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CLIPPING ENSURES THAT horses in work through the winter won't get too hot while being exercised or when competing. Sweaty horses will need to be washed down afterwards, and horses with long, thick coats will take hours to dry, putting them at risk of chills if left to dry naturally in cold weather. By contrast, however, a clipped coat will dry in minutes.
Which clip you give your horse depends on workload and hair thickness.
“Clip according to the horse, and bear in mind that you can take more off, but you can't put it back on,” says event rider Emily Galbraith. “As a rule, most horses are fine with a half head clip. Full face clips are only for those very hairy equines in hard work. Also consider what rugs you have and the climate in your area, as this will affect the clip you choose.”
Think about breed type and age, too.
“An older equine will benefit from keeping warm, so leave a bit more hair on, especially over the quarters. A good doer, by contrast, could have a bit more taken off and be lightly rugged to help him shed some weight,” adds Emily.
Bib and belly
Bib and belly is the perfect clip for equines who only need a little bit of hair removed, maybe because they tend to live out or are ridden only occasionally. It is also ideal as a first clip to get the horse or pony used to the
