But the past couple years...
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| #thanksglobalwarming |
We just came off of our hottest and most humid October weekend in history, and that's becoming more the norm than the exception. Connor's genetics did not prepare him for that, and I felt so bad for the little guy sweating just standing around that I went ahead and clipped last weekend.
I mean...at least he dries fast when it's pushing 90 and windy right?
I tossed around the idea of doing a blanket clip this year, but decided against it. There's a chance we'll be doing some indoor schooling shows this winter, and we know we can keep him comfortable with a full clip even in the most brutal of winters, so there's really no reason to change it.
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| He genuinely already had a lot of coat going. |
Connor's got a good sense of humor about just about everything, but after a bath, clipping and standing for brushing MTG into his tail, he was d-o-n-e with my reindeer games:
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| "...can I be done now?" |
And since he'll be wearing at least a sheet by the end of the week...
...I went ahead and started his winter MTG routine. Every winter he rubs the top of his tail on his blankets, but last winter I applied MTG to his tailbone and brushed it through his tail every 2-4 weeks. It was the first winter he didn't rub his tail, so we're continuing that successful experiment this year.
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| And it doesn't look long in person but after seeing this picture I will probably be trimming it shorter this week too! |
Anyone else clipping already? Planning on a different clip this year? What's some of your other winter horse grooming prep?
i dont want to clip. pray for it to get cold asap lol
ReplyDeleteHAHA that's another strategy I hadn't considered 😂
DeleteWe're up for clip #2 already... was supposed to do it yesterday but that didn't happen so tonight it is. Yay shaggy pony breeds!
ReplyDeleteWhew. How many times will you clip this winter? I'm committed to 3 at this point, which is another reason I don't mind clipping a bit early.
DeleteI clipped Gav about a week ago (just a trace clip), but I'm sure I'll need to clip again in about a month seeing as how he hasn't gone full woolly mammoth yet. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm going to need to try the MTG routine!
Different horses definitely respond differently to MTG so start with a patch test, but I hope it works for him!
DeleteThe retirees won't need a clipping (thank goodness) but I think my stepmom's soon to be new horse will. I'm so allergic though, that the last few times I've hired someone to do it.
ReplyDeleteOh gosh yeah, if I was allergic there's no way I would do it. I don't exactly find it unpleasant, but it's annoying enough already, no need to make it worse with allergies!
DeleteMy horse is the fluffiest creature at the barn for sure, but I'm holding off on clipping until a bit later in October. He'll need it, but I'm hoping that I can hold out and only clip once this year.
ReplyDeleteUgh yeah, that's why I always tried to hold off too. Just can't do it anymore though.
DeleteI am debating clipping May this year. Last year, she didn't really stay in work, but I think she will this year. Also this year, her field has some shelter, so I feel a bit better about her ability to escape the wind/snow/sleet/whatever.
ReplyDeleteShe was also very unhappy this weekend. >.<
You could start with a bib clip and go up from there until you find something that keeps her comfortable while still taking the minimum amount of hair off. I'm pretty attached to the full clip myself at this point, mostly from a maintenance perspective, but it's definitely not the right choice for every situation.
DeleteMy beasty paint horse grows a coat that can rival any fluffier breed and the poor guy is already sweating just standing in the field. I usually try to wait till thanksgiving so I just have to clip once (he doesn’t show, just a trail horse) but uggh, It’s to damn hot to make Arrow suffer that long!
ReplyDeleteYeah, that's exactly the decision I faced although there's no way I could make it to Thanksgiving with how much I ride! Not sure where you are but the cool temps are arriving here today, so hopefully he stops sweating and you can still wait it out!
DeleteI just clipped yesterday. Guessing I'll have to do it again in November!
ReplyDeleteBlah, me too. Early October, end of November and February seems to be my new plan. The resignation to 3 clips per year is kicking in.
DeleteI was wondering if you would finally give in! Hampton won't be far behind.
ReplyDeleteHaha! Yeah. Couldn't make it any longer, but no regrets on waiting til after the show, his coat was gorgeous in your pictures!
DeleteTwo horses in my barn are already clipped. I've ordered supplies to do more of them soon. It's craziness!
ReplyDeleteCan't imagine how many you have to clip! I don't envy you at all.
DeleteI think I'll probably skip it this year- it appears to be approaching the time when the workload needs to lighten, maybe even permanently... Could be a hock fusion thing, could be a pre-full retirement thing, in any case, we won't be sweating it out much this winter.
ReplyDeleteOh nooooooo :( I'm so sorry to hear that!
DeleteI always wait until mid November (only want to clip once) but this year I dunno he may stay full furred since we're moving. We'll see how things roll.
ReplyDeleteWe trace clipped last year and it worked well. Will probably end up doing it this year again, but need to see what our workload will be. The weather is so weird this year (or the new normal I guess?). Just praying for the rain to hold off this weekend - supposed to run BN at CAF!
ReplyDeleteGood luck! Yeah, if you're on the fence, start with as little as you can get away with and take more off as you need to.
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