Should I clip?

[kit279]

My TBs are getting quite furry (for them, that is, I dare not get a native!) and I've been dithering about whether to clip them based on how much work they'll be doing. What do you think? Would you clip?

Chestnut horse - good doer, medium furry, gets sweaty very quickly. Hacks 3 times a week, plus 2 jumping sessions. Will be draghunting but not that often, probably once a month. Competes BSJA once a month-ish.

Grey horse - total fur ball. Not unduly sweaty. Pretty consistent with his weight. Hacks once a week plus 2 jumping sessions and a schooling session. Events in summer but taking it easy this winter so BSJA once a month. Not hunting.

Both live out 24/7, rugged in winter, stabled only if weather is appalling. Fed ad lib hay, Fibrebeet, oil and a feed balancer. Both competed off grass only all summer and are hardy little things. Since they are not very expensive horses to feed, I am wondering whether clipping them would mean they suddenly transform into feed black holes and lose condition etc. But I do wonder whether it is kinder to the chestnut to clip him so he is not too sweaty??

So should I clip or not? And if so, which clip would you recommend?

 

[eoe]

I would clip their necks and go down low on their bellies, and leave their hind quarters in, a bit like a blanket clip, come down from the withers and then at the bottom of your saddle line go diagonally to hind quarters but leave them in, that way, if they sweat on their necks, they dry off quickly and if they get muddy bellies out hunting then it will dry and fall off quickly.

I spent last saturday (5 hours) clipping 3 horses, thank god only one has everything off and the other 2 have their faces and legs left.

Happy clipping!!!!!

 

[Moggy in Manolos]

i clip my mare as she needs it, she gets very sweaty even when very fit, its just her, if your horses get sweaty then its worth doing, and the type of clip you do will depend on how much they sweat, its up to you, but if they dont sweat hardly at all i would not clip, if they sweated a bit i would do a bib or an irish clip
and if they sweat a fair amount a blanket or trace clip maybe

my girl is getting an irish this weekend and the next will be a blanket probably, as she does get hot and the hairier she gets the more hair may need to come off!

 

[imyourstalker]

i'm also indecisive about clipping. i've got a welsh d who hasnt gone that hairy this winter. atm i can only ride 4 times a week, and he doesnt really sweat up that much. getting sand school lights asap so will be riding 6 days a week depending on weather

. what would you do?

 

[Moggy in Manolos]

if he doesnt sweat that much i would just go for either a bib or an irish clip for your horse, that will help keep him cool, and still leaves him plenty of hair to keep warm

 

[Gorgeous George]

I'm seeing if I can get away without clipping George, he is 3/4 TB and has a medium coat, when it was really mild he was sweating a lot, but it's much colder today and he worked quite hard but was fine, so I'll just have to see how he gets on.

 

[TicTac]

Why not give them a chaser clip? That way you are not taking off too much but enough for comfort.

 

[ranch]

If they sweat when worked then clip them for their own comfort.
Mine is fully clipped from mid September as she gets very itchy
and uncomfortable.
I have found that it is possible to leave them out 24/7 all winter
if well rugged. Cold has never been a problem.
Being able to move freely around rather than standing for hours in a
stable is a more natural way, also keeps airways clear thus less
respiratory problems.
And rugs have never been so good as those on the market today.

 

[Ellies_mum2]

Ellie is a welsh D and was clipped about 6 weeks ago - just legs left on and she's become a wooly mammoth just lately so will be clipped again. We had 3 short canters and a gallop on Tuesday and she was dripping with sweat yet this is no more than we usually do. Weather was quite warm though so don't think this is helping any of the horses to be honest

 

[bushbaby28]

i wouldn't clip unless you need to ie they get really sweaty as you never know how this weather is going to turn. mine gets VERY hairy and sweats up very easily even in light work so hes clipped out (or was until he was given 3 months rest!) If your horse is in lightish work and isn't getting sweaty then i'd do the minimum or not at all