(from
Pauline)
What
kind of clip do you suggest that I get for my mare this
year? She hasn't been doing much recently due to
not being very well but she is slowly coming back into
work! Realistically she will probably only be
ridden about 3 times a week during the winter.
She is really really hairy already though and gets very
sweaty when we even start to do anything!
I was thinking of waiting to clip her until about start
of November.
(LizCobby)
Will she be
living out, or be turned out every day?
Ours are out 7 am to 6 pm, so I just do a low Chaser
clip. ( With NZ rugs)
From stifle to lower jaw, up to the bottom of the
saddle flap ( to get sides level) and then following the
lower muscle bulge on the neck so that rain runs
off the unclipped bit- just clipping up to but not
higher than the widest part, not going right up to the
mane or ears.
This also saves having to clip around or between the
hind legs and all the whorls round chubby bottoms.
If they did more frequent or faster work, they I would
have to trace clip, but I could not take neck off for a
blanket clip unless they were only out for a shorter
time each day.
(Pauline)
She will be
stabled at night and out all day every day except if the
weather is really bad and she will be rugged up day and
night.
(issyhotten)
Then the
choice is pretty much up to you - take enough off so
that she doesn't take forever to dry after she's been
worked. You may start with a trace / dealer / chaser or
something similar. You may need a blanket!. Personally I
would try a trace first - not too high, but not too low
either. The next clip can always take more off).
If she's REALLY REALLY hairy, you could do a full clip
first, and then trace clip later - I often do this.
Means there's less thick hair on the back, but some
protection after it starts getting very cold.
(SJM72)
If I was you
I would do either a trace clip or a low chaser clip -
aiming to take some of the neck off and under the belly
and between the back legs (often v. sweaty there!) - as
long as they are in at night there is no problem.
