Should i clip him out for summer??

warmbloodcrazy

warmbloodcrazy

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I have a 16.3hh, Warmblood. He gets a very thick coat in winter so i HAVE to clip him to be able to ride him although through winter i can only ride at weekends due to my job being 9-5.30 each week day so i usually only put a blanket or neck and belly sort of clip on him.

My question is...he still has ALOT of coat to come out and someone mentioned to me about clipping him now? I took him in the school for half an hour last night (which was hard work i might add) and he was so sweaty after. His summer coat is obviously thinner once it comes in but not as thin as most and i do have a problem with him working well in hotter conditions. Last year i tried him on Pro Plus and all sorts to try and get more ooommph out of him as he was became such hard work. He has many mineral supplements/licks and i also give him electrolytes so i know hes not losing anything after the sweatng up. I have had him 9 years this year and hadnt thought of clipping him out for the summer. I do have to mention that he is out 24 7 the majority of the time in Summer aswell although does come in most days for a rest and a feed. So is clipping him out a good idea? I would really like to do all i can to make working more pleaseurable! Want to get him as fit as possible for the summer season.

Any thoughts would be great...

Thanks guys! :)
 
Very interested to the replies to this post as I have the same trouble with mine at the mo, I too am toying with the idea of clipping him. With this exeptional weather its making just going out for a hack uncomfortable for him.
 
I used to clip my TBX mare in the summer especialy when wanting to compete etc, made her far easyer to manage, a quick sponge over after sweting up and she'd be dry again in no time!, useed a fly rug though, just as a bit of protection.
 
im not a fan of clipping in the summer months, i have seen the affect it has on the coat it they are clipped out all year round. And your horse will be very exposed to the sun and likely to get sun burn so youl have the expense of getting a decent UV fly rug of some kind and id imagine they would get just as hot and uncomfortable in that all the time. i know mine would end up with bald shoulders! iv not found a fly rug yet that doesnt rub :-/
 
A couple of my friends compete regulalry throughout summer months at showjumping. Their horses are all clipped throughout the summer.
 
I know people who clip out for the summer to compete.
Horses are generally in all day everyday out of the sun and out at night in a cotton sheet, fly sheet, rain sheet type rug.
If he is too hot then clip it off, I'd rather they were comfortable.
 
I clip my horse out all year round :) I think if their coat is thick enough to make them uncomfertable (Sorry cant remember how to spell that!) then i would. I dont have a problem with sunburn either so i would say yes clip him :)
 
I posted this reply on a similar post but the shire x that I share is being clipped next weds for this exact same reason. Being black he's just getting too hot xx
 
I clip my coloured out all year round, he wears a full fly mask (with nose guard to stop his nose burning in the summer) but other than that we've never had a problem with sunburn. I am carefull for the first couple of weeks after clipping though, when he looks pink! I just pop him in his stable in the heat of the day or throw a summer sheet/uv fly sheet over him. I clipped him out yesterday and hopefully wont do it again till the end of summer.
I find my boy has much more enthusiasm for work when he's not hot and sweaty.
eve
xx
 
Thank you so much for all your suggestions. I really am swaying towards clipping him now to give it a go, as hes black he really suffers in the heat throughout summer under saddle and it does take a while for his winter coat to come out as its so thick! Despite all this hot weather and intense grooming and being hosed off after being exercised it doesnt help him whilst hes working. I was jsut worried about him being more sensitive to things as he is out 24 7 in summer bar being brought it when its mega hot and on days when hes ridden for a feed etc.

Thanks again everyone! :) Keep all ur useful help coming its much appreciated!
 
I used to clip my old shire x in the summer, as he used to badly overheat. The only negative with clipping in the summer is that your horse might be more sensitive to fly bites, so a fly rug might be needed, and keep an eye on sensitive areas like under the belly and between the forelegs.

My new horse, who is a KWPN was also clipped by his previous owners during the summer. I might do this too, but am going to wait and see what his summer coat is like first, as this will be my first summer with him.
 
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