Saddle patch or no saddle patch?

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Silverspring

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I'm clipping this weekend and I always do full hunter clip leaving the saddle area unclipped. It looks good (so long as I get those pesky lines right) but I have noticed so many people just clipping out and leaving no hair what so ever where the saddle lie. What is everyone opinion on this?

I was brought up being told you had to leave a patch to stop ingrowing hairs but I've never actually heard of a horse having any ailment due to the saddle area being clipped. Am I being old skool and should get with the times and just shave it all off? Brazilian style
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the original reason,back in the day, for a "saddle patch", was numnahs just weren't used/or available...


so if you use a numah, clip it off...if not, keep it.
 
Id leave the patch. I fully clipped my last horse, everything was fine until after the last clip and she got bald patches which made me think my saddle was rubbing. Got the saddler out, said it fit fine and that it was her coat starting to change. Left a patch the following year and she was fine.
 
I would leave a patch as well. One year I clipped the lot off two of mine and both got bald patches where the saddle went at the back, apparently due to them changing coats for spring.
 
Thanks for the responses
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Since this is her first clip I might take it all out and see what happens, then leave a patch in the second clip to avoid any baldness as her coat changes in the Spring.

I will let you all know how the Brazilian goes, will maybe even post pics!
 
I have found some horses can act a little cold backed if all the hair is taken off BUT i cant be ar*ed to fiddle with a full saddle patch so i clip around my prolite pad which just leaves enough hair in the weight bearing area.
 
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