Why are people so against clipping horses

[Ish2020]

I was watching a video on YouTube about horse clipping . I look through the comments and people seemed to be against clipping horses in general . Some of the comments said people are just lazy and don’t want to cool down there horse and they are only doing it for the rider benefit not the horses. Why are people so against clipping horses.

 

[eggs]

I'm certainly not against clipping but then mine or in good medium work (advanced dressage) and not just strolling about the countryside once or twice a week.

 

[AmyMay]

I’ve never met anyone against clipping. Quite the opposite actually.

 

[WandaMare]

Because people seem to have to moan about any thing other people are doing nowadays. They can't be very knowledgeable though because anyone who's spent time around horses knows how much happier a lot of horses are once they have been clipped. My old cushings mare was positively depressed if I let her go unclipped for too long.

 

[Cocorules]

I am not against clipping per se, but people do clip who don't need to. You get horses who are deprived of their natural coat, particularly under the belly which is not covered by a rug, so they spend 23 hours a day with an exposed under belly and a rug toasting the rest of them. A bit like us wearing a thick coat but no hat on very cold days.

You also get horses that aren't worked to a sweat or much of a sweat in the first place, so don't need it.

I don't need to clip mine. She lives out, unrugged. On the rare occasions she gets seriously sweaty she cools down fine. She normally just gets slighty sweaty. In her case she can use her inbuilt ability to self regulate her temperature after exercise, which is pretty gentle.

I accept there are plenty of horses that need to be managed differently though.

 

[Rowreach]

I don't have any problem with people clipping, whether it's for comfort, welfare, turnout or convenience, doesn't bother me. I've just clipped mine (woolly bear) for the third time since September - I'm sure she's more comfortable not being dripping wet and sweaty after a ride, and it saves me hours in time both before and after.

However what I can't fathom is why people clip horses in pretty patterns which is of beggar all use to the horse, even thought they have to stand there for hours putting up with it, and is just something that some people who have too much time on their hands think is clever

 

[Tiddlypom]

Barefooters...

Rugs are evil as well as shoes .

OK, so maybe not all barefooters, just the ones that I’ve personally met IRL. ETA I no longer mix in those circles.

 

[Goldenstar]

I not against clipping, I am anti not clipping if you work horses hard it’s a disgusting experience working a hot hairy sweaty horse and it’s a recipe for them getting skin infections .
I can’t bear dirty horses full stop but those are my horses I don’t give a stuff how dirty sweaty and unclipped other peoples are .

 

[The Jokers Girl]

Ive actually encountered the opposite, mine is unclipped and unrugged in v minimal work if any at all. I get people aghast that I dare leave her without a rug and a thick natural winter coat instead. I think whatever you do someone will have something to say and a good reason why you are the worst, laziest, unsuitable owner thats ever existed. I just ignore

 

[saddlesore]

It’s beyond me, seems to be a recent thing. Something else to moan about I guess ?

 

[Gloi]

Because doing bellies gives me a bad back.

 

[milliepops]

Because people seem to have to moan about any thing other people are doing nowadays.

haha! this! it seems to be worse this year, possibly all the covid restrictions making people more grouchy than usual.

 

[HollyWoozle]

I am not against clipping per se, but people do clip who don't need to. You get horses who are deprived of their natural coat, particularly under the belly which is not covered by a rug, so they spend 23 hours a day with an exposed under belly and a rug toasting the rest of them. A bit like us wearing a thick coat but no hat on very cold days.

You also get horses that aren't worked to a sweat or much of a sweat in the first place, so don't need it.

I don't need to clip mine. She lives out, unrugged. On the rare occasions she gets seriously sweaty she cools down fine. She normally just gets slighty sweaty. In her case she can use her inbuilt ability to self regulate her temperature after exercise, which is pretty gentle.

I accept there are plenty of horses that need to be managed differently though.

100% this!

 

[Tarragon]

I am surprised that anyone is really against clipping, as that seems to imply that it is bad for the horse.
I think a horse needs to be clipped if it is worked over the winter months, and, as the owner/rider, you don't want to ride within the limitations of an unclipped horse, but then it is your responsibility to keep the horse comfortable from then on.
I keep my two ponies out 24/7, unrugged and unkempt, but I bib clip the one who has cushings as he grows a coat a bear would be proud of. If I ride, I ride in the morning to make sure there is enough time to dry off if they get hot, and I ride according to the weather, so, if it is a lovely frosty morning, we might go a bit faster. So plenty of compromising there to fit in with having field kept and unclipped ponies. My choice.

