To hog / clip / rug or not to hog / clip / rug, that is the question!

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ILikeThemHairy

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Just in case I haven't mentioned it (!!) my new horsey arrives on Sunday. He is a little hairy thing as you can see, and im looking to ride him at least 4 times a week. He is quite a 'sweaty' boy anyway, but at 15 years young has never been clipped. Should I clip him? He will be in from about 6pm until 8am everyday.

Also, his mane is half short, half long and very frizzy - I dont think its ever even been pulled properly. I've had suggestions of hogging it as it will grow back a bit sleeker, any views?

And finally, if clipped he will need a rug... Would a m/w suffice all winter? I have m/w turnout and stable rugs. If hogged will he need one with a neck?

This clipping and hogging lark is all new to me... Oh and at worst I would be thinking of a low trace clip :)

Thank you!!
 
Forgot the pic!!

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If he was mine I would take everything off - legs, mane, the lot. I would bang his tail and pull it too.

ETA - he's very handsome!
 
Our boy is very similar to yours and has recently been hogged & he looks fab :)
A couple of days after took him to a show & everone said he looked stunning - we just make sure he's always wearing a neck strap when ridden - go for it xx
 
I think I would clip all bar his mane and give it a proper pull - hogging it will make it grow back very thick and upwards.

If you're going to clip him out fully he will need a heavy weight rug with neck.
 
Last edited:
Forgot about this ---
As Charem said
If you're going to clip him out fully he will need a heavy weight rug with neck.
They are only out during the day - but our hogged native boy - has an extra fleece on on a night whilst the tb just has a thick mw on :D
 
Aww everybody says to hog him... I dont really like the look of a hogged mane mind you... And all post-hogging ive seen just never want to lie flat. Can they go nice after that? x
 
depends what you want to do with him...if u plan to ride 4 x a week i would clip all, not mane though, and lightweight rug him to keep him dry for riding.

i took my boy to an adult gymkhana this weekend and everyone bar none commented on his amazing mane and tail (not as good as they used to be as i rugged too much i think and i wont put a neck rug on him again) and i will never hog him although it does increase workload

mine was clipped a chaser 5 weeks ago and its grown back, i like him hairy he is cute but i want to light rug him so i can ride him whatever the weather so saturday he is being clipped all over for the first time ever and he hates clippers

hope that helped...
 
He is soooo lovely.

Personally I'd clip. You're going to have the choice of two schools to use in the evenings, and plenty of hacking to do at the weekend. Ask Pip at the yard if she will do a nice trace clip for your (or if she knows someone who will).

Don't be too quick to hog. See how he gets on with being clipped, and if he's ok, then look to buy some clippers to hog him with (as it will need doing regularly).
 
Clip eveything off or even a blanket clip for over the winter to keep his back warm :) leave his mane and pull and thin it out as i cant stand hogged manes that are growing back in there so thick and wild lol. i would say a heavy weight with neck for more bad weather in the winter but for now he should be ok with medium weight. if he was fat i would say light weight to shivver some weight of but he looks in ok shape lol
 
Thank you all for your comments!

I am a bit suprised about most saying I will need a h/w... He lives out all winter without a rug, so do you think he will need a h/w one if he just has a low trace? Im worried that will be a bit too warm for him!

I am so dangerously excited now... Just 5 more sleeps... And I will be posting some pictures as I get him all nice and clean!! May even show a work-in-progress, ha! xxx
 
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