If your pony is in work then you should consider whether or not you want to clip them for the winter months. Clipping is not essential in all cases however it does help to ensure your horse remains cosy.

You must consider clipping if your horse gets hot and sweaty during exercise. If your pony grows a thick coat they would break out into a sweat with even a small amount of work. It will then take a long time to dry them off after exercise and so they are likely to get a chill as they cool down. This also presents a problem from a management point of view as any rugs that you put on will absorb the water and then the pony will be wearing a moist rug.

By clipping your horse it implies you can exercise them more rigorously and at any time of the day without needing to worry about leaving enough time for them to dry. If you're going to be competing or hunting over the cold months then not merely will clipping make your pony more comfortable and easier to look after but they will also look smarter.

There are plenty of differing types of clip you can give your horse dependent on their workload. These range from a trace clip which involves getting rid of a bit of hair, to a full clip which removes all of the hair from the head, body and legs. Many of us choose a blanket clip which leaves the hindquarters covered or a hunter clip which leaves a patch under the saddle and leaves the hair on the legs. This is preferable if your horse is going to be turned out.

It is up to you when you clip your horse and how frequently. Many folks will begin to clip from September onwards however some prefer to wait until Nov or maybe December to avoid being forced to clip too often. This will be dependent on your horse’s workload and how thick their coat is.

It is vital to recollect that if you are removing your horse’s winter coat then you need to be certain they're warm enough. Their fur gives them defence against the elements and keeps them warm and dry, you should replace this with turnout and stable rugs as necessary and when exercising you may want to consider using an exercise sheet if only walking or not working hard enough for the pony to get fully warmed. Exercise sheets can be fleece to keep them warm in colder weather conditions or water resistant to keep the rain off.

If you're going to clip your pony yourself you should invest in some industrial strength clippers and make sure you get your blades sharpened regularly as blunt blades will tug on the hair and will make it uncomfortable for the pony.

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