To clip or not to clip..

[Gf5871]

It’s been done to death I know & im sorry!
But this weather is just unreal! My 3y/o cob has got a pretty hefty coat coming through but he’s damp all the time! Even out grazing in the field he’s clammy so I’m thinking I might just clip a bib off? Or would that make me a mad woman? He’s unrugged and I’d like to keep it that way but he doesn’t look very comfortable

 

[Hugo-Boy]

I've had the same problem with my boy, he's 9 though. I didn't want to clip him as he's living out 24/7 but he's been sweating a lot after being worked so I gave in and gave him a blanket clip.
He's still very sweaty after work so I'm currently debating with myself if I should fully clip him - which would mean having to rug him up all the time :|

Can you do a longer clip, i.e. not cut them too short?

 

[Antw23uk]

Give him bib clip he'll be happier and more than fine

 

[Sprout]

I would clip - have had to do my retired pony with Cushings just to keep him comfortable.

 

[Gf5871]

Best Buy myself some clippers then thank you xx

 

[SEL]

Mine has just had her first ever bib clip (she usually breaks herself around this time of year and goes off work).

She's a lot happier being ridden and a lot less sweaty.

If it wasn't for the fact that she started to get a bit tetchy with the clippers I'd have had some off her tummy as well - but we called it a day & finished on a good note (& a carrot)

 

[Gloi]

I wouldn't bother if he's out and not being ridden. The warm weather won't last much longer.

 

[Annagain]

I'd give him a bib - apart from anything it's good education for him.

 

[Laika]

I'm guessing due to the age, he's probably not in work yet and I would imagine the weather will start getting colder soon, so if you're going to clip, just keep that in mind

I'm only getting my mammoth clipped because he's in regular work and is getting sweaty haha! Booked him in with somebody else though as my attempt at clipping would be dreadful.

 

[MrsNorris]

I wouldn't bother if he's out and not being ridden. The warm weather won't last much longer.

This, I wouldn’t bother clipping an unridden one unless there was a medical reason. But if you do decide to and you’ve only got the 1, I’d pay someone else to clip, decent clippers are so expensive these days, plus blades, sharpening, servicing etc and it’s a really horrid job to boot, I hate clipping mine, he’s hogged and clipped out most of the year and even though I’ve got clippers, I sometimes get someone else to do the first full clip as it’s so messy and itchy and just horrid!

 

[horsemadelsie]

This, I wouldn’t bother clipping an unridden one unless there was a medical reason. But if you do decide to and you’ve only got the 1, I’d pay someone else to clip, decent clippers are so expensive these days, plus blades, sharpening, servicing etc and it’s a really horrid job to boot, I hate clipping mine, he’s hogged and clipped out most of the year and even though I’ve got clippers, I sometimes get someone else to do the first full clip as it’s so messy and itchy and just horrid!

I would normally agree with this, however after finding my shetland scabby and miserable from being sweaty for weeks last year (only noticed when I gave in and fully clipped him, due to thickness of the hair) I am trying not to clip him and rug him this year, but I have taken a small strip off the front of his neck. Enough to stop most of the sweating, but not so much that he'll get cold when the temperature drops. Also managed to do it with just a pair of trimmers, not full clippers, so nice and easy.
Only you know your horse though, how hot/cold they are, and how thick a coat they are likely to grow, and whether or not they need to lose weight.
I figure if clipped now, they will have mostly grown it out again by the time it gets really cold, judging by how quickly my ridden horse grows his clip out every year!

 

[claret09]

if you think it will make him happier I would definitely clip.