To Clip or not to Clip

[2 ponies 2 dogs]

New Forest pony has started to moult quite quickly but is sporting a November trace clip so is looking a bit half and half. He is getting very warm when in work which is at least 5/6 days a week. He is going out to clinics etc so working quite hard. My thoughts are to get him clipped all over with just a saddle patch left to make him more comfortable but many people are saying that it is to late to clip and will ruin his coat. He is always very shiny and looks amazing but as we don't show I think his welfare is more important. Does anyone else clip late on and what do your horses and ponies look like in early summer?

 

[Snow Falcon]

I reclipped my son's foresters with a coarse set of blades (4.5mm) a couple of weeks ago. Much better for it. Clip for comfort.

 

[awelshandawarmblood]

I fully clipped out my section D the other day as he gets hot and takes months to moult!

 

[Connemara24]

I fully clipped mine around 3 weeks ago, also fully clipped him in may/June last year and he was fine,coat a bit patchy at first ?. His late field mate who I fully clipped around may/june last year aswell was absolutely fine his coat looked better than ever. Both flea bitten grey one alot more than the other.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I've clipped this late and the summer coat came through fine.

 

[Widgeon]

Ugh, this time of year is a pain, I'd clip. Mine is the same - November clip with long hairs sort of growing out of it, sweaty armpits, and the unclipped blanket bit moulting like a shag pile rug. I don't have my own clippers (or the necessary skill) so due to a combination of picking up covid and having no money to pay someone else (I filled the car up this week ), he's going to be sporting this look for a while. If I could clip it all off I would. So long as you don't shave him summer coat should come through consistently.

 

[Pippity]

I managed to wait until May one year, and she still had her winter coat, so now I clip it all off in March. I usually end up having to clip her head, too. Summer coat has always come through fine.

 

[SibeliusMB]

I really wish people would stop with the "ruin the summer coat" nonsense. Go ahead and clip out! I did a full clip on my boy just last week. He also takes months to shed and we're both happier to have the spring clip done. I usually do it late March/early April back home in the States and it's never affected the summer coat. People clip year round with no issues.

Now if you were showing and needed a certain coat coverage, I could see needing to clip by a certain date based on your first show. But there's really no other reason not to clip whenever the horse needs it.

 

[MagicMelon]

Id just clip, ultimately its about keeping the horse comfy. I used to hunter clip my Welsh D all year round as he was always too hot.

 

[MyBoyChe]

Ive got the vet booked for next week to sedate my exmoor so that I can clip him, he looks awful, is patchy and motheaten whilst his coat changes and hes too hot. I did the same last year and he instantly looked and felt better. The Sec b has a belly clip, is moulting like mad but I will clip in April if I need to as he has cushings and can hold onto it a bit too long. Definitely clip for comfort in my book

 

[Merrymoles]

My loan horse's clip has grown out and her mane is now a four inch long mohican so I am planning to clip the minute I can get her clean enough. We did two minutes of canter in the school last night and she was sweaty so I think she'll be more comfortable.

 

[donkeyindisguise]

I think I'm going to clip my youngster tonight/over the weekend. I was going to hold out as I'd left it quite late and was hoping to have her nakey and out asap but it's been so mild today and looks to stay that way, she get's grumpy if she's too hot being ridden so off the floof comes!

 

[Melody Grey]

Definitely do whatever suits you and don’t worry about the summer coat. Do worry about the potential for sunburn though if that’s applicable?

OH’s cob is currently sporting an Irish clip complete with long cat hairs, feathery legs and square patches clipped out from KS steroid injections/ nerve blocking.....it’s quite a patchwork! Tempted to clip everything off, but he’s piebald and his skin is very pink underneath!

 

[2 ponies 2 dogs]

Definitely do whatever suits you and don’t worry about the summer coat. Do worry about the potential for sunburn though if that’s applicable?

OH’s cob is currently sporting an Irish clip complete with long cat hairs, feathery legs and square patches clipped out from KS steroid injections/ nerve blocking.....it’s quite a patchwork! Tempted to clip everything off, but he’s piebald and his skin is very pink underneath!

He is a bay so hopefully he will not get to sun burnt, as it is he comes in during the summer as he has to be off grass for most of the day.

 

[Petmurf]

Mine currently has an Irish clip but we’ve just got back from a long hack and he’s dripping and it’s only March so I’m going to clip this week

 

[Ali27]

Mine was clipped in December and not grown through yet but has horrible cat’s hairs in places ? I can’t clip her again as I like her to be rugless as soon as possible! She is in 100g at night as so cold but no rug in day as warm. Will try and tidy her up in next few days and clip feathers and try and get rid of cat’s hairs?