Would you clip a 2 year old?

muckypony

muckypony

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I know from the title the instant response is 'absolutely not', and that's what I would say too! However, one of my 2yo Shetlands is just soo hairy :( He is getting sweaty on his neck/chest everyday so I am wondering whether to give him a little bib clip or not? I know it will probably cool down soon, but he was getting a bit sweaty last year too.

Would I be wrong to clip? Given the choice I'd rather leave babies be, but then I really hate see him so itchy and irritable because he's too hot!
 
No harm in making him comfortable. Take off below a line from the stifle to the elbow, then follow a line from the point of the shoulder up the underside of the neck following the line of the jugular groove. A smart and useful clip that should cope without rugging
 
We have three and one of them always gets hot and sweaty, I clip him and have done since he was a baby, much to the amusement of the farrier and vet as neither had ever seen a clipped shetland! If anyone can tell me how to load a pic I will show you (I've never figured out uploading!)
 
I wouldn't. The weather is exceptionally mild at the moment but we are forecast to have the worst winter in many years. I think the temperatures are due to drop like a stone in a couple of weeks' time.
 
Wagtail said:
I wouldn't. The weather is exceptionally mild at the moment but we are forecast to have the worst winter in many years. I think the temperatures are due to drop like a stone in a couple of weeks' time.
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I would hold off for another week or so as well, weather yesterday said this is meant to be the last mild week and the weather is set to turn next week...
 
I had to clip a yearling Shetland once. He was just so hot and uncomfortable
My foal has a coat like a yak she seems to be a bit sweaty at the moment
 
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Princess Rosie said:
If anyone can tell me how to load a pic I will show you (I've never figured out uploading!)
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:)
 
As long as you have a rug ready just in case the weather turns I dont see the issue. I used to clip my shetland (wasn't young) because she had cushings and got so fed up being hot at this time of year and her coat was so thick it would go all wet and matted under her tummy (she loved lying in mud!) so I used to hunter clip her which she loved - she adored being clipped (because she was so itchy!) and went bananas rolling once she was done, she was so much happier. I used to clip her through the summer too. I did have a couple of NZ rugs for her though.
 
MagicMelon said:
As long as you have a rug ready just in case the weather turns I dont see the issue. I used to clip my shetland (wasn't young) because she had cushings and got so fed up being hot at this time of year and her coat was so thick it would go all wet and matted under her tummy (she loved lying in mud!) so I used to hunter clip her which she loved - she adored being clipped (because she was so itchy!) and went bananas rolling once she was done, she was so much happier. I used to clip her through the summer too. I did have a couple of NZ rugs for her though.
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Personally speaking no I would never clip a two year old or any youngster till they are in work and sweating a lot. The only thing I would clip is the freezemark or heals if they warrant it.
 
I think this is only the same as 90% of adult horses that get clipped. They could probably survive and do their weekend work over the winter without being clipped. However, for some horses it makes it better for horse and rider that they are clipped. My mare doesn't do hard work every day of the week in winter, but she is an incredibly hot and sweaty horse, so it makes it better for her that she is clipped.

I firmly believe that as long as the horse is appropriately rugged / has suitable shelter in poor weather, accordingly to how much hair has been removed, they will come to no harm.

OP - I would suggest if you clip what Tnavas suggested above, it would leave full bum and back and top of neck coverage, so absolutely no reason for your pony to struggle if it does turn a few degrees cooler

And for the worst winter ever - well I will believe that when I see it... I'm fairly sure that the "worst winter ever" is predicted every winter, in the same way that the "hottest summer ever" is predicted every year....
 
The forecast for where I am isn't suppose to get anywhere near cold until mid December and after a wet weekend we are due more of the same sunshine and mild. I have clipped my 3yr old and its just to hot for a full winter coat. I took his whole neck off because he had been badly bitten and I wanted to be able to keep the cuts clean and then his belly, leaving his back and back legs on. Happy horse who is out during the day naked and still warm. I do have rugs should it turn nasty and he need them.
 
It's a tricky one, I have 4 shetlands and 2 are really struggling with this mild weather. I will leave another week but if we are still getting it mild I will be taking a bit off there necks.
 
