Managing in Hot Weather - clipping/ rugging/ stable fans

[Bumblepony]

I have a little cob who has what I'd describe as a normal (as in, not Cushing-y) but still fairly dense summer coat. I guess this is understandable, him being a cob not a TB or such, but in this hot weather he's been getting quite sticky. Unfortunately there is no shade in the field, and he needs to come off the grass for a bit anyway, so he's been coming in for a few hours in the day, but his stable is quite stuffy too. I've been rinsing him profusely with cold water at least once sometimes twice a day. I have considered clipping, but as he's mostly white (so pink skin) he'd need a fly rug - I'd been put off the idea of this thinking surely it seems counter intuitive to take it all off then add another layer, but of course he could have the rug off in the stable, and may only need it temporarily until he's had a bit of hair growth again. I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts about or experience of clipping pink skinned horses in summer please?

Another thought I'd had was to get a battery operated fan or two for his stable to get a bit of air moving - is this a mad idea? I was wondering if I could position one in such a way that there was no way he could get anything caught or tangled in it (thinking his tail if he swished his tail by it)

I almost think winter is easier than this!!

 

[Equi]

You could do a bib clip or low trace to make him a little more comfortable but I wouldn’t want to clip over his back if he has no shade. Not all fly rugs have good uv protection.

 

[Tiddlypom]

The covercote type of clipper blades are a god send for horses with thicker summer coats. They leave a 4.8mm to 5mm length of coat behind which is a sensible summer coat length.

I use the 4.8 mm wide blades on my coloured Cushing’s mare. It leaves enough length that she doesn’t get sunburn on her pink skin, but she is much more comfortable in summer.

 

[SEL]

The battery operated fans are pretty cheap from Amazon - I've got one in my lorry. I have a small battery pack I charge at home and then plug in to recharge the fan - saves untying it.

 

[Highmileagecob]

Any chance of providing shade in the field? Can you move a lorry, stack some old haylage bales, rig up a tarpaulin perhaps? My old cob reacts badly to horsefly bites, and lives out 24/7 in a full neck fly rug with mask. Very fortunate to have thick hedges all round the field - where does he choose to graze? Yep, right in the middle.

 

[Bumblepony]

Thanks so much all for your comments, much appreciated! No option to make shade sadly, though I don't know if it'd use it if he did have it as he's been in fields with shade before and been grazing out in the sun

Clipping wise, I've taken his tummy and under neck off so far, I do have a 4.8mm blade actually so I'll experiment with that and see if it leaves enough on to potentially do him all over. I think I will order a fan to try, worth a go anyway just to get a bit of air moving in his stable. I remember when he had a stay at the vets they had a great big fan set into a window at the front of the stable which I thought was a great idea.