To clip or not to clip

[DottlebangBandersnatch]

Can I ask what the specifications for clipping are and how much work a horse needs to be in to require it.

My 9yo cob mare is worked pretty heavily about 2/3 times a week. She always sweats and we're generally going pretty fast for long(ish I don't know what the standard is think 5/6 minutes canter tops) periods of time. She's never been clipped before because she has never been in this much work before but now I'm worrying about her catching a chill and not being able to dry off properly.
If I was going to do it I would go for a bib clip really just the least amount removed I can. She lives out 24/7 and has a very thick coat so is rarely rugged. If I was to do a bib clip would she have to be rugged? Is it necessary to clip at this stage?

She isn't the type to be bothered by things like clippers and I have some dog ones that I'm going to do her feathers with next weekend as they have become all scabby and gross so it wouldn't be an issue to just take a tiny bit off to make her more comfortable. Anyway sorry for the rant thank you for any feedback you may have xx

 

[splashgirl45]

in an ideal world she should be being worked more frequently, if you are only riding 2 to 3 times a week she is not fit and will sweat more than a fit horse. clipping is not the answer, either work her for 6 days a week to get her fitter or take her slower on the days you do ride, sorry but it sounds like you are doing too much fast work with her..

 

[milliepops]

I wouldn't hesitate to do a bib clip on anything in work tbh, if that will make her more comfortable on the days you can ride.

I wouldn't particularly rush to rug a horse with a bib clip either. it's a very minimal clip so I think you're 100% safe to whip a bit off without worrying about rugging. I gave one of my retirees (who live out unrugged) a bib towards the end of last winter because she was leaning over the fence and then climbing or jumping over it, removing a bit of hair meant she actually felt the electric properly!

 

[AmyMay]

I think you’re right to think about a bib clip (it certainly won’t do any harm. However I would rug even with a bib clip.

 

[Neddie123]

2/3 times per week is not enough for her to be fit, although you don't mention how long you are riding her for apart form the cantering. You can get a horse reasonably fit by doing a lot of fast trotting or hill work for example. Personally I think if you did clip you will then need to rug, which open up a whole can of worms in terms of buying rugs and then having to change rugs etc etc. Better to skip the fast work an keep hairy.

 

[DottlebangBandersnatch]

Thank you all for your replies!
She is not in more work because I'm at a stay away school and can only ride her Friday night and at the weekend. Most of our rides are about 2hrs long only hacking as we don't have an arena and we do a fair bit of trotting as well. It is also impossible to avoid hills here so she does get a lot of hill work in as well She loves her fast work and will do anything to run and run and run so I am hesitant to slow her down too much but we have been doing a fair bit more walking as well because of how dark it's getting. She is much much fitter than she ever was before (she could barely canter for more than a few hundred yards when I started and was very podgy) but she does still have some residual fat (sigh) which we will do our best to shift.

I will take your suggestions to some friends and see what they think because I really really do not want her to get a chill but I am also not one to faff about with tons of rugs either

 

[doodle]

I don’t think a bib clip does much to stop them sweating while in work. My go to clip is a chaser. A line from stifle, to girth, to shoulder, up neck to throat. You can make this line a bit higher or a bit lower to include most of the neck or less. However you would need to rug after this.

For example

 

[teddypops]

I don’t think a bib clip does much to stop them sweating while in work. My go to clip is a chaser. A line from stifle, to girth, to shoulder, up neck to throat. You can make this line a bit higher or a bit lower to include most of the neck or less. However you would need to rug after this.

For example

I agree with this.

 

[DottlebangBandersnatch]

I should also add that she is never tired or sore. If she was I would not have her at this level of exercise. She is quite happy to run around the countryside I think she'd quite like hunting given a chance. Most days her energy levels seem to be exactly the same as before the ride and she would gladly go for more rides afterwards. I was just wondering if she would be more comfortable with less hair and preventing getting chilled.

 

[Dave's Mam]

Dave is in very light work, but due to his THICK coat, I had this done today. He was sweating just standing.
It's enough off for him to be comfortable, but not so much that he will need a rug.

