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  Discussion on To body clip or not to body clip?
Author Message
New Member:
dmsfitts

Posted on Thursday, Jan 31, 2008 - 10:20 pm:

I recently purchased a 5 y.o. mare who is in the Boise, Idaho area, and who has been living outdoors unblanketed. She will be shipped to me in here in the Santa Barbara area of California next week. We currently have days with highs in the 50's to low 60's, with lows in the 30's overnight. I'm concerned that she might be uncomfortably warm here in her winter coat, and am debating whether or not to body clip her, or do a trace clip, or maybe a blanket clip, or to just leave her alone? She will be living outdoors here as well, but I do typically blanket my horses here overnight if it will be below 40 degrees. I would like to get to work riding her when she gets here, but it would be probably just light work for the next month or so, and then increasing into March or April as she gets more fit. I've never dealt with bringing a horse into a moderate climate from an extreme winter climate before...any help on any related topic would be appreciated! Thanks!}
Member:
sryder11

Posted on Thursday, Jan 31, 2008 - 10:51 pm:

one of my previous trainers used to import a lot of horses from Canada to Southern California. I don't recall that he ever body-clipped them specifically because of the climate but I do remember if they were newly arrived in the summer months he would work them lightly at first until they got used to exercise in the hot weather.
Member:
dres

Posted on Thursday, Jan 31, 2008 - 10:55 pm:

Deborah.. what time of day are you riding ? and do you have time aferwards to cool the horse out properly.. ? If you are riding at night and you do make them sweaty.. i would lean toward some kind of clip job... if you will ride in the day time and have time to dry them off .. i would let it be.. Spring IS right around the corner..

have fun..

On the first day God created horses, on the second day he painted them with spots..
Member:
36541

Posted on Thursday, Jan 31, 2008 - 11:39 pm:

My Connemara who was bred and born in the Southeast has a hair coat that still thinks she is in Ireland! I can't say enough about the advantages of a trace clip for us. It allows me to condition her for novice eventing, and quickly wash the lathered up spots for coolout and cleanliness. I don't blanket unless it is below freezing as the unclipped hair is really thick and also sheds water well in the rain.
Member:
juliem

Posted on Thursday, Jan 31, 2008 - 11:44 pm:

I'm in the Boise area and our temps have not been that much colder--typical lows in the 20's and highs in the 30's. She will be starting to shed very soon anyway, so I'd see how she does after a bit of time to adjust.
Member:
canter

Posted on Friday, Feb 1, 2008 - 7:29 am:

I really like a trace clip for winter riding. My mare has a shaggy coat, but even above that, she is one of those horses that just sweats a lot and winter cool out after work became a long extended period of time waiting and walking, and more walking, and more...waiting for her to dry out. So, I do the trace clip, and after she is cool and respiration comes back down to normal, I also blow dry her coat (mostly chest & girth area) to slightly damp. Then, by the time she's brushed, feet picked out, tack put away, aisle swept, etc, she is completely dry and I can put her sheet back on and put her away for the night.
New Member:
dmsfitts

Posted on Friday, Feb 1, 2008 - 3:42 pm:

Thanks all! Great advice, and important things for me to take into consideration. Sounds like maybe what I'll do is leave her alone initially and see how she does for the first few easy rides --- I'm lucky to be able to ride generally in the late morning sun, and have time to make sure she's cool and clean before getting turned back out. I'll let her tell me what she needs! ;-) Thanks again!}
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