Full clip on a horse in light/ medium work?

[My_breadbagel]

My current cob works up a sweat maybe twice a week maximum, but I fully clip him (everything bar a saddle patch and whiskers) because he grows a coat an inch thick that he despises. He itches himself raw and if I let it grow longer than a couple of centimetres he comes in with bite marks (from himself) and patches as far as he can reach. I feel ridiculous giving him a full clip, particularly because he only does two heavy workouts and some hacking each week. I know people will judge me for it and say it’s unnecessary, I’m a bad owner etc but honestly, I can’t bare watching him rub himself raw. He’s never cold (always rugged and wears an exercise sheet) and is much happier fully clipped. A blanket clip doesn’t cut it, and I can’t bare watching him eat himself. It’s so dense the hair stands up on ends, and everything gets stuck under it. am I really that awful for wanting my horse to be happy in himself?

 

[milliepops]

sounds like you're doing a sensible thing IMO.
Provided owners take care of rugging appropriately etc then i don't think it's anyone else's business what people do when it comes to clipping.

 

[J&S]

If it suits him, then do it.

 

[teddy_]

Never mind what others say, providing you have adequate rugs, clip your horse as you please!

 

[Sprogladite01]

Happy horse is the priority for me, stuff what anyone else thinks! you sound like a lovely owner x

 

[Auslander]

I'd like to think that no-one is stupid enough to judge you for doing the right thing for your horse!
My old boy hacks out occasionally, and lives out 24/7. He is full clipped, often including his legs, as he gets very sweaty on our hacks - because he is an idiot!
He has a range of good quality rugs, and is warm and comfy whatever the weather, even though he is scalped

 

[HeyMich]

I know people will judge me for it and say it’s unnecessary, I’m a bad owner etc

To me if sounds like those other folk are the bad owners for not listening to what their horses need. Yes, absolutely clip him, and carry on doing what you think is best for your horse.

 

[Antw23uk]

'I know people will judge me' ..... so to avoid that you post a random thread telling a forum you fully clip your horse! Not sure i see the point of this thread but felt compelled to comment!

 

[My_breadbagel]

Happy horse is the priority for me, stuff what anyone else thinks! you sound like a lovely owner x

Thank you. After being on two terrible yards (one told me I can’t clip his legs if I don’t hog him ?‍) I’m constantly worrying I’m doing the wrong thing.

 

[[139672]]

I used to give my fell pony a full clip. He would get far too sweaty, then cold and damp if I didn’t.

 

[Cob Life]

Mine is in medium work, he’s blanket clipped with legs off and hogged, and if I thought I could get the lines right he’d have a hunter clip because he is also a cob who wants to be a woolly mammoth!

eta he is also only in a summer rain sheet and not cold

 

[SO1]

I had to clip my native as he was sweating just standing in his stable.

Clipping for welfare reasons is perfectly normal.

 

[saddlesore]

My cob is Hunter clipped for the same reason, I’ve already done 3 clips and about to do a 4th ?

 

[MissTyc]

MY cob is fully clipped, on 3rd clip already, and he's ridden once a week at the moment. He lives out in a 50g rug and is still fat and happy. Without clipping, I couldn't even ride him the once as he'd be so hot just from being alive ... and also so fat the saddle wouldn't fit any more! With modern rugs, the whole clipping argument isn't really an argument any more, in my opinion. We know a lot more these days about how to keep horses happy and healthy without having to worrying about old fashioned traditions!

 

[Kaylum]

My clyde was fully clipped all year round and fitter than most horses one the yard and he used to sweat. Tell them to mind their own business.

 

[monte1]

My boy is fully clipped (half face and legs on) lives out 24/7 mostly, with decent rugs and is just fine, ridden 4-5 times a week sometimes less, but gets sweaty when ridden and much simpler to wash him down and re-rug appropriately than trying to deal with turning him out a still wet coat late in the evening
do what works for you and your horse

 

[pistolpete]

It’s a cob thing. They are different!