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Discuss horse riding and ownership on our Horse forum.

Discuss horse riding and ownership on our Horse forum.

The tack room

Clipping a grass kept pony?

25 replies

discobeaver · 16/09/2011 11:39

Hello - I share a Connemara pony, he is grass kept, although I do have access to a stable if I want.
I want to take him to a hunter trials in a few weeks, and do hacking/schooling to get him fit. He is already growing a furry coat, although he does have a lightweight outdoor rug on, and sweats up easily when exercising.
If I trace clip him, will he get too cold outside?
He has heavier weight rugs as well, and last winter just lived out with rugs/a hood, and looked great.

OP posts:

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MitchiestInge · 16/09/2011 21:30

I don't know, waiting for voices of experience here - need/want to clip mine (sort of native types) already but worried about cold, even if just do a sort of bib windpipe one?

cedmonds · 17/09/2011 12:24

One of our TB had a full clip and was out out night last year in all the snow and cold. He had lots of rugs on and was far happier to be out than in. All our grass kept ponies are clipped they have to be to hunt. As long as they have got plenty to eat and lots of rugs they will be fine. Ours are brought in if it is reallly wet they are brought in .

cedmonds · 17/09/2011 12:25

Sorry that was ment to be brought in if it is really wet

careergirl · 17/09/2011 21:21

If you do a low trace and rug up really well I think he should be ok.

marge2 · 19/09/2011 13:32

He'll be fine with the right rugging!

frostyfingers · 19/09/2011 13:51

He'll be fine, and better for it if you are working him hard, as sweating and drying again takes a lot out of them. Hot sweaty horses in cold weather are far more likely to catch a chill, and it's a lot more work for you as you would have to fiddle about with his rugs so he's not too hot/cold!

The best bit of advice I had from my vet was to under-rug rather than over as it if the horse is cold he can gallop about until he's warm enough, but if he's too hot there's nothing he can do.

My tb's have lived out, trace-clipped, with no hassle. The rugs available now are brilliant and lightweight so the poor things are no longer weighed down with jutes and new zealands - giving away my age there!

SemperUbiSubUbi · 19/09/2011 17:33

He will be absolutely fine.

The only thing to think about is make sure there is enough hay in the field for him if the grass is either gone or covered in snow. Eating keeps them warm.

discobeaver · 19/09/2011 20:56

Excellent, thanks all, looks like the little furball will be getting a haircut! Will just do a low trace, he isn't really working hard, but I think he would benefit from losing a bit of fuzz.

Will probably only be for the next couple of months anyway, let him grow it back for the depths of winter.

OP posts:

Callisto · 20/09/2011 12:56

I had no idea it was called this, but I'm going to be giving DD's pony an Irish clip this week (in September fgs): Irish

frostyfingers · 20/09/2011 14:43

Ah you see now I know that as a "pointers" clip - lots of pointer to pointers used to have those whilst qualifying and then would be clipped out for actual racing.

As a matter of interest, that pony they used as a model must grow it's coat damned fast as it looks like those photos are all taken on the same day. (Yes, I know it's probably some photoshoppy trick!)

Pixel · 20/09/2011 16:04

We called it a 'chaser', except we used to do the head as well when ours were stabled at night. We tried trace and blanket clips but settled on the chaser as favourite choice because it was the least fiddly to do, plus they still had protection when they turned their bottoms to the weather.

MitchiestInge · 20/09/2011 17:21

It is a chaser innit, just been discussing this - by the time have paid vet and clipping person (race against sedation, experienced person needed) might as well clip him out more or less fully and bring him in. He will be miserable though. But yesterday he was impossibly sweaty and soon it will be too cold to sponge and turn back out?

Pixel · 20/09/2011 21:57

Mitchy is it worth having a go with these?. I wouldn't like to clip much with them, you'd probably end up with blisters or something, but you could do his chest and under his neck (it's surprising how much difference that can make). Much cheaper than vet/sedation/stabling all winter!

Pixel · 20/09/2011 21:59

Sorry meant 'vet/clipping person'.

Actually I think I used to have some of those hand clippers, they gave quite a good finish with a bit of practice. Wonder where they went?

MitchiestInge · 20/09/2011 22:05

Wow! Where did you find those? They have to be worth a try, thank you!

(quite pleased about stable, is only an extra £50 a month and will be handy even if he never spends entire night in it - can't tie him then go for a wee because he escapes. Is not the exact stable used in A Major Film though)

MitchiestInge · 20/09/2011 22:07

(will probably have tube of sedalin to hand just in case though)

Pixel · 20/09/2011 22:12

The major film that I had the book of for Christmas but still haven't had the nerve to read because the 10 minute scene with the puppets at Olympia reduced me to tears? That major film you mean?

That's good about the stable. I know quite a few people who pay for a stable but their horse rarely spends a night in it, they just like to know it is there just in case or to have somewhere to dry off/change rugs etc.

MitchiestInge · 20/09/2011 22:16

Sadly not THAT major film but is by same author and will hopefully ride its wave - that one is Spielberg, coming out Christmas ish. Ours is Private Peaceful

Pixel · 20/09/2011 22:17

We tried Sedalin on dhorse, he went nutty so we upped the dose a bit and he started lashing out in all directions. My stepdad couldn't believe his eyes as he'd never seen dhorse in a temper. We were only trying to give him a wormer!
Oh dear, that reminds me. I'm taking dhorse 'home' next week and I'll have to try and worm him before he contaminates my nice clean poo-picked-every-day-for-years paddock. Has anyone tried those wormers that are like a minty sweet?

Pixel · 20/09/2011 22:18

I've never even heard of that one

MitchiestInge · 20/09/2011 22:19

Major Film some of which has been shot in MY field :)

Pixel · 20/09/2011 22:22

I'm going to have to watch it now just in case there is a pink pony or a spaniel lurking in the background somewhere.

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Pixel · 20/09/2011 22:23

Also I will be checking your field for ragwort.

MitchiestInge · 20/09/2011 22:26

there was a little silver convertible in a scene where there should only have been two boys and some sheep and a scene in which the sheep inexplicably sound like quite a LOT of spaniels howling

then all the sheep escaped, it was great fun that first day of filming :)

Pixel · 20/09/2011 22:27

Lol at howling sheep!

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