 

[Gingerwitch]

I love the patterns on the Grand National Shetlands ?

 

[shamrock2021]

I not against people clipping Horses. I clip my own horse because she is harry polobare And sweats a lot. I just don’t understand why people Full clip there horse . When they are only ridden once a week and don’t sweat .

Clipping in the uk and Ireland may seem weird to people who live in different countries since clipping might not be common . Like people don’t clip Normal horse in Canada. Only competition horses are clipped.

 

[SEL]

I don't clip my 2 hairy natives - but I've certainly got no issue with people who do! One of them is due to head off to hospital at some point for an operation and I will clip her before that. Not just for her own comfort but also because she will be a lot smarter than the feral, mud wallowing look she is currently sporting and I have some (very low) standards.

 

[Nasicus]

I was watching a video on YouTube about horse clipping . I look through the comments

Emphasis mine.

 

[smolmaus]

Emphasis mine.

was about to say the same lol

equestrian youtube comments seem to get even weirder than "normal" youtube-comment frothing

 

[Pippity]

Mine's clipped (albeit with 2.5mm blades), spends most of her time naked at the moment, and still gets sweaty. She'd be utterly miserable if she was left in her full winter woolies.

 

[sport horse]

I was watching a video on YouTube about horse clipping . I look through the comments and people seemed to be against clipping horses in general . Some of the comments said people are just lazy and don’t want to cool down there horse and they are only doing it for the rider benefit not the horses. Why are people so against clipping horses.

Because most of the people who have time to watch stuff on You Tube and complain do not actually 'do' anything with their horses. Any horse who works hard and sweats absolutely does need clipping - it can take hours for a thick coat to dry out and the horse will likely get chilled. - Walking the horse off will not dry the coat.

 

[bouncing_ball]

Barefooters...

Rugs are evil as well as shoes .

OK, so maybe not all barefooters, just the ones that I’ve personally met IRL. ETA I no longer mix in those circles.

My horse is barefoot, fully clipped and turned out over night . . .

 

[ester]

Because most of the people who have time to watch stuff on You Tube and complain do not actually 'do' anything with their horses. Any horse who works hard and sweats absolutely does need clipping - it can take hours for a thick coat to dry out and the horse will likely get chilled. - Walking the horse off will not dry the coat.

Most of the people responding in youtube comments have never been near a horse

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I am not against clipping per se, although I am against clipping unnecessarily. When we were on a livery yard, there was a teenager who thought that clipping her horse instantly increased his fitness! She forgot that the work had to increase as well.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

I am against clipping. I do it far too often, end up with tinnitus, manky hands covered in oil that then ingrains the dirt, cough up hair balls, get hurt etc.

I've only done 5 today though! Just another half dozen to do on Thursday for weekend racing ...

 

[stormox]

Nearly everyone I know clips.....

 

[9tails]

Most of those people are not horse people.

 

[Velcrobum]

I clip according to work and never do more than a blanket clip. Having said that I am against totally clipped animals that are not doing lot and lots of work clipped because it is tidier...............

 

[Scotsbadboy]

I genuinely dont think i know anyone who is anti clipping!

I'd suggest watching Youtube but avoiding the comments. Bit like other social media in general. Unfortunately we live in a society where everyone thinks we want there opinion! Opinions are like a&&*oles, we all have one but no one wants to hear yours!

 

[NinjaPony]

People always have opinions, particularly on things they don’t know anything about...

To the outsider, it must seem cruel to shave off the fuzzy coat (won’t they get cold?! Won’t it hurt?!). I just explain it’s a bit like sheep shearing: take off the coat so they don’t get hot and sweaty, it doesn’t hurt and stops them catching a chill when they’ve been exercised and you replace with a rug.

I used to give my connemara a full clip every year despite only working 4 days a week. Looks smart, means I could hot cloth and spot wash him when we competed, made it easier to dry him off and I could control his temperature better. I don’t need to justify that to anyone- we keep horses for our own convenience and pleasure and as long as he is warm and dry, I don’t see why me clipping him makes any odds to anyone else.