Hot pony -clip?

[HopOnTrot]

Have just been out for a hack with daughter, it’s very warm and on a gentle hack her pony had a sweaty girth area. Her pony is always prone to run warm and to date has only lost half of her winter coat.

Next 2 weekend we have mounted games comps (lead rein so not too manic) but next Sunday looks to be 23 degrees.

Should I just clip pony out? My only concern is that clipped bits get eaten more easily by midges (they mainly live out), we don’t do any showing or anything but she is a mature lady so her comfort is paramount.

Or is there a magic trick to get the rest of her coat out in 6 days

 

[Flowerofthefen]

I would clip then put a fly rug on. Has she been tested for cushings?

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I just clip and put a fly rug on.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

I wouldnt clip, but would spend a fair bit of time in a good few grooming sessions.
If the pony is only girth sweating and the work coming up is lead rein, then I'm sure in a fortnight you'd get on top of the fuzz.
Mine sweated on Saturday, on girth line, girth is not leather so hence the sweating, last clipped in January.

 

[blitznbobs]

I would try a really good bath and scrub usually this gets tonnes of coat out followed by a good groom then you can just wash her down as necessary but in that heat they will dry however thick their coat is so it is not so much of an issue

 

[Julia0803]

What about clipping with coarse blades? The covercote type? They’re around 4.5/5mm, supposedly the same length as a summer coat.

I use them for the in between weather- where he’s getting too hot during work, but I don’t want to give him a close clip as then he’d be freezing overnight in the early hours… but too hot to be rugged at 4pm at ‘bedtime’ (I can’t be going back to the yard late at night when the temp does actually drop).

 

[HopOnTrot]

She was Cushings tested last year and was negative, she has always been a “hot” pony so needs clipping even in light work (she had a blanket clip this winter so those bits look great but there is still a noticeable ledge along her belly line.
I’ll bath her tomorrow and Thursday and then clip Friday if it’s still hideous!

 

[Fransurrey]

I do a coarse clip all year round on my cob. Makes it easier to spot ticks, too. He doesn't appear to suffer more with midges, but I did use a fly rug for the first week. He really felt the benefit yesterday on a sponsored ride.

 

[Chiffy]

We always clipped our oldies that tended to hold onto their coats and bathing gets it out too. Sometimes we would clip everything off towards the end of winter, but May is a bit late. I would probably clip from throat down the underside of the neck , between the front legs and under the tummy.

 

[HopOnTrot]

I’ve just full clipped, coat wasn’t thick but it was still long, full clip and a tea tree and lavender hot cloth and she looks ready for HOYS rather than lead rein games

I can’t see tell if coat is different to last year as last year she was full clipped and this year she had a blanket clip so lines are obvious.

Next time the vet is here I will ask them for a Cushings test, I don’t think it’s a rush as she has no other symptoms but definitely worth doing again.

 

[Jambarissa]

I'd clip if the horse is black skinned.

I regretted clipping my coloured, the pink skimmed bits burned through a mesh fly sheet!

 

[SEL]

I clipped my native on Wed. She was fully clipped at the end of Jan but has been really hot this week and we have two long rides planned. I was surprised at how much hair came off and she was a lot happier afterwards.

 

[HopOnTrot]

Just to update, I full clipped and she definitely felt the benefit as didn’t sweat up at our comps. The clip is barely visible now and she has a gorgeous glossy dapple to her coat!