Why clip? I can't understand it when ...

Clodagh said:
I would never use a rug with no neck on a clipped horse. We didn't have pencillin years ago either, does anyone object to ABs on that principle?
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I object to the overuse of it. If it isn't required it shouldn't be given. I can't stand watching ABs given out as if they are sweeties. They are not and incorrect use and over use lead to resistance.

If a neck isn't required it shouldn't be used. Better no neck and too cold than a big swaddling neck and too hot. On any horse. Horses find it easier to warm up than to cool down so I would always err towards too cold personally.
 
Clodagh said:
I would never use a rug with no neck on a clipped horse. We didn't have pencillin years ago either, does anyone object to ABs on that principle?
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My haflinger mare is clipped and doesn't have a neck rug, but she does have a double mane.
 
Agreed that this depends on the horse. There's a cob on our yard who's rarely ridden, but he was itchy, sweaty and miserable until he was clipped out. Another reason can be aiding weight loss for good doers. I'm sure everyone has their reasons.
 
Archiesmummy said:
Thank you, the bit about the obese seems logical. I could be persuaded. In all seriousness, I don't know the answer so asked the question. I have formed an opinion and want to see it from the clippers prospective and their reasons. This is not about why clip, its about clipping when it appears unnecessary. More education for me, please.
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I clip my grey mare even though I only ride once a week (if that over the Xmas period) because she lives out 24/7 and is grey and she looks absolutely awful, stained by the mud, if she has a long shaggy coat. Call me vain but I hate riding a scruffy horse. She will also sweat on a ride if she isnt clipped again looking awful and being uncomfortable.

If I do go anywhere with her, I have to wash her, or at least hot cloth her and she takes forever to dry if unclipped. She is also fat despite having hardly any hard food or hay and runs very hot therefore this helps to keep her weight down a little. She has one HW rug with neck on and has not at any time stood shivering in the field.

It also cuts down on the moulting - again call me vain or whatever but I hate white hair everywhere! I dont think I will ever have a grey again - such a nightmare.

So I clip because I can, my mare doesnt suffer from it, it makes her look better from my perspective and feel better I guess when being subjected to being ridden / washed and I believe it helps her weight issues.
 
So what is the problem if the horse is rugged appropriately? My lad never got a neck cover when he was clipped but then he is a hot horse so didn't need them!
 
Because my girl gets sooooooo itchy that she's unbearable... clip it off -she's happier and I rug appropriately. As she's white neck covers are a must - I'd lose more mane hair due to combing out mud than the negligible amount she loses with her neck covers. I find if the rug has an integrated neck cover they lose far less too.
 
I do see your point and have always been of the mind set of - just take off what you need..

However - I have just moved my old boy to a field where the mud is THICK and he loves to roll.

He is not ridden but I have taken off all of his neck due to the mud sticking to it and making him wet all day and night. He wont tolerate a hood and spends all day stressed and trying to wriggle out of the whole rug - which he can successfully do leaving all straps, surcingles and leg straps in tact.

He is in every night

If it rains in the morning - at least with a clipped neck he'll dry off quicker which i think is better than him getting inches of mud on him and being wet all day....

But that's just me... ;-)
 
My welsh cob is only ridden once or twice a week at the moment, for up to 3 hours maximum, hacking. He has a chaser clip because he is a very warm pony and sweats up, especially when he is feeling terrified. He was lathered in sweat back in October after having to pass a field of thoroughbreds. He has no neck cover as his mane was falling out literally in handfuls. He is only in a lightweight rig as he has been too sweaty in anything more. He lives out.
 
I clipped my cob full clip in Sept as she struggles when the weather is warmer and ready for autumn hunting then 2 weeks later broke both my wrists!! Since then she has only been exercised at weekends with my friend. She is now starting to get sweaty when excercised, I'm due to start riding again beginning of Feb, with the intention of hunting before end of the season, so going to just do a blanket clip on her by the end of the month. Have left a rug on her just to keep her clean for my friend as lives out 24/7.

The TB on the other hand has been turned away for the winter and as much as I wanted to leave her unrugged she just couldn't cope with the wet weather. Debating weather to give her a trace clip or not ready to come back into work in the next couple weeks. She has been out of work since July so got alot of fittening work to do with her so she won't be hunting this season, but guessing she is going to be getting quite sweaty!
 
I just wrote an article in my local riding clubs quarterly magazine on clipping, (I run a service).

It does my head in when people want full clips when their horse probably only needs a chaser or blanket etc.

I hear all too often that people are intending to do a blanket clip then they get fed up or make a mistake so they take it all off!

I now refuse to do full clips, the most i offer is full body with legs and half face left on as I don't believe it's very nice for a horse to be standing out in a field with no protection on their head or legs.

I have lost some clients, literally one or 2 by making this decison but most people admit they don't need everything off and have opted to leave more hair on.
 
Mine was in today so I could groom him thoroughly. I found him dripping wet on his belly. This is why, despite the lack of work, he will have his belly clipped.
 
I'm guilty then!

my mare is old, and hair, she gets really itchy and hot, she has a blanket clip but I am keeping her clipped all year round now as even in the summer she's a fluff ball and gets really itchy still!

She has suitable rugs! she doesn't need a neck cover until its really cold, so her light and mediums are stardard no neck rugs.

her medium/heavy has a clip on neck and her heavy is a combo! she wouldnt cope with a neck cover most of the time because she'd be too warm!

Plus she might also get sores in her girth area if unclipped and I wouldnt know about them through her coat! she its for hygine more than anything
 
The quality of the rugs that are available now, why not clip?

Better to have a happy and clean clipped horse, than a filthy, itchy, smelly and a hot when just standing about cross horse, which is what I would have if I didn't clip. This is regardless of how often I ride and anyway, my horse, my call.;)
 
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