By Anita Prowse
Given the unusually warmer April temperatures, many people will be opting to clip at this time.
During the winter a horse’s natural coat helps to protect them from the elements and keep them warm throughout the cold and wet winter months.
This is great for horses that live outdoors with little or no exercise during this time but for most horses, this thick winter coat can have the opposite effect.
When your horse gets sweaty the sweat can mix with the natural greases in his coat which will cause the hair to become matted.
This matting can not only become uncomfortable for your horse but over time will start to smell.
It’ll also make it harder for him to keep warm because the matted hair will not only take longer to dry but will also clump together and therefore allow the cold air to get in through the gaps, preventing your horse from keeping warm.
If your horse is suffering from conditions such as Cushing’s or Equine Metabolic Syndrome (known as EMS) then clipping him all year round will help him to maintain a normal body temperature.
You don’t need to give your horse a full clip, even a chaser or trace clip will allow him to cool enough.
The most extreme clip, as you would expect from its name, the full clip removes all of the horse’s hair, even around their head, ears and legs.
This is only suitable for horses in hard completion work and aren’t turned out at all during the winter months because this clip leaves the horse with no natural protection at all.
Like the full clip, the hunter clip should only be considered if your horse isn’t turned out during the winter.
It’s not as extreme as the full clip so is suitable for horses in medium to hard work.
While all hunter clips leaves the saddle area and legs some people choose to leave the head unclipped too while others will trim the hair around the fetlocks too.
The blanket clip is the most popular type of clip and is suitable for horses in medium work.
Unlike both the full and hunter clips, horses with a blanket clip can be turned out during the day when the weather isn’t too cold or wet.
As well as the ‘blanket’ area people, as a rule, tend to leave hair in areas where the horse is less likely to sweat such as the head and legs.
Remember when clipping yourself or hiring a professional clipper, make sure your horse or pony is very clean and dry.
Be sure to rinse thoroughly excess shampoos etc also as this will give the cleanest clip and save and protect the blades.
Happy riding everyone.
