How much trimming?!

kimberleigh

kimberleigh

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Hi guys, my sister recently got her first horse and he's a big scruffy baby!

He is a coloured "cob type", currently standing at around 15hh (turned 2 in march), with a bit of feather but not masses.

Ive been giving her a hand with him, and have said it would be a good experience to get him out in hand locally to a few little shows for the experience...but have no idea what he would be classed as having never been into this type myself!

Should he be pulled short & plaited with feathers off/on?

Will try to attach pic now but am on my phone so not sure if it'll work? If it doesn't I will attach a couple when I get home!

Kim
 
It really depends on what he looks like and what you want

Either way there will be some that say don't trim feathers etc

I would have a good look at lots of coloureds and try to imagine what he would look like without the fluff. Then decide
 
Here he is about a month ago - I think if he were mine I would take it off, but because I dont really know much about his type it's hard for me to explain to her my reasons why (aside from I dont think hes heavy enough to pull off the hairy cob look!)

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In my eyes he'd look far better trimmed but he's her horse, so if she wants him hairy it's really her choice.
 
I agree, If he were mine id be trimming and pulling etc as he's light enough for that too look good in my opinion.
He's a lovely chap though i like him!
 
With him being her first horse, shes totally new to everything (so really goes by my advice on most things).

Ive had tbs and natives so both ends of the trimming spectrum - almost no need with tbs as they have such little fluff and never more than a tidy of the mane and tail with the natives!

He almost looks quite sporty as a 6month old :)
 
I too would trim. Not only is he light weight but also doesn't have that much fluff so cannot compete against the real fluffy ones

He looks lovely. Try and tame his mane to the other side too :)
 
Thanks - I did actually have a bit of a tidy of his mane this morning hehe!! I am gonna suggest she keeps plaiting it over to keep it on the correct side :)

So for local shows, all trimmed and plaited?

Kim
 
I'd tidy him a little, tbh if you are just doing local level shows I'd just do a youngstock class with him and then just let him get his head down and graze for an hour while he soaks up the atmosphere. I've found that in our youngstock classes we've had all types and sizes, I'd steer clear of doing a coloured class just yet as they do tend to be well attended and it can be hard for a baby to cope with the waiting. He's going to be a nice type when he's finished growing, plenty of grass and a good balancer will see him looking a different horse in a year. I wouldn't be suprised if he goes over 16hh at all.
 
Thank you for your reply - yes the coloured classes here do tend to be busy actually now you mention it!
I think he will definitely make at least 16hh - my sister is only 5'1 and very petite so I may have to steal him sometimes ;)
 
IMO get the lot off, heels trimmed fully, whiskers, ear fluff and jaw line off, tail tightly pulled and bang to just below the hocks. Will look stunning. Agree with others, he just isnt heavy enough to compete against the true gypsy sorts (erm, sorry traditionals) he looks lovely. Have fun :)
 
The wife said:
IMO get the lot off, heels trimmed fully, whiskers, ear fluff and jaw line off, tail tightly pulled and bang to just below the hocks. Will look stunning. Agree with others, he just isnt heavy enough to compete against the true gypsy sorts (erm, sorry traditionals) he looks lovely. Have fun :)
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Thankyou - I have started on the mane/ears/jawline, and chopped his tail to just below hocks and he looks a million times smarted already :) Not brilliant at doing feathers with comb/scissors and my trimmer died recently so they'll have to wait until I grab a new set! I have also never pulled a tail so am going to ask a very accomplished friend to give me a lesson so I dont make him look like a bog brush haha
 
He is going to be lovely. Probably a hunter/sport horse type when he fills out. If he's only two and going for the experience, I personally would just trim his feathers and trim his mane. I wouldn't be pulling a baby's tail at that stage.
 
I'd trim feathers and beard etc and pull mane a little bit, tidy up the tail a bit and off you go. I couldn't bare to hog a horse unless I really thought I might win, even then, I just dislike hogging.
 
Thanks guys :D

It was his first time out of his field (about 5mile round trip from field to my house) - I walked him as he is just a little bit of a monkey with my sister; knows he can get away with stuff with her! We met a coach, a tractor pulling machinery, motorbikes, pedestrians, cyclists, a double decker bus, trains, dogs, strimmers, and a circular saw!! He honestly didnt put a foot wrong, even crossed 2 footbridges over streams without even a second look! Such a good good boy for such a young and green lad!!
 
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