What age woulg you start clipping??

My four year old will have a narrow bib this winter, probably extend it through his front legs back beyond where the girth sits as he's getting very sweaty behind his elbows. I ran the clippers up his neck before he was backed because he'd stood in happily watching another being clipped and it was an easy introduction for him, just took a strip off under his neck - he was unfazed.
 
I have been trimming my youngsters muzzle and face since I got her (3yrs).
She won't be in any sort of work until next year so I assume I will be clipping her next winter, if she needs it.
Can't see why a youngster would need clipping unless they were in hard work, which IMO shouldn't be until the winter of their 4yr old year earliest?
 
I've had to clip a 2 year old before. However, that was because he got a horrible dermatitis that ended in him having to be completely clipped and kept out of direct sunlight for months, and actually affected his skin so badly that we had to keep him damp through all of the nice summer weather as he couldn't regulate his body temperature and kept getting hyperthermia. So not exactly normal.

However using trimmer etc is a good way to introduce young horses to clipper before they are necessary, just make sure you don't compromise the winter coat too much if living out.
 
useful to get them used to the noise of clippers as a youngster so it isn't so scary when they need to be clipped. but agree there is no point unless they are in work, and even then by friends 4 year old is only doing gentle hacking out this winter so probably wont get clipped.
 
My four year old will have a narrow bib this winter, probably extend it through his front legs back beyond where the girth sits as he's getting very sweaty behind his elbows.
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My 4yr old will probably get the same at some point as he's also getting quite sweaty. I'm waiting to see if it turns cold first as he's not rugged yet and I'd prefer to put it off for as long as possible, he's quite a hot horse generally.

I've been using a quiet trimmer to get him used to the feel of the vibration against his skin and the noise of it, so that when I do need to clip it'll not be completely new to him. If I can time it so that I'm at the yard at the same time as someone else who's clipping I'll let him stand close by so he can observe.
 
ha ha, whizzed off the neck of my 2 year old the other day coz she wouldn't go away whilst I was clipping my older horse, she stood there without a headcollar and wrinkled her lip up enjoying it
 
mjcssjw2 said:
ha ha, whizzed off the neck of my 2 year old the other day coz she wouldn't go away whilst I was clipping my older horse, she stood there without a headcollar and wrinkled her lip up enjoying it
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Did you not think of tying her up out of the way :confused3:

Megibo said:
our 18 month old is clipped each winter for medical reasons..may even have to clip through summer now too! She has it all off bar face and legs and LOVES being clipped!
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Aw, poor lamb. What's wrong with her?
 
no, if she wants to be a nuisance she can!! but she may get her neck clipped lol.
Actually now I think about it, I did put her on the other yard, but she made such a monumental fuss and threatened to jump into the yard I was in so I let her through! ha ha this isn't sounding good is it.
Anyway the clippers didn't deter her shinanigans at all!
 
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This weekend i did a full clip on my 3yr old bar his legs and did half face, as he is getting so hot just walking up the road, although he is doing a good half hour schooling session twice a week with a hack out at weekends.

But he was fab stood still and was not bothered at all. Although he is not bothered by much
 
I took a wee half an inch of my 18 month fillys shoulder as she was standing watching whilst I clipped my older horse (who needs clipped because she sweats in any amount of work).

I only ask this as I have heard lots of different answers but this clears it all up. I will probably keep doing what I did this years (whilst my mare is getting clipped, take Breagha in to watch and run the clippers over her).
 
About a day old.

I purposely clip a bit of head, ears, neck, heels and belly with small cordless trimmers. A horse that can't be clipped is a royal pita, I do appreciate that not everyone gets to start with a blank page though.

The younger the better, same as with everything (within reason) that they might face in later life in my book.
 
Enfys said:
About a day old.

I purposely clip a bit of head, ears, neck, heels and belly with small cordless trimmers. A horse that can't be clipped is a royal pita, I do appreciate that not everyone gets to start with a blank page though.

The younger the better, same as with everything (within reason) that they might face in later life in my book.
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My older mare cant be clipped without been heavily sedated and she was heavily sedated when Breagha was watching.

Thanks for that comment, dont feel so bad I took a wee bit off her the other day.
 
Planning to do my 4 year old for the first time tomorrow. But she's had the older girls tied up outside her box while they're clipped ever since I got her as a 2 year old - I like to get them used to the noise and at least see it being done as early as possible! Both the older ones are saints, so hopefully she'll follow suit.
 
My 4 year old got a low trace as the was getting a bit sweaty. My 3 year old (unbacked) had a big patch on his belly done at the same time - purely to see how he reacted. He has been trimmed regularly so wasn't expecting any reaction and I was right. I'm all for desensitisation. Not enough taken off to make him cold though - less than a square ft! Looks silly, but doesn't matter
 
Oh wow, poor thing! I know quite a few people who clip year round anyway (endurance) and it's better off than on sometimes. Thankful I don't have to, as I find clipping a bit of a chore.
 
I am thinking on clipping my 2 year old as for the second year running as soon as his winter coat has come in he had broken out in lumps all over his back and rear end. Last year we never got to the bottom of it then suddenly when his summer coat came in it disappeared. Had vet out again yesterday and they think its a sweat rash even tho he has never been sweaty as such. They have taken scrapings to send off for testing to check for infection of anything but if it is sweat related I think clipping may be the way to go.
 
I "introduced" the clippers to my two and half year old last weekend after clipping my older boy. She watched the whole thing from her stable and when i had finished showed her the clippers and put the machine on her (not turned on). Just so she could see that it was nothing to be afraid of. Next time I clip will turn them on and let her feel the vibrations. Theory being when I want to clip her it won't be scary, let you know in year or two if this has worked!!
 
My mini was clipped fully at 9 months old, as before I bought him he'd been kept in a barn with no bedding down, his coat had matted completely and found staples(!!!) in the mats that came off him. He's been clipped every year since as his summer coat is very thick and he sweats just standing in his stable.
 
It is a good idea to just give them a little clip the first time. My lady clipper says that a young horse is often frightened by the sight of their coat falling off, they think they are falling to pieces. Also, she says that some horses get put off clipping because the clippers get hot and burn them. Should be a short happy experience the first time.
 
I brought my 3yr old in to watch me clip my mare on Saturday and he wasn't bothered by the clippers at all! was more p*s*ed off that he had to stand in the stable for an hour!! I put the clippers near his nose as he was stretching to see them and he didn't bat an eyelid, so next this weekend im going to run them over him to get him used to it! my mares super easy to clip, so would like another easy one if possible!
 
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