To Clip or Not To Clip that is the Question!

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NIKKI1974

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Please advise! I have a shetland which is going to its first show in four weeks time! Despite having been rugged over the winter his coat still looks a little rough. I have been advised to clip him out now to get a better coat but im worried that if i do so he will look stupid by the time the show comes and i wont be able to take him! Do i clip him and hope for the best or should i leave well alone and hope the judge doesnt pull him up for still looking a little wooly?????? Any advice would be great as i have never had a horse that has needed to be clipped so its all new to me! Thanks
 
I'm pretty sure that they are supposed to be shown in their natural state, unless clipped out to be ridden. I stand to be corrected, but personally I wouldn't clip just for a show anyway.
 
Is he moulting? We have a pony who has a beautiful summer coat at the front but is hanging onto his blanket clip behind - we are warm bathing him lots which seems to be doing the trick.
 
I thought they were meant to be shown in their natural state too but this has come from someone who breeds them some im a little confused. He isnt shaggy as in his real winter coat but his coat is no where near as nice as it was this time last year??!!
 
If you are showing in a Shetland breed class, don't clip!!, they are supposed to be shown in their natural state, it's frowned upon to clip Shetlands (when showing) unless they are worked under saddle or harness, certainly don't do it you are showing under the SSBS breed classes. Yes people do cheat a bit and clip them over winter but they make sure they have their normal coat back before the show season.
 
You shouldn't show an M&M with a clipped coat or a pulled mane - but there are tricks to complementing the "natural" state, e.g. thinning manes from the roots and evening up the length, using rugs to keep coats close and / or clipping in plenty of time for regrowth. Natural yes, untouched no.
 
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