What is your routine with an unclipped, sweaty horse?

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Ziggy_

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I'm debating whether to clip my mare this year or not. Normally I don't, because once the weather gets really cold she doesn't sweat much, and she's not normally in that much work over the winter anyway.

This winter she'll be in a fair bit more work and is sweating a lot ATM (although it has been warm) and we have an indoor school which is obviously a fair bit warmer than riding outdoors..... but I'm still hesitant to clip because
a) I have a very strong feeling she'll be naughty (ticklish, sensitive skin, bargy at the best of times)
b) She's very sharp on cold mornings even unclipped
c) I only own LW and MW rugs, no neck covers, and can't really afford much more ATM

So, what do you do when you have a hot, sweaty horse that's just finished work on a cold day? At the moment I walk her until the sweat is more or less dry before turning out - is this OK? Is it a 'bad' thing for a horse to end up pretty sweaty, several times a week - thats why people clip isn't it?
 
Personally I'd do much the same as you, although if it's very cold I'd walk her til she's stopped puffing and then thatch ie put a thick layer of straw over her and chuck a sheet over that, should only take a short time and she'll be dry and you can brush her out. Alternatively, my mate swears his thermatex is just as quick at cooling / drying off and means your horse isnt covered in straw!
 
Before i clipped mine i walked her off until most of the sweat was dry and then put her in the stable with a cooler on. I dont think its neccessarily a 'bad' thing as long as you are brushing the sweat off to prevent any nasty sweat rashes and keeping her warm until she has dried off.
 
I use a sponge in warm water to wipe the skin off (only damp not wet) I actually thatch under a cooler (how old school is that?) and leave to dry whilst doing other bits for an hr. Once I have fed I rug up warm and turn out.
 
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I use a sponge in warm water to wipe the skin off (only damp not wet) I actually thatch under a cooler (how old school is that?) and leave to dry whilst doing other bits for an hr. Once I have fed I rug up warm and turn out.

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That's two of us who are old school lol
 
I would do a bib clip personally, doesn't take much off but gets rid of a lot of the sweaty bits. Plus, as much isn't taken off, you wouldn't need a HW or neck covers.
I do at least 10 mins walking (whilst onboard) to cool down at the end of working, more depending on how sweaty they are, then get off and walk until the majority is gone. Then stick in the stable, (or even better, outside somewhere if it is windy but not cold) until totally dry and then put their rug on.
 
I sponge mine down with damp sponge then put on sweat rug under fleece cooler. Hour later change rugs to turnout or stable rug depending on time of day
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I would clip personally, and buy a heavy weight TO, then you're covered as can keep that on in stable. Have been riding a friends horse who hasn't been clipped yet, and it makes things so difficult, and I felt really sorry for her. Took her ages to dry, and she would just be so much more comfortable clipped (she will be in the next week I think)

So yes, personally, I would clip and make her much more comfortable and save you a lot of time
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[ QUOTE ]
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I use a sponge in warm water to wipe the skin off (only damp not wet) I actually thatch under a cooler (how old school is that?) and leave to dry whilst doing other bits for an hr. Once I have fed I rug up warm and turn out.

[/ QUOTE ]

That's two of us who are old school lol

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It does actually work though doesn't it? I also wisp!!
 
I actually find it better than the Thermatex, although must admit I have a leather wisp (my skills at knotting up straw are non-existent!).
 
My pony lives out and is chaser clipped and at the moment is in a LW - I don't have any neck rugs for him either - he has a MW for when it gets colder and although I do have a HW - he only had it on last year as it got down to -12 at nights.

He is very uncomfortable when too hot - he was sweating just being ridden in walk but he does get very very furry.

If you clip now then the hair will still grow back before the end of the winter and give her more protection against the cold. So perhaps just do the one clip during the winter rather than two.
 
i would clip. if anticipating problems give half a tube of sedalin 1 hour before clipping. horse will be fine out in a MW with a part clip. Quicker and easier to manage if part clipped.
 
I always walk off until cool and stopped puffing.

In a straw bed it's so easy as i also whisp and thatch (under an old type wide net sweat rug). But in shavings beds like at the moment i sponge with warm water/ damp sponge if no warm water and then put a light fleece/ cooler on for an hour or so whilst i finish up yard jobs, usually find them dry after that so quick rug change before i go. And also if sponged then there's less crusty sweaty bits.

Modern fleeces are great, you can see all the water on top after it's been sucked through, and then the heat of the horse evaporates it. Much better than thatching all round really, i imagine it would be pretty itchy!
 
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