To clip now or to wait till it's cold?

[PooJay]

Hullo....

My great big fur coated beastie has been out of work for a short while (due to a fall) and has grown some serious winter fuzz.....I've been given the go ahead to start riding for short periods which won't make her sweat at all.

However, after this short period of not so hard work (6 weeks) I'm hoping with everything in my heart that it will be all systems go and we can get back to normal.

Now, clipping wise - she won't need it for the next 6 weeks but obviously with this horrible Winter we keep hearing about, would it be kinder to clip her now to get her used to having no fur in the warmish weather or wait till we have potential sub zero temperatures?

Obviously i have plenty of rugs for her to snuggle down in when i do clip but it's never the same as your own personal fur coat.

What do you think?

Thanks

 

[Ali27]

I would probably do a chaser or blanket clip now just to make sure she doesn't get sweaty and then full clip later on in the winter when she is back in full work!

 

[PooJay]

I would probably do a chaser or blanket clip now just to make sure she doesn't get sweaty and then full clip later on in the winter when she is back in full work!

Good idea - i just don't want her in shock if we hit -15 again this winter. That would be just mean.

 

[Ali27]

It will then be easy to do full clip as only part will be hairy! You might even get away with chaser/ blanket for whole winter. I did a chaser for both of mine at the end of Sept but took off whole neck. I have just given my daughter's mare a full clip and it was so much easier only having back and rump with lots of fluff! If ours weren't out doing PC, competing and being ridden 5 times a week then I would have done same clip again!

 

[ISHmad]

I'd leave her be for now if you are confident she won't be sweating for the first few weeks. Depending on how severe the weather becomes you may not be able to ride her for a while in which case she'd be better off with her own coat.