To clip or not to clip feathers?!

[SuperCoblet]

The vets coming out Monday morning to sedate the wild one to clip, and since he's malted his summer coat his feathers have gone all weird and horrible. They have a stripe of black grease all the way around and then the tips are yellow, no matter how much we scrub them nothings happening. Also he has scabbs at the top of his lower leg, they don't make him itchy but he won't let us near him to do anything to them. It just makes sence to get it all off while he's sedated anyway.
So here it is, do we or don't we? Will they grow back normal as were certainly not paying to sedate him everytime they grow back!
Were not hogging his beautiful mane so will it look weird with a nice long mane and no feathers?

 

[You Wont Forget Me]

I would take them off will make it a lot easier come winter time

 

[Black_Horse_White]

My cob had a very long mane and I clipped off his feathers because of a big problem with mites. It didn't suit him at all. I couldn't wait for them to grow back.

 

[SuperCoblet]

It will be much easier in the winter! Will they grow back normal?

 

[Black_Horse_White]

Mine are growing back fine, he just still has all the grease behind his knees, it's such a pain. He had scabs too caused by mites, since he had the injection he doesn't have them anymore.

 

[SuperCoblet]

Hmm we've tried the injection and it seems to work but not for very long

 

[Black_Horse_White]

Vet told me to have it done every 3 months to stop them returning. I really don't know why they keep coming back. One of the downsides of hairy horses 

 

[Pearlsasinger]

Leave the feather on, that's how he's meant to be! The hair will protect him from the wet and mud.
For the mites, try Cooper's Fly Repellent Plus, much cheaper than frequent vet visits and just as effective IME.

 

[Cinnamontoast]

I'm having exactly the same dilemma!

When I took off the feather, he was much more comfortable and the constant mud fever/itching pretty much went. however, I'm growing out his mane with the idea of traditional/gypsy cob showing next year. Dunno

My lad's feather grew back tons better when I took them all off. He now has proper to the floor thick feather. I might scissor them down then see how he looks. No showing over winter so it won't matter if we look weird going out.

 

[SuperCoblet]

Thanks cinnamontoast, hi feathers have gone all thin and manky -.- they look horrible so we were hoping they would grow back thicker (and cleaner!) so we could show next year with decent feathers! I think they've been getting a bit itchy so they're starting to come out...

 

[Cinnamontoast]

Is he rubbing on anything when he's tied up somewhere or in the field?

My boy had a rubbish thin mane: I've hogged him three times and it's growing back better and the feathers I took off have come back much thicker.