We are body clipping for the first time!

[CindyCRNA]

We are in our first year of eventing and also our first year of foxhunting. My mare, a draft cross, is a sweaty mess! Normally, we didn’t exert ourselves this much in the winter but now, it is a weekly issue. She was totally soaked on our last hunt in 23 degrees. I put a cooler on her which promptly became very damp so I pulled it and put a breathable sheet on. But she wouldn’t dry. She still had damp spots the next day. She has a winter coat but is not a wooly mammoth, she just sweats well!

This Fri, a professional horse clipper is coming out and just leaving her butt and saddle area unclipped. This is on the advice of my trainer who also hunts. After the last hunt, I agree. I purchased a neck / blanket combo as we are having single digit nights here. I am excited as it will make her easier to make presentable.

[SidesaddleRider]

Good on you for clipping. I would not want to hunt (or heck, try to deal with properly grooming) a horse with a full coat, it just isn’t fair to them. Admittedly, rugging up can be annoying. Our hunt horses have already been clipped three times each so far: 2 full clips and then a hunt clip (leave hair on legs and front of face/ears). I will probably have to do at least one, if not two more, clips before the end of the season.

[Feliz]

It’s the only way to go - I get a hunt clip like Sidesaddle rider describes. I don’t leave hair under the saddle or on the butt as it’s just impossible to get dry when I exercise after work. But I do live in a mild climate.

After washing post hunt I chuck on a wicking fleece, then whatever out door rug is in use. The fleece helps draw the moisture, then after the breakfast you can whip it off and they travel home in their outdoor rug, all ready to go back into the paddock.

[Martha_Drum]

I have already had my Canadian draft cross clipped twice, leaving legs and front of his face furry, and a la SidesaddleRider, will surely have a couple more (central Virginia). He lives out all the time and has an insulated Rambo; seems OK without the neck attachment but single digits are very, very rare here.

Multiple anti-sweats, pulling them off as they become damp, is the way to go, too.

Off topic: If you’re reading this, SidesaddleRider, and have your finger one key off place on the keyboard, your screen name becomes “Widewaddle” = sorry! Totally inaccurate in your case, but funny

[CindyCRNA]

[QUOTE=Martha Drum;7304437]
I have already had my Canadian draft cross clipped twice, leaving legs and front of his face furry, and a la SidesaddleRider, will surely have a couple more (central Virginia). He lives out all the time and has an insulated Rambo; seems OK without the neck attachment but single digits are very, very rare here.

Multiple anti-sweats, pulling them off as they become damp, is the way to go, too.

Off topic: If you’re reading this, SidesaddleRider, and have your finger one key off place on the keyboard, your screen name becomes “Widewaddle” = sorry! Totally inaccurate in your case, but funny :)[/QUOTE]

Yeah, I’m behind the curve. I should have been on my second clipping.

[CindyCRNA]

Ok, due to a bitter cold snap, we finally got it done today. She has never been clipped before. She did pretty well from the shoulders back but oh, that neck! You thought those clippers were going to eat that horse alive! We got it done but it was painful. She has 2 little “ears” on each side of her poll I am going to hit with my little clippers in the morning. I can tell she is on enough Ultium because her shaved areas are shiny from the high fat!

[SLW]

I found the Holy Grail of why our hunting has been sparse. About the time you body clipped I freshened up my mare’s trace clip. Wah-lah, record low temps and snow and ice storms that happen just in time to cancel a hunt.

[CindyCRNA]

[QUOTE=SLW;7345421]
I found the Holy Grail of why our hunting has been sparse. About the time you body clipped I freshened up my mare’s trace clip. Wah-lah, record low temps and snow and ice storms that happen just in time to cancel a hunt. :)[/QUOTE]

Oh, Lord, isn’t it the truth but this Sat should be fab!!!