Our hairy (old) shetty and section A are both bib clipped :) both just field pets! One got a skin infection from rubbing so much as he was too hot...
 
The stables where I learned to ride (many years ago), in the Highlands, used to give all the natives bib clips for the winter. They all lived out at night. They had good shelter in the fields, but no additional forage out - they got fed during the day when they came in for work. They used to look great. I think your Shetland would be fine with a bib clip, as long as there is shelter and it has adequate forage.
 
Welfare today is what counts. So if ponio is sweating just in the field, then give him a bib clip. If the temperatures drop in a fortnight, then by that time most shetties I know would have sprouted more than a decent covering. If he hasn't, there are such things as rugs for a couple of more weeks until such time as he does.
 
Moya_999 said:
Personally speaking no I would never clip a two year old or any youngster till they are in work and sweating a lot. The only thing I would clip is the freezemark or heals if they warrant it.
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So you'll clip a horse that's sweating in work (a thing we can modulate, within our control to stop and for the average horse what, 5 hours a week) but not one that is sweating just because of the temperature and their coat (neither we can control, can be uncomfortable for 5 hours a day let alone over a week)?
 
If this unusally mild weather was forecast for another couple of weeks then yes but according to the Met Office it's going to change next week and be normal November temps and long range they are saying it could be a very cold winter.
 
I was torn whether to clip mine! But my thinking is it is better for them to be too cold than too hot, as you can rug up if they are cold but there's not much you can do if they get hot. A bib should be fine. Our weather is so unpredictable and chances are if the temps do drop, they will grow a thick coat to compensate. Mine's a fatty and grass is great at the moment.

I remember last year's weather forecast was 'coldest winter expected since record began' and 'record levels of snow forecast' and it never snowed last year! So take the forecasts with a pinch of salt! :)
 
In a word no but clipping is done always only for welfare reasons or should be so if his hairy coat is causing a welfare issue then maybe
 
muckypony said:
I know from the title the instant response is 'absolutely not', and that's what I would say too! However, one of my 2yo Shetlands is just soo hairy :( He is getting sweaty on his neck/chest everyday so I am wondering whether to give him a little bib clip or not? I know it will probably cool down soon, but he was getting a bit sweaty last year too.

Would I be wrong to clip? Given the choice I'd rather leave babies be, but then I really hate see him so itchy and irritable because he's too hot!
Click to expand...

My friend clipped her shetland yearling on vets advice- she was sweaty, scurfy and itchy.

She was hesitant too, but it really was the best thing, she was loads better pretty much straight away!

Ax
 
Under-the-radar said:
I think this is only the same as 90% of adult horses that get clipped. They could probably survive and do their weekend work over the winter without being clipped. However, for some horses it makes it better for horse and rider that they are clipped. My mare doesn't do hard work every day of the week in winter, but she is an incredibly hot and sweaty horse, so it makes it better for her that she is clipped.

I firmly believe that as long as the horse is appropriately rugged / has suitable shelter in poor weather, accordingly to how much hair has been removed, they will come to no harm.

OP - I would suggest if you clip what Tnavas suggested above, it would leave full bum and back and top of neck coverage, so absolutely no reason for your pony to struggle if it does turn a few degrees cooler

And for the worst winter ever - well I will believe that when I see it... I'm fairly sure that the "worst winter ever" is predicted every winter, in the same way that the "hottest summer ever" is predicted every year....
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^^^^^^ good sound advise
 
Yes. IF this amazingly cold winter materialises (they forecast it every year at this point..) the Shetland will grow more coat when it's cold. I've been wandering around in a polo shirt with short sleeves all week. It's mild.
 
Thank you all for the replies!

After seeing then both so hot and uncomfortable last night after the hot day, and again this morning, I decided to go for it and clip. They have had very (very!) low trace clips so that the underside of the neck, belly and some shoulder is off. Have also taken a little off in between the back legs as that gets sweaty too.

Definitely the right thing to do, both went out and gallop round the field for a good 10 mins, bucking and leaping around! Lovely to see :) and neither of them came in damp and itchy this evening! Two very happy, cooler ponies!
 
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