How many of you clip for the sake of it??

I try to avoid clipping as much as possible - all mine live out and I resent spending lots of money on rugs! The happy hackers don't work that hard and even my daughter's pony can cope with schooling, jumping and PC rallies without being clipped. She doesn't get overly sweaty and I always use a Thermatex rug to dry her off after work.

But I do know someone who clips her horse even though the most it does is walk and trot around the block! She freely admits she does it because it makes the horse look smart!
 
I have to also say - the amount of "remarks" and "comments" i've had aimed at me and Rock by people on the yard and out and about have been shocking - not nice comments either about him looking a mess etc.
Fair enough hes hairy and his mane hasn't been pulled (but is still neat) - it's called wintering out! My horse is nice and warm and comfortable for the level of work hes at!
 
i clipped flint in the summer this year as i found it much easier to keep him clean and he looked smarter when I was selling him. I think if people want to clip they can do- whatever time of year- its their horse.
 
April has a funny workload.... very light when I'm in London during the week but heavier with lessons, comps and hacking when I'm back at the weekend.
Last year I didn't bother clipping but this year I have given her a very low trace - almost just her neck and underarms. It's just where she sweats up.
I think full clips look lovely but I just can't justify it with our workload
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My horse isnt in work but Ive clipped his head out and a strip down his neck
a) as he wears a drop noseband when I lead him on his walks, his beard was getting tangled
b) to be smart, he looks good now before he looked like a retired P2P er
c) because I wanted to!
 
I clip as Beau will mega sweat up if I didnt. I do like him looking smart and a clip seems to mean less mud, BUT I am not bothered how it looks tbh as he has looked a complete state for the past month, but he has been cool enough when being worked.

I am considering next time just clipping the bits where he sweats loads- armpits and stifle - as he only got it all off before as whenever i tried to mark out the blanket he would move and it would be ruined!
 
I used to clip the shettie, because he'd boil just standing still. I understand his new owners have done the same, and I imagine they will continue to, because it makes him easier to keep clean and stops him itching.

I am of the "clip em out" school, and will be itching to clip Magic when she comes into proper work. But she doesnt need it, all she needs is cooling down properly.
 
My mare is clipped. I blanket clipped her as she was very sweaty when schooling and has a fairly thick coat. She was still very sweaty so ended up doing a hunter clip for her second clip. She lives out 24/7 and never has a problem with being cold.
 
Much prefer horses to be natural. Even very sweaty horses and ponies can be cooled off.
I do like to see 'posh' horses (showing etc) clipped though.

Don't like natives clipped. I love natural hairy ponies
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If you haven't time to cool them then shorten the ride to allow it (my view!) None of mine will be clipped ever.
 
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If you haven't time to cool them then shorten the ride to allow it (my view!) None of mine will be clipped ever.

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i went out with my dad for 2hrs today, we walked most of the way with a short trot & canter within the first 40mins of the ride, my horse still ended up sweaty on his neck, flanks & under his saddle. he wasnt dry by the time we got back after over an 1hr of walking to cool off! He has already been clipped this but it has outgrown so is quite fluffy, ideally i would want him clipped again
 
umm my 3 yr old isnt clipped- hes just been turned away... but he'll be fully clipped out ready for 4 yr olds wne hes back in work,,, (the very beginning) lol i wouldnt care in unaff but i dnt wanna go around with my hrose where u can see the trace or blanket lines of the clip lol and furry backside... course he'll be rugged all nice and warm tho lolx
 
mine work hard, so need clipping, but there are two neds at my yard that are clipped 'because everyone else does it', !!
 
Mine isn't clipped yet, though i'm hoping to get her done very soon as she is getting so hot not doing a lot, she hasn't got a very heavy coat, but sweats a lot, and i haven't got hours to hang about waiting for to dry before turning her out. Sometimes she has just been too wet even after cooling off to go out - so on those days stays in. It's just hassle i don't need to be honest. Normally i have gone for a blanket clip but last year ended up with lines in our first few shows so this time she is having a hunter, i've got the rugs to keep her warm, she may not be doing enough work(4 days a week mostly schooling in walk and trot) in other peoples eyes to warrent it but i think we will both be happier for it!
 
Gosh! Didnt expect so many replies!

Firstly, LOL at shilsadar!!
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I'm no way an anti-clipperer - if your horse sweats up (even on boxrest), then fair enough - clip him/her, but i just couldnt be bothered with all of the extra hassle of trying to put the right amount of rugs on! I struggle as it is! One of mine is out on loan (welsh A) and is naked most of the time. I think they prefer to be naked, so we didnt rug up our other 2 until last month. They're not particularly hairy and they only have 1 MW rug on (stable or turnout). Both are only walkable (due to injury) at the moment, so dont really sweat (except under girth and saddle) when ridden. If they DID sweat, i'd do a trace clip, but deffinately wouldnt do a full unless they were in HARD work.
I couldnt care less if we were able to go out & compete - i still wouldnt clip them unless they needed it. I agree a clipped horse DOES look smarter, but still....

Anyway, thank you for taking the time to reply!
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Mine is fully clipped out because shes ridden regularly and was sweating up. The YO's horse is fully clipped out even though he isnt in work. He was really fluffy and was getting hot and uncomfortable, now hes much happier.

