To clip or not to clip?

Barbara F · Grand Prix

To clip or not to clip?

prospect · Advanced

you can do a partial clip - but isn't the arena you ride in heated - I would look at where he sweats during your ride - then that is where I would be clip - that's what I do -

It's still pretty early so a full clip now will grow in pretty good by january - sometimes I clip now and then again in december - but the december clip is usually just a trace - I don't clip the belly, legs, face or back in january. Then I will clip again in march - that is with my very hairy horse that is in full work.

I don't clip the boys' horses.

Another help is a wool cooler - I find they dry them quicker than fleece.

dbliron · Advanced

Great advice, Prospect! Here in BC people have been clipping since mid-September, and with good reason. That's a lot earlier than usual, the norm being more like early to mid-November, but our weather's been weird, and the horses were hairing up in August.

I think you could start with a partial clip, Barbara - perhaps only the jugular groove through the chest to just behind the elbows. If that doesn't keep him cool enough then take the clip a little farther as needed.

I have a Bucas Power Cooler, which is amazing for drying out wet horses in winter. It pulls the moisture right out of the coat.

I hope this helps!

myvanya · Yearling

Another vote for considering the partial clip. I usually do a trace clip for my boy because he lives outdoors all the time and though he has shelter and I blanket, I don't want him freezing and he is really not cold tolerant at all (and wasn't before he was ever clipped or blanketed- I did one winter without a clip and still had to blanket- he would come in for feedings shivereing!). He does get pretty sweaty though working in the indoor- even not heated. The trace or modified trace works great in that he sweats less in the indoor but isn't totally freezing outside. But it does depend on your situation and your horse.

jessiereasmussen · Yearling

Partial clip him where he sweats, ride him once and see how he handles it in the winter and how much he sweats. Then decide where to clip him(where he sweats) and go from there.

spirithorse · Advanced

Never I have I ever clipped a horse. Nature's way is always the best.

sedonasilver · Advanced

I dont see any point clipping a horse if you're not competing. Lorenzo hasnt been clipped yet but fortunately he doesnt get very hairy anyways :)

Erika Sentz · Yearling

I always clip in the winter. I don't compete much in the winter, but it makes life easier. If you have the blankets to keep them warm - do it.

We have horses at the barn that have already been clipped a second time.

Dillinger · Yearling

If my horse is competing over the winter, I'll usually do a full clip, or a full clip minus the legs (depends on the level of competition). They are of course well blanketed to keep them warm. Or if they're not going to be showing, and trace clip will do. I think you should consider all the factors. If you are regularly working and your horse is sweating, it is much healthier for them to have some form of clip, as it reduces the chance for them to be chilled after a workout. If you go for a trail ride twice a week, and your horse lives outside, then I wouldn't bother. If you don't clip, them you need to be very diligent in making sure your horse is completely dry before turning them out.
I also will do my first clip in November, when they're starting to get quite hairy. Often once, is enough, but sometimes I'll clip again around february or march.

Hope this helps!

Horse-hearted · Advanced

If you do go for clipping, look into some awesome blankets.
Also, how much riding are you really wanting to do?

Barbara F · Grand Prix

I've finally relented and I'm going to have to do the full body clip, as he is sweating on every inch of his body after medium work-outs and he is taking hours to dry, even under that really good Bucas power cooler.

It's going to be quite warm today and tomorrow, so we're going to try to clip him this evening.

I have a whole range of Bucas blankets, some for very cold weather.

I ride 5-6 days a week in hte winter, with four of the rides being real work-outs, so I feel like I'm stuck.

Jocelynne · Foal

I clip my mare around the beginning on Nov normally and with proper blanketing have never had an issue with her hair growing back all winter. It's all about managing them to make sure they are kept nice and warm so you don't have to re-do it.

Also, it does depend on the person who is doing the clip. You can tell within 2 wks apparently if you have had a good clipper or not.

SoftTouchTraining · Well Schooled

Trace clips work well for the winter. Since you will blanket him well you could do an almost full body clip.

prospect · Advanced

it's a good week to clip with the warmer weather - I am thinking that may be my job on sunday