Does Your Horse Need a Custom Clipping This Winter?

There’s no hard and fast rule about the best clip for your horse, and you certainly don’t have to follow any photo of a clipped horse that you see on the internet.

You also don’t have to worry about picking between a bib clip, a blanket clip, a trace clip, or any of the many variations on a theme.

You can easily make your own design to help your horse be less sweaty and uncomfortable in winter.

I’m taking off the hair under Miggy’s neck – he gets really sweaty there. Any place he sweats, I clip.

How to Determine if You Should Clip

What it really boils down to is how your horse sweats and what measures can you take to keep him comfortable after you have clipped him.

The first and foremost reason for clipping your horse in the winter is his health and comfort. It is not healthy or comfortable for your horse to exercise and sweat in a winter coat. He will have an increased chance of overheating, he will be difficult to return to normal body temperature, he will take a long time to dry, and the sweat mixes with dirt and dust on your horse’s skin and can lead to skin problems.

Your climate will also tell you if he needs to be clipped. There are many horses in the world that live in warmer climates with excessive hair coats. Clipping can definitely make your horse happier and more comfortable!

Blankets are often needed, and this might influence what type of clip he gets!

You can also use clipper guards so that the blades leave a longer hair length. This allows for some air conditioning and can help you blend transitions between clipped and unclipped!

Some things to keep in mind as you are deciding where to remove some hair from your horse.

Where does your horse sweat? Common areas to create some air conditioning include under the neck, around the flank, and in between legs. You will also get a sweaty saddle area, but it may be best to leave this hair so your tack isn’t in direct contact with his super short hair. A sweaty saddle area is much easier to dry than your entire horse, a cooler usually does the trick as you groom after exercise.

Can you effectively use a blanket to make up for the air conditioning? If he has some significant air conditioning clipped in, a blanket will be needed. But – you may find then that some hairy parts remain too warm under the blanket. In this case, opt for a clip that removes more hair over the parts your blanket will cover.

You can also vary the length of the hair that remains after you clip your horse. You can use blades that leave 3 mm of hair instead of 1.8 mm of hair. You can also use clipper guards to take just some off the top, as the saying goes. Remember that it grows back, and if you start out clipping some off and it’s not enough, you can always come back and remove just a little more with a different blade or a different guard.

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WAHL Arco Horse Cordless Trimmer

Use code LIV for savings at wahlpro.com

Cordless 5-in-1 clipper for precise finishing work on horses
Adjustable blade (#9, #10, #15, #30, #40) for flexible trimming
Lightweight design for easy control and less hand fatigue
Dual batteries with quick swap for extended grooming time
Quiet, low-vibration motor for sensitive horses
Ideal for bridle path, face, ears, muzzle, and fetlocks

Does Your Horse Need a Custom Clipping This Winter?

How to Determine if You Should Clip

Some things to keep in mind as you are deciding where to remove some hair from your horse.

About The Author

Liv G.