Clipping ?

[companymagic]

Ok I have already clipped my Newie but his coat has grown back and he needs doing again.

Even a light schooling session and he is sweating up more than I dry off before bed time, and then there is the highland, if I walk her for more than 20 minutes she is wet..

Normally I would be happy to take some coat off, but its SO cold and set to get to -10 to -19 next week.

I just feel really mean taking coat off when the temp is so low.

What's worse sweaty ponies or clipped ponies in sub zero temps ?

[Yann]

Sweaty ponies in my book, you can always rug for the cold. No need to take everything off either, a part clip of some kind be it bib, chaser or low trace might well be enough to keep them comfortable when working.

[Deleted]

I think it depends how much work you want to do with them and how frequently. As Yann says a bib and belly clip might be enough, it doesn't have to be all or nothing.

I err on the side of not clipping because I never ride for more than 6 hours a week (max) in winter due to weather, ground conditions, light etc and I don't hunt or event so there is no need to work my horse hard. If he gets sweaty I make sure I have time to walk him off well and put a cooler under his LW turnout. Having said that he doesn't get sweaty from just walking!

[tikkatonks]

I think sweaty is much worse

Cold and wet is always worse than cold.

Its also easier to deal with cold by whacking an extra rug on but its a nightmare trying to dry out a sweaty horse.

I like inventing strange clips to leave as much hair as possible but removing the sweaty bits.