That annual question - do I clip my pony's legs or not?

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dalidaydream

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Every year I ask myself the same question and every year up to now I've chickened out and resorted to tidying the hairy beast's legs with comb and scissors. This never really looks very tidy though and I just wonder would I be better just getting the clippers out and going for it?
 
I cheat as while I like the look of clipped legs, it takes me nearly as long to clip the legs as it does the rest of my horse! I leave on legs for the mud and snow and then take everything off for the last clip end of January. That way I have no lines when the coat comes through, I have had the extra protection through the winter but I DO clip the small amount of feather off to trim the leg up. Use scissors on my old mare though as can't clip her unless sedated.
 
i take my boys off, seems easier than you think really. My boys legs look like tree trunks as the hair is about an inch thick lol..... Easier to spot mud fever, dry off, keep clean and I just bandage them on a night or use stable wraps...
horsey looks much much more handsome naked!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
My boy was clipped when I got him at start of this year - he had the feathers clipped off but leg hair left on if that makes sense? Sounds wierd but I really liked the look of it and thinking of doing that when he is clipped next week. Bingo - a compromise for the undecided :D
 
Unless your horse is a vanner or traditional cob - take the hair off!!! Not only will he look tidier but you can keep an eye more easily for mudfever etc and he will be much easier to keep clean!! Providing that he is appropriately rugged then he will be fine!
 
Thanks all. I haven't managed to find a suitable photo yet, let alone worked out how to post it. I think I'm just going to go ahead and take it all off this time and see how we go.
 
Well I clipped the boy yesterday - legs and all. He looks so much better for it and I was surprised at how little time it actually took to do his legs, I think it takes longer mucking about with comb and scissors.

Thanks for all the replies.
 
Silly question, but if you clip the legs that doesn't mean you have to have a hogged mane, does it?

I think cobby pony looks much better with no long feather clogging up with mud, but I like his mane.
 
MagicMelon said:
Personally, Ive never seen the point in clipping legs! The point of clipping is because of sweating - not seen many horses sweat through their legs before... lol!
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I know, good point. My boy has really hairy legs though that get really wet, muddy etc. He also suffers from mud fever if I don't keep a grip on it so have to trim feathers any way. I just thought it would be easier to just take the lot off now.
 
I wouldn't, as the poster above said re the point being to reduce sweating.

If your horse lives in during the winter then I would see no harm in it, but if it has turnout then I would leave the legs on. Wether you leave legs on or not - if you wet/wash/rub dry legs over zealously through the winter then you have a high chance of mud fever. Mine grows a cracking pair of leg warmers (!) and I just brush off the dried mud in the morning if she needs to be tidy. If she doesn't need to be tidy then I just let her get on with it! No point taking off mud from the field to only put it back on again when on a hack!
 
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