To clip or not to clip?

[Boodle]

I'm having a bit of a debate with myself.
I was going to get my 16yr old welshy x, Boo clipped last year, a week before i'd managed to get someone to come clip her she went seriously lame and ended up being on 6 months worth of box rest, so obviously clipping was pointless.

She has arthritis of the hocks and so what we do is limited but farrier and vet have promised me that the work I do with her is fine. She is not allowed to go any faster than walk on remotely hard ground as it could stir up all the problems we had last year.

To the point... I would love to do some dressage with her, as i've never done dressage before, but I'm not sure;
a) the implications of her arthritis (ie i know i dont want to be doing tight circles etc)
b) If i could get transport to ever get out and do anything

But, taking into consideration all this, and given that we intend to do lots of fittening work over the coming months, do you think it's worth clipping her? If so, what kind of clip? Baring in mind she lives out 24/7.

That did not make any sense I know. Sorry. All ill and stuffy!

Kirsty

 

[sallypops]

personally i prefer not to clip if they are staying out with or without rugs, just a personal preference. up to u tho

 

[Nari]

See how she goes. If she's getting hot & sweaty all the time she'll be better off clipped, if she isn't then I wouldn't bother.

As to what clip, I'd start by taking off the bare minimum, ie a bib clip. If that isn't enough then take a little bit more but remember that if you take off more than a throat & belly she'll need rugging & maybe bringing in if the weather is very bad.

 

[Moggy in Manolos]

i would see how she gets and would hold off clipping until then