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  Discussion on About clipping in winter
Author Message
Member:
maggienm

Posted on Monday, Feb 5, 2007 - 10:02 am:

How do you keep a clipped horse warm in winter?
I understand that these areas that sweat will dry faster but these are also the areas that are not blanketed.
Even a blanket with a bellyband doesn't cover all the areas of a trace clip.
I guess I don't really understand because it seems to me that it is the saddle area that should be clipped, although I see that it is the flanks and underneck area that sweat.
Does underneath the saddle sweat but the saddle pad absorbs it so it is not so noticable?
Thanks
Member:
mrose

Posted on Monday, Feb 5, 2007 - 10:30 am:

I've always wondered why the saddle area isn't clipped too. Usually I clip all over and leave the hair on the legs. They look a little weird, but I only clip my old horses so they don't get so hot in the fall and spring. The horses we are going to show into the winter and then in early spring we keep in heavy blankets at night and on really cold days, and lighter blankets when it's a little warmer. We have to keep sleezys or hoods on their necks and heads, too.
Member:
judyh

Posted on Monday, Feb 5, 2007 - 11:35 am:

My one mare has always sweat A LOT. We started body clipping her when she started hunting.Otherwise you couldn't get her dry or clean quickly enough. I no longer hunt her, but I still clip her for the drying issues. I usually do the whole body, but not the legs, the first time I do her in Sept. and again in October. Then, I usually do her again in Dec. At that time, I do a funky kind of trace clip, trying to hit the sweatiest areas only. I used to do the saddle area too, but then saw others leaving it and asked why. I was told that it leaves a nice cushion and that they don't sweat as much under the saddle pad when the rest of them is clipped. I have found that to be true.
Does mean you really have to be on top of the blanketing game.
A note here on the "foreigner in our midst" post.My other mare is very sensitive to bug bites. I finally decided to try a fly sheet on her. When she was put out with her pasture mates that first evening, the head mare took one look at her and decided that she was a new mare and chased poor Molly. Then one of the other mares said, "Well, I know it's Molly, but this looks like fun, so I will chase her too." It took Betty a few minutes to realize it was Molly and then she stopped, but everyone watching it thought it interesting. (By the way, the fly sheet did work). I will be posting soon about Molly and her allergy?/hives problem. Must go back and read again the articles on skin problems.
Member:
canter

Posted on Monday, Feb 5, 2007 - 1:00 pm:

I do a modified version of a trace clip. I keep all the hair on my mare's belly, except for right where the girth goes. I leave hair on her chest, but clip partially up her neck and keep a narrow band clipped on her shoulders. I do this partially to protect her from the cold (she is blanketed) and also I noticed last year that where I clipped was more prone to blanket rubs. So, I tried to modify it to help the sweaty areas dry faster but protect her from the weather and rubs. The end result is a little ragged looking and she wouldn't win any beauty contests right now but it seems to work out pretty good.
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