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| Author |
Message |
   
leslie christian
Member Username: leslie1
Post Number: 256 Registered: 8-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, Aug 5, 2008 - 4:16 pm: |   |
If you blanket your horse ...Why would you need to do a trace clip in the winter time? would they not be slick enough to cool out *easily* from blanketing alone? |
   
leslie christian
Member Username: leslie1
Post Number: 257 Registered: 8-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, Aug 5, 2008 - 4:17 pm: |   |
forgot my manners... Add Thanks! to the end of that |
   
Fran C
Member Username: canter
Post Number: 1607 Registered: 1-2000
| | Posted on Tuesday, Aug 5, 2008 - 4:32 pm: |   |
Leslie, it depends on the horse, I think. My mare becomes a wooly mammoth in the winter and is blanketed. She is also a horse that sweats a lot, even in the winter. I trace clip so that I don't have to spend 2 hours walking her out until dry after a winter ride |
   
Imogen Bertin
Member Username: imogen
Post Number: 1151 Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, Aug 6, 2008 - 1:55 am: |   |
For horses that are not racing or hunting seriously it's a great answer - allows them to sweat, but if something happens (eg injury) and they need to be out for a while in the winter, they have enough coat to cope as long as they are properly blanketed. We often use a "bib clip" for leisure horses which is under the neck and belly only, not as high as a trace clip. So it depends on your winter weather as well as what you are asking the horse to do. Racing and hunting you need a full clip. It's a bit early for clipping! Imogen |
   
Erika L
Member Username: erika
Post Number: 1317 Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, Aug 6, 2008 - 8:36 am: |   |
Leslie, in the past when I was hunting a lot more, I would clip in September, then blanket as it got colder. My horse would grow enough coat to not be "naked" in winter weather, but not that shaggy coat that takes forever to groom and dry. |
   
Erika L
Member Username: erika
Post Number: 1318 Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, Aug 6, 2008 - 8:39 am: |   |
Sorry, I forgot to add that I did this because I just didn't care for the look of a partial clip like a trace. The horse looked nice and neat, and lots less work. But if you clip early enough they can still manage to grow a bit of coat and they don't look shaved all winter. Erika |
   
leslie christian
Member Username: leslie1
Post Number: 259 Registered: 8-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, Aug 6, 2008 - 9:50 am: |   |
Thanks everyone, I have always had to blanket Pumpkin because she doesnt grow a good winter coat. Ive never ridden her in the winter. It sounds like I wont need to clip her since she usually stays very slick with just a rug. Its funny... she can seriously grow some mane and tail ( Im constantly having to cut inches of her tail) but when it comes to body coat, I call her the No-Hair Mare.
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Lori
Member Username: maggienm
Post Number: 721 Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, Aug 6, 2008 - 10:48 am: |   |
Think I'll try your idea Erika. I think we could be in for a cold winter this year, the horses have been shedding summer coat for two weeks already. What I wonder about is I hear about clipping bellies but most blankets don't cover the chest and belly area. I know blankets are supposed to cover the chest but they don't do a very good job, I usually sew a fleece extension from the neck cover that hangs down the chest and tucks in under the front closure of the blanket. |
   
leslie christian
Member Username: leslie1
Post Number: 261 Registered: 8-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, Aug 6, 2008 - 11:19 am: |   |
Wow Erika I just saw your profile!!! You look fabulous dahling! |
   
Fran C
Member Username: canter
Post Number: 1608 Registered: 1-2000
| | Posted on Thursday, Aug 7, 2008 - 7:16 am: |   |
Lori, I don't like the idea of clipping the whole belly either as many blankets don't really cover that area. As Erika said, I clip early enough to get some re-growth and I only clip the area of the belly where the girth goes. It gives my mare a bit of a "poodle-ish" look but the strategy seems to work well...and she's blanketed all winter anyway, so the only time she looks silly is when I ride! I've never had a cold horse even with the severest winter that Michigan can dish out. |
   
Lori
Member Username: maggienm
Post Number: 723 Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, Aug 7, 2008 - 5:00 pm: |   |
Just the girth area hey? some things are just too obvious. I guess I am still a bit worried about how to blanket that specific area tho. |
   
Lori
Member Username: maggienm
Post Number: 746 Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, Sep 4, 2008 - 4:14 pm: |   |
Erika, do you clip the whole body? Why is it that some clips seem to leave unclipped hair on the saddle area? As I write this I am sure I know the answer I just can't pull it up out of the deep recesses of my mind. |
   
Erika L
Member Username: erika
Post Number: 1352 Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, Sep 4, 2008 - 5:49 pm: |   |
Yes, Lori, I do clip everything. As I said, I don't care for the look of a partial clip. If you do it early you don't have to blanket until it gets quite cold because they still grow enough. They just don't get that really wooly long hair that crusts up with sweat and mud. Erika |
   
LL
Member Username: frances
Post Number: 666 Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Friday, Sep 5, 2008 - 7:16 am: |   |
Lori, as far as I know it's to keep some protective "padding" between horse and saddle. |