CLIPPING YOUR HORSE

Horses are usually clipped when they start to get hairy in the cooler months. After being clipped, a horse must then be rugged appropriately to keep warm as they no longer have hair. Being kept in a stable at night is the best way of keeping them warm when the temperature drops in the evening in winter. I prefer to have every part of the body covered, including the ears and I keep my horses in a stable that has lights on at night. This gives the impression that it is summer and the horse's brain thinks it is lighter until later and for neurological reasons, the hair then doesn't grow. Well, that is how it is supposed to work, but you will always have a horse like this one pictured below that no amount of rugging or lights at night will stop the horse getting hairy! There are headstalls/headcollars/halters that you can purchase that have a light on them that shines in the horse's eye and is supposed to achieve the same outcome, however, I do not use these. Here is a link to help you be able to clip your own horse. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqe9lcMX3hM If you are not comfortable with doing this yourself, there are horse clipping businesses and you can book someone to come and do it for you. Sedation may be required if your horse is sensitive to being clipped.

One of our yearlings being clipped in winter