Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

I'm personally a big fan of body clipping. I couldn't imagine riding  
(and we do a lot of winter riding. Hey, it's So. Cal. but it's still  
winter) with a bushy coat that takes forever to dry and retains heat.  
I just did the last two NATRC rides with a clipped coat and both  
rides were very warm and I was very happy that my horse did not have  
a heavy coat.

I do a full bodyclip, except I leave the legs from the knees/hocks  
down. I do the first clip in October while the coat is still growing  
out. That way the coat does grow out a little bit and the color comes  
back but it stays short. If I need to, I will clip again in late Feb.  
or March as the new spring coat starts coming in.

Yes, you have to blanket. And I will blanket with a light weight  
blanket if it gets under 60 degrees and I move to a heavier blanket  
as the night temperatures drop. When my horse was in pasture with  
other horses I never had an issue with keeping blankets on. I'm sure  
if one of the pasture mates was a frisky prankster that tore at the  
blanket I would have moved that particular horse.

I just find that body clippping keeps my horse comfortable while  
riding, she cools down and drys faster and she stays cleaner. Even in  
cold desert rides, where I would use a rump rug I haven't had any  
issues at all.

Lauren

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