 

[DottlebangBandersnatch]

Dave is in very light work, but due to his THICK coat, I had this done today. He was sweating just standing.
It's enough off for him to be comfortable, but not so much that he will need a rug.

Ooh yes thank you. This looks like it could do the trick with some careful rug work as she isn't quite that hairy! He'll get hot in the sun too I imagine if he's that dark but she's mostly white so this isn't too and for her

 

[Surbie]

I'm about to bib clip my hairy cob - he is very fluffy. I wouldn't rug him unless it was going to rain for ages or get very cold. He is worked 6 days/week and sweats a lot otherwise at this time of year.

 

[ihatework]

Belly/chest/neck/chin will really help, and definitely no need to be rushing in with the rugs on a cob type

 

[MuddyMonster]

You're unlikely to need to rug for a bib type clip on most hardy horses unless the weather is very bad.

My native pony currently has an Irish clip. He has half a head and all of his neck off but then a similiar line to Kamikaze's. He's ridden 5-6 times a week and is living out, currently rugless but has plenty of natural shelter and happy as Larry!

He has a 0g rainsheet and a 50g lightweight turnout for when it colder and wetter but don't expect to need these until later on in the Autumn/Winter.

 

[Gloi]

I think you’re right to think about a bib clip (it certainly won’t do any harm. However I would rug even with a bib clip.

It's a hairy cob, they do fine unrugged even with a fair bit more than a bib clip off.

 

[Gloi]

Dave is in very light work, but due to his THICK coat, I had this done today. He was sweating just standing.
It's enough off for him to be comfortable, but not so much that he will need a rug.

I'm about to up the bib clip to one of these on my hairy. He got rather sweaty yesterday.

 

[popcorn1]

I wouldn't rug a native type with a bib clip.

 

[AmyMay]

It's a hairy cob, they do fine unrugged even with a fair bit more than a bib clip off.

I’m sure you’re right. However, I always think it’s a bit rotten to take the coat off (even a small amount), and not offer a little protection in return.

 

[JulesRules]

I have two horses that I clip, even though they are only in light work. They are both good doers with thick hairy coats and neither get much rugging - sometimes just a rainsheet when it tips down day after day, or to keep them clean and dry if we are doing something.
I tend to clip early whilst it's mild in the autumn and then it's grown back a little by the really cold weather. My Polish mare was given an Irish clip on Saturday as her coat is really thick already and not only is she sweating just standing around but she's a bit fat so the clip helps with that. She will then get a full clip in the spring as dealing with her shedding coat is a nightmare as she's so woolly.

My Highland hasn't been clipped yet as his coat isn't as thick as Smudge's, but he usually has a bib clip around now, and then leave him.

As well as considering the work your horse is in, consider their coat, condition (weight), and how much.of a good doer and how hardy they are.

This is Smudge after her clip.

 

[milliepops]

problem is, on a really hairy horse you would have to clip more off in order to rug, or they get too hot the underside of the neck really doesn't take too much of the weather IME,especially if there's a reasonably full mane.

 

[MissTyc]

Agree with the comments saying clip. On my yard almost all ponies have a bib clip once the weather turns as they just sweat too much to be easily dried/cooled after working. Mostly used for weekend hacking so they're never going to get fit, but they live out and are fat and happy. Some owners like to pop a little rug on and some stay naked all winter.

 

[Carrottom]

Bear in mind too that if you clip now it will most likely grow back before Christmas, so you will be able to decide whether to redo before the worst of winter.

 

[Gloi]

I’m sure you’re right. However, I always think it’s a bit rotten to take the coat off (even a small amount), and not offer a little protection in return.

The protection they are getting in not having to live on a mountain with no extra food more than makes up for a bit of hair off, so long as the still have a bit on their back and bum. ?

 

[Annagain]

I would go for a low trace or an irish clip and rug - just to keep her clean and dry so that you can ride when you want to - especially if time is an issue. My ridden one is in a lightweight rug now, not because he needs it particularly, but because I don't have time to get him in and dry / clean to ride. Keeping a rug on him means I can just give him a quick brush and tack up. I don't have a problem with clipping maybe a little bit more than necessary because it's convenient for you, provided you rug accordingly.