how old for the 1st clip?

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alfiesmum

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just wondering as i just seen somewhere a pic of someones foal under 1 year old and they have just clipped it with the help of sedalin :(

what age is reasonably acceptable? is 10 months ok? never thought about it until i saw that.

would like to hear your views :)
 
I did a trace on Stinky when he was two and half. Reason, when we was running around the school with Cairo having exercise in the winter, his coat was so thick and even 15 mins of trotting and playing had him very hot and sweaty. I did not want to leave put him in the stable like this and unfortunately in the week I don't get up to the yard until 8 pm and due to the coat he grows, he takes ages to dry out.

The trace solved the problem and he was a good boy to do. He had stood next to Cairo when he was clipped the previous winter to get used to the noise and I had run the clippers over him so he had a feel when he was 18 months. He was also used to having his jawline tidied from 18 months.

I have to say getting him used to the clippers early was a good thing, but I would not clip out a foal unless it was full of lice and on welfare grounds. Some people do clip their heads out to show them and this is a bone of contention in the showing world.
 
Unless it was a medical reason I've never even thought of clipping a youngster. Rising 5 is the earliest I've ever clipped anything. And if properly handled & exposed to clippers plenty before sedalin isn't needed, its the ones with a previous bad experience that usually are a problem.
And I wouldn't really want a youngster in a rug if it can be avoided, especially a foal.
 
I clipped Jas this winter. She is just 5. A woman at my previous yard clipped a six month old Welsh D filly. She thought she looked 'cute', silly cow!
 
Mine was completely clipped out when he was about 18 months old, including ears, etc.
(he has always been a bit shy around his ear since.) After the "event" he was chucked out in the field, with his mates with no rug. They did have a field shelter. He survived.
 
That is so true, hence Stinky having a trace, he was so much happier for it and I didn't have to worry about having to stay to gone midnight for him to dry off.

Ideally all youngsters live out with no rugs 24 x 7, but I was not able to do this and Stinky had to be in 3 days a week, hence in the evening he had a great time playing chase with me and Cairo and thundering around with his heels in the air.

Farra too was clipped out, including feather and mane when she was 2 1/2 due to having a very heavy lice burden. Again she is very good to clip but she is very good with everything bless her.

Other end of the scale, I clipped my old TB at 28 with a chaser, but taking the neck out and going back from the saddle, she was still in full work and really sweated up even at a walk in excitement. I also clip out the 26 year old pony with a chaser, again pony is in work and really sweats up. With the OAPS, I like if possible to leave the back and hind quarters on if I can.
 
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It is quite common for Arab breeders to clip their foals head and front out so that you can see the dish under the fluff. Frankly if you need that much help you need to go to specsavers. It is also often said you get them used to clippers at an early age so they are not scared. I don't really go with that one either myself.
 
We have had quite a few youngsters over the years, we get them used to clippers but never clip them until they start work, and then only if they really need it. I refused to clip nico when we bought him and he was covered in lice, when he was a yearling.
 
I've tidied foals from about 6 months + up with clippers, usually just the chin, backs of legs etc ready for showing. Knowing that my youngstock will be sold one I want them 1) looking good in the show ring, 2) used to lots of new things.
I've never body clipped one, or had to sedate them. If they begin to look stressy (which is rare!) we take a break and try again later. No point starting with a bad experience.
 
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I bought a horse once, a yearling and he was clipped out completely. Apparently the owner thought his foal coat was too fluffy!

I bib clipped my 3 yr old this winter as she was soooo hot in the stable at night it was the sensible thing to do. Otherwise mature horses only, surely!
 
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