To clip or not to clip????

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GingerTrotter

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I have a trotter which surprisingly enough grows a very thick coat on his legs, neck and face (rest is under a rug so doesnt grow as much)
I ride him over the winter, mostly the weekend or the odd indoor training clinic on an evening.
I've never clipped him in the past but he does get sweaty all over when doing the indoor jumping clinics - i would usually put a cooler rug on as he is travelling home in the trailer then brush him and rug him up again once home.
I know most people do clip but he struggles to keep condition on over the winter and i worry clipping him might leave him cold despite the rugs.

Does anyone have the same problem - should I clip him or is my strategy ok??
 
Providing he is rugged well according to the type of clip (you’d need to choose one that is best suited to his work load) and providing you keep an eye on his diet he shouldn’t really loose condition just because he’s clipped, if he sweats up a lot due to his coat and the work he’s doing then it can be a lot easier for you and more comfortable for your horse to be clipped as they are less likely to catch a chill or suffer from blocked sweat pores.
 
I have a trotter crossbred, if he sweats he can be very itchy, [though less so this year now he is on a barefoot diet], but I usually have to clip his face and generally start early on with smallest clip I can get away with, so first is a face and bib in October, then if he is still sweating, I can do a bit more, clipping under the jaw, but leaving face if weather is bad.
I also clip up inside hind legs [hocks upwards], and also down inside front legs, to ensure elbow area is easy to clean, all in all, his weather exposed areas are still protected.
I also use an anti - itch wash to sponge off his head, girth and between the hind legs, his mane and tail [ultra thick] are left natural, so he has full weather protection as nature intended.
http://www.horsehealth.co.uk/leg-care/leg-body-washes/anti-itch-soothing-shampoo
It won't do much harm if he is washed off with warm water in winter provided he is scraped off, towel rubbed and walked in a fleece for ten mins before boxing.
 
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Actually he's more likely to loose condition not clipped. With the type of rugs on the market there is absolutely no reason for him to be cold.

Why not start with just a low trace clip and see how you get on???
 
Thanks!
Nearly clipped him last year but chickened out. I've never clipped before and he is a nervous sort so dont want to start and then cant finish because he worried about the the clippers.

A trace clip sounds like a good idea though.
 
Clip him.
If he is getting too hot he is more likely to loose condition that way. Plus you can rug him up.
Also there is no need to shave the lot off, its amazing what a little neck and belly clip can do for a sweaty horse!
 
I would just do a bib clip, I did it on a mare I was riding in the winter but she was out most of the time, its not the most attractive but it helps, I just clipped off half the face although you can just start at the throat, then just do a line about 3 inches from the neck line and clip finishes at the back of the front legs, so the whole front end is clipped.
 
i would clip him but only a bib clip or very low chaser to start and see how he goes. I would say you will need a neck rug though as from sounds of it he doesnt wear one normally. Aslong as you give him a warm enough rug he should keep condition well just ensure plenty of fibre. keep an eye on him to begin with to ensure he is a good temperature he may need an extra layer to trap extra heat if you end up taking more off.
 
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