It’s getting close to that time of year again, yes the dreaded clipping season is almost upon us!
Have you been wondering when to clip and what type of clip might be best for your horse? Read on through this clipping guide to help you decide what is best for you and your horse this winter.
When to clip??
I am often asked when you should start to clip. The general answer is around the end of September into the start of October when the coat has turned but every horse is different, some get clipped all year round. Therefore you should base your decision on your individual horse.
How to know when you need to clip?
Your horse’s comfort should take priority, so this will determine when you will need to begin clipping. I would advise all my clients to start to clip when their horse is beginning to sweat during their work.
Horse’s coats will not dry in cold weather; just imagine getting out of the shower with wet hair and going outside for the night! With wet coats for the night you are more likely to incur vets bills for other problems and you could have issues keeping weight on your horse!
Another issue that rises from not clipping soon enough is sores around the girth and saddle area’s which again will lead to discomfort for your horse and possible behavioral issues if you continue to try and work your horse through that pain.
Finally it is much harder for your horse to be able to work and please it’s rider with a heavy winter coat. Imagine if you tried to run a marathon with a duffle coat on, it would make the task a lot harder, if not impossible.
With all that in mind the best time to start clipping is when your horse is sweating enough to wet through their coat or is finding it harder to complete their work.
What type of clip?
Again this is a very common question that I am asked and the answer will vary depending on your personal situation. Here are some of the common questions you need to consider;
- Does your horse live in or out for the winter?
- Is your horse older and harder to keep weight on, or younger and chunkier?
- How much work would you do on a daily, or weekly basis?
- Does your horse sweat a lot?
Again my answer to this is to do what is best for your horse and their comfort. Horses that live out all winter, or that are older/harder to keep the weight on, will generally need more hair to keep them warm, in this instance a trace clip or blanket clip is usually best.
However if you have an older horse that lives out in the winter and also sweats a lot then my advice would be to do a hunter clip and substitute the hair loss with extra or thicker rugs.
Here are a few examples of different types of clips –
Full Clip
What is it – This is where you take all the hair off the body, legs and full face, a full head to hoof.
Best for – This clip is best for horses that live in and are in high levels of work.
This clip is also used for some heavy cobs with lots of feather; it keeps the hair tight on the legs to prevent fungal and bacterial issues over the winter.
Hunter Clip
What is it – This is where you take all the hair off the body, it is generally finished with half the face clipped but can be finished with a full face.
Traditionally this clip leave’s hair under the saddle area called a saddle patch, however I normally advise my clients to remove that also, as the saddle patch is where they sweat the most and can become uncomfortable. If your horse has a sensitive back you can use 2 numnahs or a polypad instead.
Best for – This clip is best for horses that are in moderate to high levels of work. This clip can be used on horses that live either in or out in the winter. If you are using this clip on a horse that lives out be sure to rug correctly.
Trace & Blanket Clips
What is it – Both of these clips are versions of half clips. The hair is removed from the lower half of the stomach and either half the neck or full neck. There are many variations of these clips and they can be adapted for your horses needs.
Best for – These clips are best for horses that are in light to moderate levels of work. They are more commonly used for horses that live out during winter, school ponies or those in light work. Clips of this type can sometimes be used alongside leg clipping with heavy cob type horses that live out.
High Blanket Designer Style Clip
High Blanket style clip – This owner opted for a high blanket clip for her horse. This is a much more artistic version of the traditional blanket clip and is finished with a full face.
To conclude, there are no set rules as to when to clip, or what type of clip to use. The most important part of clipping is ensuring your horse’s comfort and health, so do what is right for your own horse and be sure to rug correctly for the coming winter.
This Article By Clara Mulligan BHSAI was originally published in the September 2020 Issue of Irish Sport Horse Magazine. All Pictures were provided Courtesy of C. Mulligan BHSAI and are therefore her property.