should i clip again?

[sally87]

so tomorrow i am heading back up north for christmas! I am so excited, first break from uni since May!

I clipped my fat hairy cob pony beginning of november. just neck & belly as he was getting quite hot when out for our "rides" (walking round woods).

last time i was home his clip had grown back. but as it was SOOO COLD i wasnt fussed as he wasnt sweating up anyway, so was going to leave it for the year

but now its turned warm again! so i am expecting him to get hot & sweaty when i ride which makes rugging him up before i go home awkward. so should i clip him again to prevent this? over xmas hols he will be ridden for about an hour (almost all walk but some hills) a few times a week. then when im back at uni as I have BIG SCARY FINAL EXAMS in February his work load will drop off again although i do have a lady who rides him when im not around so he isnt completely off work.

so should i clip him again:

arguments for yes:
* he wont get hot & sweaty when i ride
*he has a thick rug so will be plenty warm enough
*once i have ridden i'll be able to go home & revise rather than having to wait around for hours for him to dry off

no:
* i hate clipping
* it'll probably be cold again by this time next week
* my hands will get cold
why cant once the weather has turned cold it stay cold till spring!

merry christmas!

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

I've got a hairy mammoth and took him for a hack last week and he got really sweated up coz had to keep up with little mare.

So the dilemma was an easy one basically: CLIP!!!

You needn't clip yours out totally, I just did a straight line from withers to stifle and took off everything in between, plus under his "bits" and between his back legs coz that's another area where he gets very hot.

For what its worth I'd say deffo clip yours if he's getting hot and sweaty; much easier and much better for him too in the long run. And you'll worry less about him catching cold for sure.

Do it!!

 

[sally87]

yes, my reasons for not doing are quite pathetic really (although raynauld's syndrome really does make cold hands a massive issue!). it'll be better once its done. but as soon as i do it, i guarentee it will turn cold again!

 

[Mancha]

I would, perhaps just do a bib as a compromise? It won't take you long but should be enough to keep her cool

 

[coss]

i agree with mancha - just do a bib clip to help you and help him. I think the warm weather is going to be a blip but i suppose it depends where you are in the country