Sweaty Shetland

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gillybgood

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Hi!
Just wondering if you all agree?! My mini shetland mare has a mega thick winter coat now and a wealth of thick mane. Shes out during the day and stabled with her foal at night. They are coming in earlier at the moment because of the weather. Shes fine in every other way, no illnesses, not colicky etc etc but just sweating in stable. The stable is outside with top door open, but I think its just so mild just now. Im.going to plait her mane to let some air through, but thought about giving her a wee bib clip to see if that would help. Ive kept shetlands for passed 13 yrs but never had sweaty ones in winter, and never clipped them! I dont rug or anything either I like to leave them natural. Think shes just prepared for winter and its not arrived!? Ps, ive only had her since this August, so never wintered her with me before, not that probably makes much odds? Thanks in advance.
 
Mine has a bib and belly clip every year at this time and usually a full clip in Spring. He’s been hot out in the field so I imagine a stable would be really warm for him. He’s not rugged either. I don’t even need to put a head collar on to clip him he welcomes it so much.
 
It's ridiculously mild, my shetland has to be part stabled all year round due to ems - currently in overnight and he's been damp/sweaty in the mornings so last week I gave him a little apron clip, just about managed it with my fine blades and he's much happier and he isn't rugged either yet. I was thinking of getting the lister hog blades and going over all of him (leaves coat at 19mm) as were down south he never needs such a coat and just ends up sweaty and itchy or at worst lice love him as he can get closest to all the hedges where the deer go through.
 
I bib clipped mine last weekend and she is much more comfortable now. She has never needed a rug even when clipped out in the spring as the layer of grease she keeps next to her skin keeps her dry.
 
Mine are sweating if brought in, tho coping ok when out.
I've given one a bib and belly clip as she's working a little most days, the other I'm only standing in for at most an hour (when the others are in) & she's v grateful to go back out. Mine don't have rugs at all & won't do.
 
Thats great thanks everyone. Im leaving them out as long as I can, but the ground is just so wet just now, im trying to save the paddock, they dont want to be out in this weather actually, wanting in after 3 hrs!
 
Mine was like this last week. He did have an infection so I was unsure if it was related to that or the weather.
This hot one minute chilly the next is annoying!! At least we can whip layers on and off!
 
I have bib clipped and a strip under belly to let the steam out ! much happier now, I have done this the last two winters and little mare a lot happier
 
I always end up clipping my mini shets at silly times of the year due to this. End of the day they’re hardy and usually flabby so a bit of shivering from half a clip won’t do them any harm! They usually go out bucking and farting rather than just a slow walk out.
 
Yep, I've given mine a tiny clip, he's in at night, out during the day. Kept on a very strict diet so not overweight, but sweating all the time he was in. Since clipping him he's only sweated when the temperature got up to 20 degrees, and never at night. The clipped bit doesn't even get wet when it rains because it is protected by all that mane! He's much happier and won't be rugged up this winter.
 
My 7hh often needs hair off - more commonly in the spring. He is too small to clip so I just trim his belly closely with scissors - it's not pretty but you have to lie on the floor to notice how uneven it is!
Could you take a bit off right underneath the girth area and between front legs and see - so her neck is left ready for some likely colder weather?
 
My standard Shetland gets a clip during the winter as he has such a thick coat he sweats. they live out 24/7 unrugged, with access to a shelter. last year he had a bib clip and stayed unrugged, even when we had the cold spell and hit -6. he was absolutely fine. I had hoped he would shiver off some weight, but no. this year, I had to give him a blanket clip a couple of weeks ago as he was so hot and sweaty. he also suffers from sweet itch so I find clipping helps. he currently has a waterproof fly rug on as the midges are horrendous at the moment, but he will be naked again as soon as possible.
the mini Shetland gets left au natural even if she gets a little hot, as she is 34 and so don't want her to work any harder then she has to to keep warm.
they will both be clipped fully come spring, as soon as the weather is right.
 
definitely clip don't forget they are bred to cope with a Shetland island winter. anywhere south of there is actually too mild for them
 
claret09 said:
definitely clip don't forget they are bred to cope with a Shetland island winter. anywhere south of there is actually too mild for them
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They adapt to where they are born. Not for their hereditory roots. I have brought 2 down from Shetland - a 4yo mare who grows an enviable coat and a just weaned for who barely grows a winter coat. They adapt.
 
EKW said:
They adapt to where they are born. Not for their hereditory roots. I have brought 2 down from Shetland - a 4yo mare who grows an enviable coat and a just weaned for who barely grows a winter coat. They adapt.
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I wish my little lad knew this. He was born in Hampshire and lived here all this life but grows a coat that would keep him warm in the North Pole!
 
EKW said:
They adapt to where they are born. Not for their hereditory roots. I have brought 2 down from Shetland - a 4yo mare who grows an enviable coat and a just weaned for who barely grows a winter coat. They adapt.
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Just curious where you got that information from as my shetlands coat seems to stay true to his genetics (aka Yak) despite being born and still in the mild south.
 
mcgreggor said:
Just curious where you got that information from as my shetlands coat seems to stay true to his genetics (aka Yak) despite being born and still in the mild south.
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From 20 years of breeding and working with shetlands. If you think the coat your pony has now is thick, which yes it will be, it won't be quite as toasty as those that live up on the Isles.

We have sent ponies to America which now, 10 years down the line, barely grow half of the winter coat they had in this country. They have adapted and don't feel the need to become a yak for 3/4 of the year!

Everything adapts. A TB that has spent it's whole life rugged and in a stable will very quickly learn to grow a really thick winter coat when asked to live outside. It may take a few years but they will adapt.
 
EKW said:
From 20 years of breeding and working with shetlands. If you think the coat your pony has now is thick, which yes it will be, it won't be quite as toasty as those that live up on the Isles.

We have sent ponies to America which now, 10 years down the line, barely grow half of the winter coat they had in this country. They have adapted and don't feel the need to become a yak for 3/4 of the year!

Everything adapts. A TB that has spent it's whole life rugged and in a stable will very quickly learn to grow a really thick winter coat when asked to live outside. It may take a few years but they will adapt.
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This with bells on

I bought a mare at the Aberdeen shetland sale last October, she'd spent 7yrs on the Isle of Mull. Her coat at that stage was easily twice as long as my other ponies in the comparative warm Cornwall, she looked like an Highland cow. A year on and she has barely grown a coat at all!
 
I used to have a mini shet. He loved being in his stable and often escaped his field and whatever he was meant to be babysitting and put himself to bed.

He was fine in the summer, but when his winter coat came he used to get covered in condensation, or so it appeared. I used to give him a sort of chaser clip which did the job. He loved being clipped and never needed to be tied up.
 
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