curious - but could be a talking point!
 
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I depends what you mean by smartening him up and whether you are wanting him to look natural, that does not have to mean left with nothing touched, or prefer a really tidy look, unless you are planning on showing which is unlikely with his stage of training and the CV situation, I would shorten his mane by at least half, easier to keep clean, take 4-6 inches off the bottom of his tail, it will also be easier to wash and should grow back by the summer for fly protection, clip if he is getting sweaty just take of the minimum to make him comfortable as the weather will get cooler, if the work increases maybe take more off later.
 
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Nope no fetlock trimming, maybe he hasn't grown much there yet? The breeder would not have trimmed much either. Natural but smarter than dragged through the hedge backwards, which is kinda the look we seem to be channeling haha. No showing plans, much to breeders disappointment. I was wondering about tail length , will do. So cut the mane, or pull? Will have to you tube that :)
Just clip his saddle area currently , or more?
Thanks very much!!
 
Thank you, BP, very helpful! I will bring some clippers home from work and have a go. The rake looks good :)
 
Oh my word - I am itching to get my hands on him! I'd have everything off.

I'd cut that mane to about four inches long, cut 6 inches off his tail and give it a really good wash, and snip the ends off his forelock to get rid of that scraggly look.

His mane already looks thin so I wouldn't pull it.

I'd also trim the excess off his legs - I can see he has baby feathers!
 
SpringArising said:
Oh my word - I am itching to get my hands on him! I'd have everything off.

I'd cut that mane to about four inches long, cut 6 inches off his tail and give it a really good wash, and snip the ends off his forelock to get rid of that scraggly look.

His mane already looks thin so I wouldn't pull it.

I'd also trim the excess off his legs - I can see he has baby feathers!
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I know, he looks very scruffy ! I will have a go this weekend - not sure about my ability to clip, I had a go at doing one of my dogs and he didn't look great. But my husband cuts my hair, so he should be able to do his, right ?!
I promise I do bath him, it's just he goes straight over to roll in his sand pit.. ha. Finding out already, 3 weeks in, why people say don't get a grey... !
 
Don't put him out when his wet that's why his probably rolling in the sand let him dry then turn out, he will probably still roll in it but it won't be as bad, and I agree with springarising I would trim mane and tail fairly short.
 
Much smarter, easier to keep reasonably clean and the thing that I always notice when something is tidied up, especially the mane being shortened, is they just look so much more physically mature, he has gone from looking like a weak pony needing some building up to one that looks as if it has been in work and bordering on being a bit chunky, it should allow you to have a better view of how he really is weight wise as he cannot have actually changed so much in a week.
 
be positive said:
Much smarter, easier to keep reasonably clean and the thing that I always notice when something is tidied up, especially the mane being shortened, is they just look so much more physically mature, he has gone from looking like a weak pony needing some building up to one that looks as if it has been in work and bordering on being a bit chunky, it should allow you to have a better view of how he really is weight wise as he cannot have actually changed so much in a week.
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Thanks. I'm starting to feel a bit anxious about his weight, RI thinks he's ok but I am really aware of laminitis and not wanting to subject him to that. Should you be able to feel ribs on a horse ?
Edited to say clip should say bib, thanks auto-wrong. Might take it up a bit further in another week or so, have ordered a light 100g fill rug for winter if I clip more, which I probably will.
 
I think he looks good and do not know how much of an issue laminitis is where you are, over here we are heading into spring, it has been a very wet winter and now a dry period of daily sunshine is making the grass grow like crazy so it will be a big issue over here with the current situation, you are going into winter, are now riding him which may well increase as time goes on, so should be fine if you are careful about any hard feed he is getting, watch how the grass is growing and cut back or out the feed if grass is doing well, someone in yourarea would have more idea on how much of a risk it is.
 
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be positive said:
I think he looks good and do not know how much of an issue laminitis is where you are, over here we are heading into spring, it has been a very wet winter and now a dry period of daily sunshine is making the grass grow like crazy so it will be a big issue over here with the current situation, you are going into winter, are now riding him which may well increase as time goes on, so should be fine if you are careful about any hard feed he is getting, watch how the grass is growing and cut back or out the feed if grass is doing well, someone in yourarea would have more idea on how much of a risk it is.
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Thanks for the reply :) winter is the only time we have grass in the paddock, as we don't reticulate. I will keep watching him, not sure how much nutritional value our grass/clover will have yet as this will be first winter with horses. We certainly don't have to feed the sheep in winter.
 
I’ve got a grey Connie cross, I fully clip all winter but leave legs on. Anytime soon I’ll re clip & take legs off as well which gets rid of her feathers for summer. Feathers will then grow back in for next winter. I’ve got her mane fairly short now due to some being rubbed out by a neck cover so I was trying to blend it all in. She’s got a very thick tail, I like it really long but shorter is more practical to keep it out of the mud & to stop her weeing in it. I keep her tail plaited all winter & try to wash it weekly. I always said I’d never have a grey but it’s not as bad as I’d feared!
Mine is prone to weight gain, I’ve just swapped her onto our summer routine of being stabled in the day with soaked hay,plus I’ve dropped her down to lighter weight rugs this week.
 
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whizzer said:
I’ve got a grey Connie cross, I fully clip all winter but leave legs on. Anytime soon I’ll re clip & take legs off as well which gets rid of her feathers for summer. Feathers will then grow back in for next winter. I’ve got her mane fairly short now due to some being rubbed out by a neck cover so I was trying to blend it all in. She’s got a very thick tail, I like it really long but shorter is more practical to keep it out of the mud & to stop her weeing in it. I keep her tail plaited all winter & try to wash it weekly. I always said I’d never have a grey but it’s not as bad as I’d feared!
Mine is prone to weight gain, I’ve just swapped her onto our summer routine of being stabled in the day with soaked hay,plus I’ve dropped her down to lighter weight rugs this week.
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Lol, I was muttering "this is why they say don't get a grey" when he broke the baling twine and ran away, mid bath, to roll in the dirt..
 
J&S said:
He looks much smarter now. What a lovely big turnout area you have!
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Thanks! The horses are at home and the main paddock is about 5 acres. No grass though in summer, he's on the back lawn, such that it is!
 
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