sweaty sweaty horse....clipping thro summer?

OP, can you hold off for a week or so?

Just mentioning this, as today my car is reading 25 degrees! That was on the 3 mile drive home from the supermarket car park an hour ago, by the time I got home, it was a steady 22. Now at 7am this morning it was reading 6.....

This time last year, we were lucky to see temps rise over 10 degrees...... by the end of this weekend its going to be much more 'normal' for temps, prob going to see people grumping about putting rugs back on....

I'm riding early (I usually do anyway) but this benefits CF as he is getting rather sweaty if ridden later or after work, Back to yard by 9am & he's just 'moist' ;)
 
True FF, we are still rocking our last winter full clip (from start of march time I think) and I wouldn't normally clip again untl late may/june - when it might be apparent if we are going to have a nice summer or not ;). I did wait for it to cool down last night for schooling though as it does drop quite quick when it starts atm.
 
Not much to ad, I think most have it covered! Although I would say that you can get a decent full clip for £40. However, if tis is to e a regular occurrence why not consider investing in your own clippers? I bought my Masterclip Huntsman clippers for £99 five/six years ago (before they were well known) and they've paid for themselves ten times over- at least! but do be prepared for some funny looking jobs at first!
 
Have you considered there could be a medical reason?
Some horses, like people sweat more than.others.
Clipping to keep comfortable is kinder but consider the weather and you will have to ensure horse is then warm enough!

£70 sounds a lot, is that with legs clipped too?
 
I have just clipped my ISH all out even legs (1st time legs have come off in 8 years) ! had to be done for health reasons and already he seems happier. I have never been keen to clip all year but have had to start now otherwise a very hot horse in the summer.

£70!! wow thats expensive! hope thats not in Suffolk?
 
Hi All

I can confirm the following:-

He doesnt have a thick coat particularly, just a kind of big guy....but not overweight just solid!
He doesnt have cushings
He has pure table salt at feed time as the other black salt we were told to use STANK when mixed with anything wet!!
I've had clippers for years but a few years back decided I would rather pay someone else to get the lines right and be hairy for the night!!! I hate clipping with a passion lol, despite loving it in my teenage years!!
The temperature at night and mornings is the problem, as I dont want to leave a soaking wet horse in a rug standing in or turning out! It's baking during the day then dips back down to freezing.
I think I am going to clip.....he was sweating buckets before this warm week of weather appeared!!

Thank you for all your suggestions and input, food for thought and always good to have different takes on things!! We never stop learning ;)
 
I had a Clyde fit as anything ridden everyday clipped all year round fully. Why people over think I don't know. If its uncomfortable help the horse by clipping. As for clipping rates you will probably be clipping every 8 to 10 weeks so you might as well buy your own. Much cheaper than getting someone to do it for you.
 
unicornystar said:
Hi All

I can confirm the following:-

He doesnt have a thick coat particularly, just a kind of big guy....but not overweight just solid!
He doesnt have cushings
He has pure table salt at feed time as the other black salt we were told to use STANK when mixed with anything wet!!
I've had clippers for years but a few years back decided I would rather pay someone else to get the lines right and be hairy for the night!!! I hate clipping with a passion lol, despite loving it in my teenage years!!
The temperature at night and mornings is the problem, as I dont want to leave a soaking wet horse in a rug standing in or turning out! It's baking during the day then dips back down to freezing.
I think I am going to clip.....he was sweating buckets before this warm week of weather appeared!!

Thank you for all your suggestions and input, food for thought and always good to have different takes on things!! We never stop learning ;)
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If his coat is not thick, then why can't he just dry off naturally?
 
and yes £70 with legs.,.....think I may shop around!!!

The horse in question has had many many work ups over the last few years for totally different issue, and I am 99.9% confident there is no other issue going on......he works hard and is enthusiastic, I think if this horse was ill in ANY way he definately would NOT oblige!!!
 
Moomin1 said:
If his coat is not thick, then why can't he just dry off naturally?
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Seriously? This poor chap would be itching like mad within hours bless him, sweaty salty crispy hair....maybe he's uber sensitive but I am not a person who leaves a horse in a that state until the next day when they are dry, I also think he would get sore in areas such as his back and girth area without being washed off, I do actually leave some of the other areas as it means washing ALL of him otherwise.

Maybe that's just me but it's a lot of sweat just to leave on and expect a horse to be ridden and exercised daily in that state, not beneficial for anyone I wouldn't of thought.

