ASKHQ: TO CLIP OR NOT TO CLIP
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Q: Should I clip my horse this winter or not?
A: As winter approaches, many riders choose to clip their horses, but do you really need to and is it the best option for all horses?
The winter coat
The emergence of a full winter coat is triggered by the reduced number of daylight hours. In early to mid-summer, the coat is ‘dormant’ in what is know as the telogen phase. Then, as the days become shorter and the nights become longer, the horse’s coat starts to grow, in what is known as the anagen phase, until the horse has a full winter coat. Horses and ponies can also adapt to their environment – growing a thicker winter coat in places that have colder winters, and a smoother, shorter coat in hotter, more tropical regions.
Why clip?
Horses and ponies are clipped for various reasons, including:
- To reduce sweating during exercise, as heavy sweating can affect overall condition.
- To allow the horse to cool down more quickly after exercise.
- To allow the horse to perform fast work with a lower risk of over-heating.
- To make grooming quicker and easier.
- To make a horse look ‘neater’ for showing classes.
Reasons to be careful with clipping
There are a few thing to bear in mind should you decide to clip your horse or pony:
- Clipping diminishes a horse’s ability to regulate his body temperature. Should your horse not have sufficient protection against the cold, he will burn too much energy just trying to stay warm, and can quickly lose weight and condition. It is therefore very important that you provide an adequate rug during the evenings, as well as a stable or at least a shelter. In addition, should the temperature drop particularly low during the day, especially if it is windy or wet, you may need to consider putting a light rug on your horse.
- Ill-fitting rugs, boots and numnahs can cause bald patches to develop quickly on a horse who has been clipped. It is therefore even more important than normal in clipped horses, that all equipment fits perfectly.
For best results
Clipping is a time-consuming job and is best left to someone with experience, especially if your horse has never been clipped before. For best results:
- Ensure that your horse or pony is clean and dry. Give him a bath and ensure that he has enough time to dry before you start clipping.
- Make sure that your clipper blades are sharp and that you have a spare set available. Keep the clipper blades clean using a paint brush, and oil the blades regularly. Remember to check the temperature of the blades against the back of your hand at frequent intervals. Blades become hot over time and may burn your horse.
- Try to ensure that the clipping experience is as stress-free as possible. If clipping is an awful experience, then the next time you wish to clip your horse, it will be even worse! First spend as much time as possible allowing your horse to get used to the sound of the clippers. Once he is happy with the noise, keep the clippers on, hold them and rest the back of your hand against your horse’s shoulder. Many horses are not comfortable with the vibrating sensation, so allow them to become used to the noise and vibration of the clippers before you start to clip. Take as much time as you feel your horse needs to become comfortable with the clippers. In the long run you will be pleased you took the extra time!