Clipping Your Horse for Winter

pumpkinflirt · 10-29-07, 08:06 PM

As fall approaches some horses might start to take on the appearance of a small woolly mammoth. While this is not a problem for some people, if you show your horse all season some clipping of the hair may be in order. I know pumpkin gets pretty shaggy so we normally clip him at least once a season. While I learned from my mom as well as various trainers I thought I'd look up some resources for other people. Clipping the first time can be very daunting. Good thing is your horse can't tell you how much he hates his new haircut.
Different Types of Clips
How to Clip

QuarterHorses · 10-30-07, 11:34 PM

Living in Arizona our horses during the winter are probably like horse up North. They don't grow very much hair and it wouldn't make sense to clip them. During the summer they really don't have much hair. My friends from the North are always amazed to see my short haired horses

BornintheSaddle · 11-01-07, 05:02 PM

I haven't seen this happen yet as it is my first winter with my horse. I am quite looking forward to it, it sounds adorable!

I would not personally want to clip him as we don't plan on showing him. Let him keep warm!

**alexis** · 11-02-07, 11:52 AM

If your horses look anything like my 1/2 Shep 1/2 lab dog, I feel for you, I really do. I don't know what would happen if I tried to clean up my dog before winter, and then come summer when he is shedding it all - do horses do the same thing?

ilovehorses · 11-05-07, 12:57 PM

This is my first winter with my horses as well. I have 2 of them, a male and a female. The females pregnant so I am not going to cut her hair. I don't take my horses to shows anyways so it's not a hassle for me.

PonyAtWalmart · 11-05-07, 10:00 PM

Wait, would it not be better to keep your horse un-clipped? It would be warmer during the winter months.

horsegurl03801 · 11-07-07, 09:59 AM

If your horse is clipped you simply need to take more care to either keep them in except the warmest part of the day and when turning them out make sure they have a warm blanket on them. It would probably be better to keep the unclipped, as thats how nature designed them, but many horses will overheat if ridden and trained hard with the furry coat. It would be like making you run the mile with a down parka. Not alot of fun and dangerous once you stop moving and are wet with sweat and the air is below freezing. Horses do shed their winter coats, and those kept indoors with blankets as soon as it gets cold often don't grow a winter coat or only grow one slightly longer than the summer coat.

10-29-07, 08:06 PM	#1 (permalink)
pumpkinflirt Member Join Date: 10-12-07 Posts: 50	Clipping Your Horse for Winter As fall approaches some horses might start to take on the appearance of a small woolly mammoth. While this is not a problem for some people, if you show your horse all season some clipping of the hair may be in order. I know pumpkin gets pretty shaggy so we normally clip him at least once a season. While I learned from my mom as well as various trainers I thought I'd look up some resources for other people. Clipping the first time can be very daunting. Good thing is your horse can't tell you how much he hates his new haircut. Different Types of Clips How to Clip

10-30-07, 11:34 PM	#2 (permalink)
QuarterHorses Member Join Date: 08-11-07 Posts: 63	Living in Arizona our horses during the winter are probably like horse up North. They don't grow very much hair and it wouldn't make sense to clip them. During the summer they really don't have much hair. My friends from the North are always amazed to see my short haired horses __________________ Quarter Horses, nothing is better!

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11-01-07, 05:02 PM	#3 (permalink)
BornintheSaddle Member Join Date: 11-01-07 Posts: 25	I haven't seen this happen yet as it is my first winter with my horse. I am quite looking forward to it, it sounds adorable! I would not personally want to clip him as we don't plan on showing him. Let him keep warm!

11-02-07, 11:52 AM	#4 (permalink)
alexis Super-Moderator Join Date: 08-10-07 Posts: 329	If your horses look anything like my 1/2 Shep 1/2 lab dog, I feel for you, I really do. I don't know what would happen if I tried to clean up my dog before winter, and then come summer when he is shedding it all - do horses do the same thing?

11-05-07, 12:57 PM	#5 (permalink)
ilovehorses Member Join Date: 11-02-07 Posts: 77	This is my first winter with my horses as well. I have 2 of them, a male and a female. The females pregnant so I am not going to cut her hair. I don't take my horses to shows anyways so it's not a hassle for me.

11-05-07, 10:00 PM	#6 (permalink)
PonyAtWalmart Member Join Date: 11-05-07 Posts: 10	Wait, would it not be better to keep your horse un-clipped? It would be warmer during the winter months.

11-07-07, 09:59 AM	#7 (permalink)
horsegurl03801 Member Join Date: 11-01-07 Posts: 25	If your horse is clipped you simply need to take more care to either keep them in except the warmest part of the day and when turning them out make sure they have a warm blanket on them. It would probably be better to keep the unclipped, as thats how nature designed them, but many horses will overheat if ridden and trained hard with the furry coat. It would be like making you run the mile with a down parka. Not alot of fun and dangerous once you stop moving and are wet with sweat and the air is below freezing. Horses do shed their winter coats, and those kept indoors with blankets as soon as it gets cold often don't grow a winter coat or only grow one slightly longer than the summer coat.