Sweating, to clip ot not to clip?

[Christmas_Kate]

What are your horses like in this heat? okay, it's not boiling hot, but such a temperature rise in such a short time

.

Ponio is literally sweating in the field. He has acess to plenty of water and shade but is still so hairy, I just don't know what to do with him.
He's going to have a good bath once I'm sure we're not forcast any freezing weather next week lol. But I don't know if to clip him or not? We plan to do a few fun shows this summer, and one or two unaffiliated M&M classes. I've already thinned his mane (discreetly) to stop him boiling under the thick blanket that it was . We just havent had the heart to make him do any work these last two days because even breaking into a trot makes him sweat...

.

I'm now thinking of clipping him out.... someone please tell me not to lol!

 

[Patches]

Well I clipped my shetland on Monday because he too was sweating in the field. He's far happier now he's got a hunter clip. Personally I don't care if it affects his coat coming in as he's only a companion.

 

[jes_nibley]

so long as he's not malting, clip him!

my ponio is sweating despite beimng fully clipped, bathed hi last week, much cleaner now - you can almost tell he's grey!

 

[Christmas_Kate]

He IS malting!!

Seems to come out in handfuls for the last month or so. I think he will be malting forever.

 

[SpruceRI]

Firstly I'd give him a good shampoo and scrub (using a rubber curry comb or the like) as this can help with the moulting.

Not sure about clipping if you're going to do some showing - I clip my Shettie out fully in early summer as he doesn't lose his winter coat until August and then the new winter coat starts growing in September! - But then he doesn't get shown so it doesn't matter.

Other thing to try is to give him a wash down before you start riding so as to start off cool.

Not sure where you're based but here in the South East it's hot, so bath now!

 

[sleepingdragon10]

Jelly is the same, and she IS having a bath this weekend cos she gets ridiculously hot after only a few minutes lunging

I'm sure she'll feel much better for it as there are white patches all over the field where she's been rolling and her hair has come out!

 

[Christmas_Kate]

We're in the midlands. I've been using the shedding blade on him daily, and the rubber massager which seems to help his coat out.
He is very very scurfy

.

I think a visit up to the house and the hosepipe is in order....

 

[Christmas_Kate]

Don't even talk to me about lungeing

. G just stands and gawps at me, amid jokes from my OH that i managed to teach a IDx to lunge over the winter, but can't get anywhere with a shettie

.

 

[JM07]

if you are planning on doing M&M before june, then dont clip...if not carry on.....

 

[Christmas_Kate]

first show is in June.

Next step would be to find someone who has some clippers lol.

 

[JM07]

much better to help it out au-natrel, but if it's THAT thick...well some would rug up regardless to get it out!!!

 

[Christmas_Kate]

He's been rugged

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problem is, he's a shettie and seems to have wool for a coat. I'll try bathing him, if that doesnt work, then I'll have to try clipping. I guess I could do a belly to start with...

 

[sw123]

I clip all year round and have never had a problem with decent coats coming through (usually clip them off again) but they do look fab enough for showing etc

 

[JM07]

do you have a "stripper"..one of those humane tail pulling combs??

if not, go to a pet shop and ask for a dog coat stripper..they are basically the same but cheaper...and just rake him through..you will be surprised how much it thins the coat before he loses it..i do it all the time on my new forests.

 

[Christmas_Kate]

[ QUOTE ]
do you have a "stripper"..one of those humane tail pulling combs??

if not, go to a pet shop and ask for a dog coat stripper..they are basically the same but cheaper...and just rake him through..you will be surprised how much it thins the coat before he loses it..i do it all the time on my new forests.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, we had such a hair problem in the late winter that we bought everything we could!

. His summer coat has come through fab, been feeding him black sunflower seeds to encourage healthy coat etc he just seems to never stop moulting.

 

[lizzie_liz]

mine is clipped out all year and you wouldn't know she had been clipped. but am no expert on clipping and showing

 

[Honeypots]

Clip, clip, clip...I full clip mine every year around May but might have to do him earlier this year cos of the weather.. It's never affected his coat before..take everything off and you'll have no lines!

 

[kayleigh_and_rocky]

I had to clip rocky all through the summer last summer because he just kept getting so hot when his coat grew back, im hoping he wont be the same this year but hes already getting v sweaty! Oh dear!!

 

[Christmas_Kate]

QR.


Just had him up and bathed him. His first ever bath

. He LOVED it!

I've thinned his mane out, and his forelock, and just tried to make him feel a bit cooler. I'll see how he goes now, and clip him out if need be. Thanks for all your advice

.

 

[MagicMelon]

Well Ive clipped my 2 natives who dont even do any work. They were panting in the field the other day and they're quite old so dont loose their winter coat like they used to. I gave them a minimal clip and they are far happier (they are now bumbling about the field grazing rather than standing in the shade looking fed up).

Id say comfort is most important so do it if he's that hot. Even if its just the underside of the neck/chest.