At the end of the day people can do what they want with their horses and theres nothing we can do about it unfortunatly.
 
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Gosh! Didnt expect so many replies!

Firstly, LOL at shilsadar!!
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Does this mean you won't be either reporting me to the RSPCA/ILPH or offering to look after my neglected horses for the rest of this winter then?
D*mn!
S
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my hairy slob is unclipped, my older daughter's pony is trace clipped because he does get in a sweaty mess and then get a sore girth area, my younger daughter's pony is supposed to have just his belly done for the same reason but protested savagely at the idea and frankly life's too short, so he's a hairball.
 
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Haha! I would, but they're rubbish! Anyway, what you said IS true and i can't argue with that!!
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Although water from a hot tap would remove the mud better!
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Hot water would be better....but I lied...they're not clipped...and they're all rugged....
It's my religion that makes me lie...
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do you think my pants will ignite?
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Hot water would be better....but I lied...they're not clipped...and they're all rugged....
It's my religion that makes me lie...
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do you think my pants will ignite?
S

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Yes! And so they should!!!
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Seriously though, you didnt strike me as a rugger-upperer! Thought yours would be au naturale.
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Mine would be if our fields had better shelter.
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Hot water would be better....but I lied...they're not clipped...and they're all rugged....
It's my religion that makes me lie...
frown.gif
do you think my pants will ignite?
S

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Yes! And so they should!!!
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Seriously though, you didnt strike me as a rugger-upperer! Thought yours would be au naturale.
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Mine would be if our fields had better shelter.
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I have a 19yr old TB who can't grow a coat...a 3yo Shire x TB who had colic surgery this year....and a 2yo which is largely TB too...and my field hasn't got a field shelter, just natural shelter or I'd rug them less.
If they were natives, they'd be nudies.
They're all out 24/7...though...but do rather well...
S
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I soooooooooooooooooo need to whip off all my old lads coat.

He is getting very itchy. He does no work what so ever now (except walk round his field, pee off his mum and eat).

I made a big boo-boo by not doing it earlier and feel very quilty now.

My only concern is the weather. If it goes really cold again, I will worry about his weight. So far it is good, but I don't want it to drop as I am sure the weather will go very cold for longer periods.

I'm just going to have to bite the bullet and whip it all off though!

I have thought and I am still thinking of doing an upside down clip on him though. Whip off down his mane, back and sides, but leave the underside of his neck, belly and legs on!
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Yes, he will look very odd, but he doesn't get itchy in those areas and it will prevent him being chilly if the wind whips up under the rug! (well thats my thinking anyway)
 
Mine was in walk work for 3weeks so had a trace, he is now starting proper work so i clipped him out yesterday. Partly because it is easier to keep him looking smart for comps, partly becuase I have enough rugs to keep him warm enough and partly cos it stops him getting sweaty. Which of those is a valid reason?!
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i am actually lazy during the winter!! mine doesn't do enough to worry so just has her last clip in october, a full job so it lasts.....i do show her in summer so have to clip - she is a hogged cob BTW with a heavy coat - so from march to sept i full clip every 8 weeks
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so winter is time off for both of us! i havn't clipped the welsh as he is turned away so no point, but he will probably have a bib next winter.
so no i don't clip for the sake of it!!
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i do think alot of people do it to follow the trend though!
 
I have full clipped (except head and legs) the one that is being worked and competed. I ride late at night so not great if they get sweaty.

However the other that I cannot keep fit at the moment, is also fully clipped. Has only been ridden once since Nov, as I have been too busy building a house.

I'll hold my hands up - I cannot stand hair. If they are going to be ridden at all I will wip the hair off. I have to clean the filter on the washing machine enough without extra fur. I hate it in numnahs, which is why I remove the saddle patch. However mine are SJ'ers, so not as if I am on their backs for hours like hunting.
 
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Just can't see any sense in clipping so that you have to spend more money on rugs when you have no reason to clip in the first place. Madness.

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Personal choice
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Just can't see any sense in clipping so that you have to spend more money on rugs when you have no reason to clip in the first place. Madness.

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i had all the heavy-weight rugs anyway, brought them with him for £120 (incl other bits & bobs like buckets) they had all only been used for 1 winter & id rather but an extra rug or to so he could be comfortable after excercise than having a rug on & being all sweaty
 
Well we have 3 with a low chaser clip all out in HW rugs and ridden a few times a week usually, and Blue has a chaser/blanket and ridden roughly 5 times a week in a HW all live out 24/7 at the moment.

Will probably give Blue a blanket clip next weekend and a full clip at the beginning of March
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Amount and level of work may not make a difference. OH's Welsh Cob can become too grumpy to enjoy a short trot on a quiet weekend hack when he needs clipped. If he is clipped, he can be rugged up and worked at whatever level time and weather permit.
 
I clip 2 of mine, but only because they compete over the winter so generally do sweat and need it! I also clip 2 of my old retired ponies, usually in the spring because due to their age, they take forever to moult nowdays and even then seem to hold onto their stomach fluff! Got fed up seeing my shetland puffing away last summer in the heat so they both generally get a bib very low trace clip so I can take off the tummy hair mainly. Keeps them both more comfy! I wouldn't generally do it though, ie. for no reason.
 
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