To Clip or Not To Clip?
Fall has arrived in bluster of temperature fluctuations, windy days, frosty mornings, and crunchy leaves. Alas this also means that your horses winter coat has started to come in at a more noticeable rate. One day you had a sleek shiny show horse and the next morning you had a fuzzy puffball blowing steamy air in your face. In the past week I have done four body clipping appointments and have several more already on the books before December. Is a fall body clip necessary? Are you considering having your horse body clipped for the winter? Want to understand the reasoning behind a fall clip better? Below I'm going to outline my guidelines for fall clipping, hopefully this helps you decide if a clip before winter should be on your schedule or if you can wait until spring to take off all that fluffy warm hair.
During the winter months will your horse be working? Turned out every day? Blanketed? Traveling to the indoor/trainer? At a sales barn? Here's how I rule out who needs a clip, how much hair should be taken off, and when the clip should be done.
Light Work, Daily Turnout or Lives Outside, Minimal or No Blanketing: this is a horse I would never consider clipping in the fall, not even a clean up chin/whisker/bridlepath trim. This horse needs that thick coat to keep him warm and since he may only be ridden once or twice a week (but never to the point of breaking a sweat) a clip does not make sense.
Light to Moderate Work, Daily Turnout or Lives Outside, Blanketed: This is a horse I would consider doing a minimal clip on as those moderate workouts (even if they are only once or twice a week) often mean a sweaty horse but the fact that he goes outside daily or lives outdoors also means that he still needs that winter coat to help protect him from the frigid winter temperatures. Recommended clip: Strip, Low Trace, or Modified Irish should be done between mid October and early December
Moderate Work, Daily Turnout, Blanketed: This horse could definitely use a clip! When a horse has a thick winter coat and works to the point of sweating it's kind of like a runner bundling up and going for a 5k run in the middle of winter. Yes they're warm but as soon as they stop moving that warmth becomes wet & cold when trapped against the skin from winter jackets. Lots of toweling and heavy coolers can help dry out a hairy horse after a sweaty workout but can also add on an hour or more in cooling down. This horse could benefit from a hood or neck cover after clipping but may not be necessary depending on clip style. Recommended clip: High Trace, Modified Blanket, Blanket, or Chester/Irish should be done between early October to late November
Moderate to Heavy Work, Turnout Weather Permitting, Blanketed: Clearly this horse will be working 4-6 days a week and working up a sweat every time. He'll also be spending a fair amount of time inside during the colder months and during wet weather. While he may get some time off during the winter and will still be going out to play in the snow he'd do best with a clip to help keep him comfortable while training. This horse should also have a hood or neck cover when turned out after clipping. Recommended clip: Blanket, Hunter, or Modified Hunter should be done late September/early October to late November
Heavy Work, Minimal or No Turnout, Blanketed: This horse may be at a sales barn or in training for the winter, meaning his routine pretty much stays the same as it was in the summer just without showing. He's stabled most of the time with the occasional turnout for a day off and remains blanketed usually with a hood or neck cover on as well. This horse will have potential buyers coming to look at him all winter long and they'll want to see him sleek and show ring ready even though it's January. Recommended clip: Modified Hunter or Full Body should be done late September/early October to mid November
