What are your feelings about whiskers?

CM - I don't know whether I should 'yay' or 'boo' at you...

Yaoo or Boay maybe?

You can share my black tack bell anyways (I still think that it looks smart). ;) :D
 
wiglet said:
I hang my head in shame :D
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At least you can see the error of your ways:D

Faracat said:
CM - I don't know whether I should 'yay' or 'boo' at you...

Yaoo or Boay maybe?

You can share my black tack bell anyways (I still think that it looks smart). ;) :D
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You probably received the bell because the ginger whiskers clashed with the black not because the coat clashed :eek::cool::p
 
I was going to try and redeem myself by saying that I don't ever, EVER cut off eye whiskers. That's just mean.

But then I remembered that I cut in bridle paths.


I'm off.
 
Auslander said:
Hardly think that shaving off whiskers is comparable to surgical removal of the major part of a tail!!
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What I'm saying is that it removal simply for looks in both cases and no practical purpose. But then look at the dog showing world in more detail and see the hideous things they have bred all in the name of looks (and money of course).

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
 
Faracat said:
So no-one's going to admit to shaving off eyelashes then?
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Without wanting to sound like i am winding people up, however brutal honesty is my downfall. I do admit to accidentally removing eyelashes with the trimmers whilst cutting said eye whiskers. Blooming thing should have been twitched to keep it still...


*runs off to hide in a corner, behind a large wall, in a bullet proof room, wearing my tin hat*
 
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The wife said:
Without wanting to sound like i am winding people up, however brutal honesty is my downfall. I do admit to accidentally removing eyelashes with the trimmers whilst cutting said eye whiskers. Blooming thing should have been twitched to keep it still...


*runs off to hide in a corner, behind a large wall, in a bullet proof corner, wearing my tin hat*
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I have also done that once!
 
In comparison...

This is a whiskery kiss from a clearly very happy pony:

IMG00886-20120520-1732.jpg


And here is a trimmed whisker kiss (although they had grown a little):

IMG00596-20110929-1607.jpg


I don't think that one looks better than the other (apart from the fact that she was trying to eat me in one of them!)

Each to their own i say :D
 
jools1234 said:
many vets are now starting to question the safety of fly masks as many horses/ponies are damaging their eyes on them when they rub, this is thought in part to be because they are in constant contact with the eye whiskers-i would rather leave a forelock


Unfortunately forelocks don't help with sweet itch. Never seen a horse damaged by a fly mask or heard any comments like that from vets, for that matter! In fact, the only time that I put a fly mask on, rather than a fly fringe, is when they are damaging the skin near their eyes either from rubbing or from the flies affecting them.. Interesting comment of yours though, and I take it onboard.

also as yourself and another poster have stated one more politely than the other:rolleyes: you clip so that when you ride your horse it does not get sweaty-if you did not ride you would not need to clip! that was my point you do it to enable you to enjoy your horse, i enjoy a non-whiskery horse so i trim whiskers (i dont like beards on men either:eek:) not that i like men much at all at the mo:eek:
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Now I've obviously upset you - didn't think my post was impolite, unless you happen to be offended because you can't clip lines or perhaps have a dislike of pink font, lol! It was meant to be tongue in cheek, but you seem to have missed it! Less of the eye rolling - its only a debate!

No, my point, and that of the other person who mentioned clipping being for welfare, was that clipping is something that is necessary for a sweaty ridden horse, whereas we can't see what the welfare issue is with removing whiskers - its just for rider vanity... Obviously a horse can't live a totally natural life and be ridden much, some things have to be changed for it to do much fast work etc. So its a bit of a strange comeback Imo...
 
Never take whiskers or long eye hairs off. Do trim jaw lines. Never take inside hair from ears. Think the ones I leave on are necessary for horse safety and protection. Dislike the look of stubbly chins as well.
 
Honey08 said:
Now I've obviously upset you - didn't think my post was impolite, unless you happen to be offended because you can't clip lines or perhaps have a dislike of pink font, lol! It was meant to be tongue in cheek, but you seem to have missed it! Less of the eye rolling - its only a debate!

No, my point, and that of the other person who mentioned clipping being for welfare, was that clipping is something that is necessary for a sweaty ridden horse, whereas we can't see what the welfare issue is with removing whiskers - its just for rider vanity... Obviously a horse can't live a totally natural life and be ridden much, some things have to be changed for it to do much fast work etc. So its a bit of a strange comeback Imo...
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i think we have crossed wires my tongue was firmly in my cheek when i wrote most of that i find the little animations funny (little things little minds and all that).

my friends pony lost an eye due to wearing a fly mask overnight and rubbing enough to cause ulceration of the eye that did not heal, i work at a vets and a yard and the vet was out last week and we had quite a chat about fly masks cos i know he does not use them. he said its cos he sees too much damage done by them, but often (not always) it is due to the horses damaging the eye by rubbing and lack of being checked and the fact people dont seem to realise you should remove the mask to check the eyes.
 
jools1234 said:
i think we have crossed wires my tongue was firmly in my cheek when i wrote most of that i find the little animations funny (little things little minds and all that).

my friends pony lost an eye due to wearing a fly mask overnight and rubbing enough to cause ulceration of the eye that did not heal, i work at a vets and a yard and the vet was out last week and we had quite a chat about fly masks cos i know he does not use them. he said its cos he sees too much damage done by them, but often (not always) it is due to the horses damaging the eye by rubbing and lack of being checked and the fact people dont seem to realise you should remove the mask to check the eyes.
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Gosh thats an awful story, poor pony. Interesting too. Fancy people not checking!

Sorry about all the crossed wires!xx I think the animations go right over my head - what does the green one mean?? Obviously I am too old!
 
Well I clip off muzzle whiskers, feathers, coronet bands, beards, bridle path and trim ears. NEVER eye whiskers or eyelashes.

It's a something that I have done for years, and can honestly say I have never had a horse react like it can't find its nose! Mine can still find the tiny bit of grain in my hand, find the hidden carrots in feed, know when to stop when in the stable, drink from the water trough etc. Never had a horse hit its head ever.

I think they differ to cats whiskers in the extent that the animal relies on them for. A cats are as wide as it's body, so it can feel if it will fit through a space. Horse aren't. Cats also use thiers for balance. Horses don't.

On another note, my fluffy white puppy has had its face trimmed, and its whiskers have been trimmed too, because its impossible to distinguish them from the fluff. She is yet to hit her head or run into something too.

It's personal choice, just like choosing to stable a horse full time, rugging, jumping, hacking on roads, single turnout, shoeing.... we all make choices that in some persons eyes are 'cruel' or 'wrong' because they have beliefs otherwise.

How many show horses do you see going around with big cuts and welts on their heads?
 
I would never remove whiskers, not even for showing - no red frilly is more important to me than my ponies comfort.

I trim ears, beards etc (but not right inside the ear - they need that hair) but the soft velvety muzzle gets left alone.

Judges are not supposed to mark you down. If they do, you know, I can live with it.
 
oh I always left them on as I think when he was grazing they will protect his muzzle if ie a sharp thorn was in grass as he was grazing. I always thought whiskers were a little alarm system for touch!

So def left on. I had same issue with my dog the groomer always tries to remove the lot and I prefer his left for same reason as horse.

Sense creatures so leave on. I didnt do vanity!
 
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