Last week I decided I needed to clip Basil as he is now quite
hairy and starting to get hot and sweaty on our rides. Having him clipped means that he will dry
much more quickly after I have ridden but also that he hopefully won't get as
hot in the first place!
There are several different types of clips for horses and
what you choose can depend on a few things:
- Is your horse stabled or field kept
- How much work your horse does
- What rugs you have available
- How much your horse sweats
- How much your horse feels the cold
A Full Clip
This is where all the horses' coat is removed including the legs and head. A horse with a full clip will need to be in the stable at least overnight and turnout should be weather permitting. He will need rugging up carefully and monitoring so that he does not get cold or any skin problems. You would only use this clip for a horse in hard work.
This is where all the horses' coat is removed including the legs and head. A horse with a full clip will need to be in the stable at least overnight and turnout should be weather permitting. He will need rugging up carefully and monitoring so that he does not get cold or any skin problems. You would only use this clip for a horse in hard work.
A Hunter Clip
Most of the coat is removed but the legs and an area under the saddle are left. You may also leave half of the head and the
ears unclipped for added warmth. A horse
with this clip will again need to be stabled at least overnight, turnout should
be weather permitting and he will need
to be rugged and monitored carefully. This clip would be used for a horse in hard
work and perhaps one in medium work.
A Blanket Clip
This clip leaves hair across the back, on the legs and often half of the head. The horse will be clipped in the areas that tend to sweat. This horse could be turned out more than one with a full clip, but again must be rugged and monitored. Good for a horse in medium work.
This clip leaves hair across the back, on the legs and often half of the head. The horse will be clipped in the areas that tend to sweat. This horse could be turned out more than one with a full clip, but again must be rugged and monitored. Good for a horse in medium work.
A Chaser Clip
This can be confused with the Trace Clip below except the head is usually half or fully clipped too. More hair is left to keep the muscles on the top of the neck warm than on a Blanket Clip the legs are also left. Rugs will be necessary. This clip is therefore ideal for horses in medium work which need to be turned out in the day.
This can be confused with the Trace Clip below except the head is usually half or fully clipped too. More hair is left to keep the muscles on the top of the neck warm than on a Blanket Clip the legs are also left. Rugs will be necessary. This clip is therefore ideal for horses in medium work which need to be turned out in the day.
A Trace Clip
More hair is left on the neck and the head is usually left as well as the legs. The added warmth and protection means this clip is suitable for a horse in moderate work who will be rugged and turned out in the day.
More hair is left on the neck and the head is usually left as well as the legs. The added warmth and protection means this clip is suitable for a horse in moderate work who will be rugged and turned out in the day.
An Irish Clip
Hair is removed from the areas where a horse sweats most, the head can be left half clipped. Suitable for a horse who has daily turnout with rugs.
Hair is removed from the areas where a horse sweats most, the head can be left half clipped. Suitable for a horse who has daily turnout with rugs.
A Bib Clip
The simplest clip which only removes hair from the front of the neck and the chest. Ideal for horses in light work and suitable for horses that are turned out throughout the winter if suitably rugged.
The simplest clip which only removes hair from the front of the neck and the chest. Ideal for horses in light work and suitable for horses that are turned out throughout the winter if suitably rugged.
The clip I have chosen for Basil is a Trace clip, he is really only in light work and needs to be turned out during the day. However, as he tends to sweat between his back legs an Irish clip would not be good enough.
Basil does feel the cold so I like to leave his head unclipped and I like him to have hair on his neck too (as you can see in the top photo). I do have to monitor him and the weather forecast daily as he does feel the cold and if it rains when he is out he can get cold if he does not have a thick enough rug on. This means I have a bit of a rug collection for him and I am planning on posting a vlog or blog of these soon!
Have a look at my vlog on my new You Tube channel. Horse Life and Love
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You can also follow me on Facebook for updates on Chesney, Basil, Fidget and Daisy.
Until next time!
Jo
Horse Rugs Thanks for taking the time to discuss this, I feel strongly about it and love learning more on this topic. If possible, as you gain expertise, would you mind updating your blog with extra information? It is extremely helpful for me.
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