He came with a myriad of rugs of varying weights so I guess at least with a clip, continual changing weather, he will get full use of them! Although it has been nice letting him out naked all this week :)
 
Well if he is sweating to that extent after such short and light exercise, then I would suggest there is something amiss somewhere. My mare is a sweaty type mare, but I have never known any horse to be completely covered in dripping sweat all over their body after twenty minutes of hacking.

Just a thought but if that was my horse I would be ringing the vet for a chat.
 
umm where does it say short exercise in the above posts?

he is ridden reasonable hard daily (bar 1 day) and competes, hacks, schools.......and where did I say twenty minutes "of hacking", I actually said 20 minutes INTO a hack, when things get lively, he BEGINS to sweat, I wouldnt compete a horse that hacks for 20 minutes here and there.

Sorry if you misunderstood...defo minimum of hour or two hacks ;) at the very least. Walking, trotting, cantering, usually the odd jump, gallops can occur too on occasion...

He doesnt need a vet, I can assure you.
 
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unicornystar said:
umm where does it say short exercise in the above posts?

he is ridden reasonable hard daily (bar 1 day) and competes, hacks, schools.......and where did I say twenty minutes "of hacking", I actually said 20 minutes INTO a hack, when things get lively, he BEGINS to sweat, I wouldnt compete a horse that hacks for 20 minutes here and there.

Sorry if you misunderstood...defo minimum of hour or two hacks ;) at the very least. Walking, trotting, cantering, usually the odd jump, gallops can occur too on occasion...

He doesnt need a vet, I can assure you.
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Fair enough. If his coat is not thick, and he is sweating more excessively than most other horses, I would still suggest he is either doing far too much exercise wise, or there is something not right somewhere.

Like I say, clipping is fine if that's what you feel is right. But personally I tend to just spend more time making sure my mare is washed down properly, fly rugged and doesn't end up with a salty crusty coat that you describe the following day. Suppose it depends how much time you have after you have ridden though.
 
The rate horses sweat at does vary a lot .
Some horses do sweat much much more than others .
And it's governed by more than fitness and temperature some as just better sweaters than others .
I have one who hardly sweats at all ( and because of this he's kept clipped to try to help him cool .)
He had partial Anhidrosis and only sweats sluggishly when adrenaline is injected under his skin.
If you are working horses hard it makes sense to reduce their heat stress as much as possible .
 
Sorry, I've not read any replies but If he needs clipping I'd clip him and just put a sheet on during the day to keep the flies and sun off his back (or rain as it will probably be) and where are you for clipping to be £70!!!!! I paid for a trace clip in the very expensive south east from a very busy and well recommended clipping service for £15 - the full clip done for another livery was £30. £70 is WAY too much!
 
I have clipped my buckskin mare in the summer before, she was so much more comfortable. My ISH is suffering in the heat, but he is coloured and has large patches of white skin so i'm too worried he will burn. £70 is far too much! I had a full clip done for £40 once.
 
Ive clipped mine through summer, usually before a big show when it might be hot or before going abroad- they're native ponies working hard. We also clipped our cob through the summer as he was hot without and was easy to carry on from doing his feathers! He was a big old guy and didn't have the best wind so anything to keep him comfy working was a good thing.
Certainly sounds too expensive though- £40 for a full clip inc legs even on a big horse is standard round here.
 
I clip mine all year round as last year he was sweating just standing in a field. He has a normal summer coat but he is a cob and does struggle in the heat, now since clipping all year round he is much happier. I pay £40 for a full clip (legs and half head left on) and then £25 for a re-clip in Surrey.
 
vikkiandmonica said:
I don't think many horses at Badminton are actually clipped, or at least I worked for an event rider who took one to Badminton who didn't clip any of her event horses during summer.
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I think most are, although of course there will be exception. We clipped them after the dressage and before the x-country at 3 day events. This was a long time ago - people seem more inclined to keep them clipped out all the time nowadays. The rider I worked for liked the coats on (so super shiny and smart) for the dressage, but we took everything off straight away afterwards.
 
I would clip. I don't like to wash off every day as it gets the oils out of their coats.

Clipping is more time consuming in terms of then having to manage rugs, but if I have a horse in daily work who sweats a lot I'd rather clip then rug as appropriate.

I do my own clipping, but we have the Horsey Hairdresser to hand and I think she charges £40-ish for a full clip (and she's very good :)).
 
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