I often need to ride in the evening right before
dark - if the horse sweats at all you have this
damp coat that isn't going to dry easily overnight!
I don't want them to be chilled. Also, on
weekends, it is often pretty warm in the daytime,
and sweating with the fuzzy coats is a given.
What I find works for me is a "Snip clip" - it
is not as extensive as a trace clip (just the
jugular area, chest, and belly - not up on the
sides like a trace clip). This really helps to
let the heat escape and the horses sweat less,
and the areas with the clipped hair is easy to
dry off. I read that with this clip you really
don't need to blanket, and my horses don't act
as if they are uncomfortable at all. They are
turned out in the daytime and brought in at night.
I usually clip the first part of October, by
the time the snow flies it is grown out enough
not to be bare, but still shorter than the
teddy bear coats they have by then.
I clip again in early Spring.
Jude Hall
in Ohio where the snow might fly a little
tonight :^0