Irish vs Blanket Clip

[Pink Gorilla]

So I’ve done a lowish Irish/chaser clip on my cob, but he’s still getting too hot during our dressage lessons. So going to clip back a little more. What looks better aesthetically? A blanket clip, or an Irish clip which goes from groin straight to withers? I don’t really want to do a Hunter or full clip as my stables aren’t built yet, so he’s still living out 24/7.

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

I do a mix till new year.
Half head, all off in front of saddle as you would with blanket clip. Then go round bottom of saddle and straight to stifle with all belly off.
Easy to do, let's them breathe and on days like today here at 11/12 degrees, can go rugless
End of Jan the whole body comes off in prep for spring.

 

[Pinkvboots]

I do a half head whole neck then a line down from the wither to the end of the belly I find that is enough to stop them getting too hot with a good half hour schooling or a decent hack.

I also clip the whole body off in February sometimes even a bit later.

 

[sheep]

I saw this earlier, it might be what you’re looking for?

https://www.facebook.com/1423398927687430/posts/5247992021894749

 

[Bernster]

That’s the clip I favour too! Takes off all the neck, chest and tummy but leaves the legs and bum on. It’s a good one for horses that aren’t in hard work or who get very sweaty all over.

 

[Roxylola]

I do the one sheep posted. Lines are a pain, and I don't like clipping round stifles. It means I have to blend his clipped back legs but works well for us

 

[spotty_pony]

I saw this earlier, it might be what you’re looking for?

https://www.facebook.com/1423398927687430/posts/5247992021894749

My boy currently has this but only going as far back as just behind his elbow. (A big achievement without sedation!) I hunted him like that a few weeks ago and although he got quite sweaty under the saddle and on his belly, the front part being off definitely helped! He lives out and was probably glad of the extra hair with the cold weather we have just had! I may get him sedated in the coming weeks and turn it into a blanket clip.

 

[ester]

It depends where they sweat, mine absolutely needed his stifles taking off so always had a blanket. He had a chaser once he was just in hacking work but I had to morph it into this (good job we weren't going anywhere! ?)

I am a great believer in taking off what is best rather than what it looks like, everyone thought his stockings looked a bit odd too but they worked (he was a hot pony, and very prone to scabbing as a result) poor sod.

 

[Lady Jane]

I think these days you do what suits your horse and the work he is doing, not what is a 'correct' clip.

 

[Surbie]

I saw this earlier, it might be what you’re looking for?

https://www.facebook.com/1423398927687430/posts/5247992021894749

I've just converted the remains of this into an odd-looking blanket as my horse was still too hot and sweaty from not doing an awful lot, partiularly stifles and 'tweens.

I call it The Tea-towel.

 

[cauda equina]

That one of sheep's is almost a Loincloth

 

[Sprig]

I wouldn't worry about taking too much off just because he lives out. Mine lives out and I give him a hunter clip and rug accordingly. If I take less off it's a pain in the neck as he comes back from rides sweaty and then I have to wash his hairy bits, which take ages to dry.

 

[Fransurrey]

I saw this earlier, it might be what you’re looking for?

https://www.facebook.com/1423398927687430/posts/5247992021894749

This is almost what I do. I leave the head on apart from under the chin and the line comes straight down at the shoulder, following the saddle cloth and then diagonally to groin.

 

[Antw23uk]

I think these days you do what suits your horse and the work he is doing, not what is a 'correct' clip.

This.

I see more and more people doing there own thing nowadays. I saw a friend hacking down the road the other day and she had a type of trace but with shoulder patches to help avoid should rubs and the back half of the belly left on. it didnt look horrendous and was fit for purpose as they mare is in decent work but lives out 24/4

I will be planning a type of trace/ Bib/ Irish clip this weekend but with most of the belly on other than around the girth.

 

[tatty_v]

I go for a blanket for my boys, I find that if all of the neck and half head aren’t taken off they just get sweaty under the mane and around the ears, especially when it’s so mild. If I’m honest neither of them really gets a sweaty bum/between the back legs, but I do find removing that bit on the top of the back leg makes grooming mud off easier ?

I’m not the best at lines and my older grey always gets dreadful clipping lines no matter what you do, but it grows out to a nice look within a week so I just roll with it!

 

[Pink Gorilla]

Thanks everyone! Yes the clip that Sheep posted a pic of is the one I was thinking of doing. Either that or a blanket clip like Tatty posted. Not sure which people prefer just looks wise. But I guess since he’s living out, the Sheep clip will give him less of a bum draught than the Tatty clip ?

 

[tatty_v]

Thanks everyone! Yes the clip that Sheep posted a pic of is the one I was thinking of doing. Either that or a blanket clip like Tatty posted. Not sure which people prefer just looks wise. But I guess since he’s living out, the Sheep clip will give him less of a bum draught than the Tatty clip ?

the thought of a bum draught just gave me shivers ? my two are stabled overnight so I agree, taking less off if out 24/7 makes sense. I did once attempt the Sheep clip but weirdly my lines were so much worse than the blanket, so I reverted to what I know!

 

[Annagain]

I go for an Irish as Charlie doesn't sweat much around his back legs but gets quite a sweaty neck.

I think the important thing to make a blanket clip look good is to round off the corner at the front where the bit that comes down from the wither meets the bit that comes across the rib cage. I don't like it with a sharp 90 degree angle.

 

[GoldenWillow]

Thanks everyone! Yes the clip that Sheep posted a pic of is the one I was thinking of doing. Either that or a blanket clip like Tatty posted. Not sure which people prefer just looks wise. But I guess since he’s living out, the Sheep clip will give him less of a bum draught than the Tatty clip ?

If it's what looks best I think it depends on how good you are at lines and the half circle bit on a blanket clip. Lines aren't my strong point and after one rubbish blanket clip I stick firmly to variations of an Irish clip! Although cob is currently sporting a sort of bib clip and the underneath of his belly off so not sure I'm qualified to comment on aesthetics ?