Would you clip a 2 year old for showing purposes?

Rudey

Rudey

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As title - would you clip a 2 year old for showing purposes? :confused: Is there any showing people on here where you have experience with this? What age do you think is acceptable to start clipping a horse? :confused:

I have started this thread based on an earlier thread I did asking how to turnout my 2 year old for winter showing inhand. I would be really interested in other peoples opinions/experiences. xx :)
 
Can i ask why you want to winter show a 2yr old? There are plenty of summer shows around without the need to show a 2yr old during the winter. 2yr olds need to live out to allow their bones to develop properly.

My 2yr old lives out 24/7 and went to his last show yesterday. Someone on my yard suggested winter showing him to me but i want him to live out and be a horse and have a break/time to grow over the winter before i start breaking him in next year.

I wouldnt want to clip a 2yr old either IMO - if you are desparate to show him/her then well rugged would be the way forwards.
 
I don't mind you asking at all Tempi. I last showed him in August and he qualified for the Ultimate Showcase of Champions winter show on 13th November. It is something I would like to take him to and then will be him until next year. I'm not wanting him to show throughout the entire winter, but it would be nice to make it to that show. If he's too hairy and looks scruffy, I will have to give it a miss! I appreciate your point of view, and do agree with you. My little man lives out 24/7 and will have plenty of rest throughout the winter. xx :)
 
some societies dont allow it anyway- most state that clipping is allowed only for ridden/driven animals (welfare issue). obviously discreetly shaping beards/heels/ear tufts is fine, but i honestly cant see the need to full clip a youngster inhand...

we did all the winter foal shows with Hal just after he was weaned, wasnt a problem with development!
 
xloopylozzax said:
some societies dont allow it anyway- most state that clipping is allowed only for ridden/driven animals (welfare issue). obviously discreetly shaping beards/heels/ear tufts is fine, but i honestly cant see the need to full clip a youngster inhand...

we did all the winter foal shows with Hal just after he was weaned, wasnt a problem with development!
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Oh right! That's interesting. Thanks for the information. I would imagine in that case Judges wouldn't expect you to clip a youngster then, and bear that in mind whilst judging youngsters at winter shows. That's good to hear, at least now I won't feel a numpty for turning him out incorrectly! xx :)
 
I personally wouldn't clip out a 2yr old, in my opinion its more about experience at shows than getting placed at that age (although it would obviously be lovely to get placed! :D)
Good Luck with the show though, whatever you decide :) Saw your other thread and he's lovely :)
 
Im guessing you are showing affiliated??

best bet is to ring the society you are showing under- cant beat info straight from the horses mouth so to speak :)
 
I clipped out Stinky in January when he was 2 1/2 so he had a nice coat by April ready to start his showing as a three year old.

He already had a low trace clip, as running around playing with Cairo in the school had him very sweaty and I did not like putting him back in his stable in the evenings still damp. Stinky has a very thick coat being a traditional.

He was easy to do as the previous year he had stood by Cairo whilst he was being clipped and I had run the back of the clippers over him so he got used to the sound and feel of them.

Did him no harm at all. He was stabled at night, used to wearing a t/o rug and I bought him a couple of stable rugs so he could have either the MW or LW one on depending on how cold it was. I also invested in a MW t/o rug for him.

Personally I would rather clip out late January than have the poor little bugger wrapped up in rugs in an attempt to keep a fine coat - I hate the practice some show people do of using several HW rugs at one time to have a "summer coat" in winter.
 
My little one wont be clipped and if I did for any reason decide to take her to anything in the winter I'd just bath her and groom as normal, no clipping involved.

However, she's already been clipped ;) well, for her freezemark..! And when the clipper lady comes i'll probably get her to run them over her every time she comes before she gets a full clip when she's old enough!
 
I agree with xloopylozzax im sure that the likes of highland ponies you would be marked down for the pony being clipped. I would phone the society and ask them.
 
Sessle said:
I personally wouldn't clip out a 2yr old, in my opinion its more about experience at shows than getting placed at that age (although it would obviously be lovely to get placed! :D)
Good Luck with the show though, whatever you decide :) Saw your other thread and he's lovely :)
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Thank you very much Sessle. The photo on the other thread is this years Summer Ultimate Showcase of Champions when he got 9th in Youngstock and won the coloured class. He has done extremely well this year, he has won at the last 5 shows he has been to *touches wood hoping not to jinx myself*! :o ;) :rolleyes: It would be lovely for him to well at the winter show, it really would be amazing, but I must admit, he has done so well this year I wouldn't mind if he didn't get placed, as long as he goes for a look I'm happy! xx :)
 
xloopylozzax said:
Im guessing you are showing affiliated??

best bet is to ring the society you are showing under- cant beat info straight from the horses mouth so to speak :)
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I'm not entirely sure on what sort of level the Ultimate Showcase of Champions (USOC) is to be honest! You do not have to be registered to a specific society. But you have to qualify to be able to enter at the show - to qualify you have to go to a show where a club is affiliated to the USOC to hold qualifers. To qualify you have to get either 1st or 2nd place in a class.

I might contact USOC, or try to find out who the judge is at least. In fairness I think I will go ahead with rugging him for this year. xx :D
 
Theresa_F said:
I clipped out Stinky in January when he was 2 1/2 so he had a nice coat by April ready to start his showing as a three year old.

He already had a low trace clip, as running around playing with Cairo in the school had him very sweaty and I did not like putting him back in his stable in the evenings still damp. Stinky has a very thick coat being a traditional.

He was easy to do as the previous year he had stood by Cairo whilst he was being clipped and I had run the back of the clippers over him so he got used to the sound and feel of them.

Did him no harm at all. He was stabled at night, used to wearing a t/o rug and I bought him a couple of stable rugs so he could have either the MW or LW one on depending on how cold it was. I also invested in a MW t/o rug for him.

Personally I would rather clip out late January than have the poor little bugger wrapped up in rugs in an attempt to keep a fine coat - I hate the practice some show people do of using several HW rugs at one time to have a "summer coat" in winter.
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Many thanks Theresa_F, I really appreciate your input on this one knowing that you're a keen shower! My instructor had suggested I gave Rox a small clip next year just to introduce him to it while he's young. I tied him opposite to Sam with a haynet whilst I gave Sam a trace clip last week. He didn't seem phased at all! Promising! xx :D
 
flamehead said:
My little one wont be clipped and if I did for any reason decide to take her to anything in the winter I'd just bath her and groom as normal, no clipping involved.

However, she's already been clipped ;) well, for her freezemark..! And when the clipper lady comes i'll probably get her to run them over her every time she comes before she gets a full clip when she's old enough!
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I have my own large set of clippers and a set of cordless trimmers which I have been gradually introducing Rox to over the last year. I have managed to clip down his front cannons, but he wasn't overally keen, I think it tickled him! I didn't push my luck and try his back legs, just sufficed to a very neat job with scissors and a razor! Funnily enough, I have manage to clip under his jaw to whip off his beard without him batting an eyelid! :eek: Horses eh! :rolleyes: xx :D
 
Stinkbomb said:
Inky has been clipped for showing since he was a yearling. However we clip through the summer and our last show is October. He will be clipped next week, rugged for 2 weeks then left au naturell to live out all Winter. never did him any harm.:)
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Thank you vrey much for your response Stinkbomb. From what I have seen of you on here, I know you are really into your showing, and so gladly welcome your experience. Is this something that alot of showers do with their youngsters?

Reading yours and Theresa_F's post, I am warming to the idea of perhaps clipping him next year. xx :)
 
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