Clipping a grass-kept older pony

[LaPufalina]

Hi everyone
My DD's little welshie is a bit overweight still going into winter, he's been muzzled overnight for the last two months to get his summer flab off
He doesn't do a lot of work, gets ridden 1-3 times a week and doesn't tend to get a sweat on in summer coat if it's not hot-hot. Would a bib clip (or trace) help with weight management and comfort over winter? She might do a bit of lead rein jumping on him and think that would be horrible in winter coat. He'd be rugged in 100g with a neck once it gets wet/cold.
Thoughts welcome; I've only ever had horses stabled at night in winter!

Oh and PS he's 21 and was stabled at night until he came to us, but lived out last winter and did ok, lost condition as our haylage is very rich and went straight through him so he was an appropriate weight to come into spring

That's what I'll be doing for my Connemara, lives out, low workload but might get a bit sweaty with full coat. Small clip should help a bit for weight management, I'll only rug if wet & windy. He's younger but 21 shouldn't really make any difference if no health issues.

I would. I only rug mine if they're out and it's wet and cold and even then it's only a rain sheet. They're all in their late teens early 20s but come from Poland and Norway where it's far colder than here. Wet and mild they sweat under the rug, cold and dry they don't care and wander off when I bring the rugs out. Cold and wet and they line up for a rug or to come in... They prefer the extra slices of hay to a rug.

Thanks both. I rugged late last year and he looked like a polar bear 🐻‍❄️ DD was only 3/4 last winter but her riding has come on a lot this year so he will be working a bit harder!
The bigger horses bully him a bit so he can't get to the proper shelter but there's lots of natural shelter from trees so hopefully he'll be ok.

I would, I'd probably do a really low chaser/big bib though as that's where I would tend to find they get sweaty (so the chest, tops of front legs and the minimum you need to get off the girth area). You can keep the front end warm and dry if need be but I personally don't go for the trace as I think it helps to have their bum fully covered for turning into the weather, tail flaps vary in their effectiveness don't they!

Thanks! How often do they need doing over the winter? It's been a while

@LaPufalina

Oh and PS he's 21 and was stabled at night until he came to us, but lived out last winter and did ok, lost condition as our haylage is very rich and went straight through him so he was an appropriate weight to come into spring

I'm sorry, but I don't really think to say the haylage is too rich for him and went straight through him so he lost weight is really acceptable. Feed him properly and work him properly to keep him in proper condition. It's normal for them to lose weight over winter but not because the haylage is effectively making him ill.