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Riding a clipped horse in windy conditions?

1K views 9 replies 6 participants last post by  CandyCanes 
#1 ·
Hi everyone!

Okay, I have an embarrassing question. :oops:

I got Andy clipped this winter. Sometimes in the Waikato winter it can get windy and cold, and more than once, I have not ridden because I would feel terrible about taking Andy's warm blanket off and exposing his unprotected skin to the elements. Is this a legitimate concern or should I just get over it and ride? I know that when I'm not wearing sleeves in windy weather, I shiver and freeze, and I just worry that it's cruel to do the same to my horse. I've never had a clipped horse before and I'm beginning to regret it, he's not really in enough work to warrant it, and it's causing me a lot more worry than I'd thought.

Here's his clip. He's got hair on his face, legs, and rump, but otherwise is mostly naked.

Horse Mammal Pasture Mare Grazing
 
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#2 ·
When you groom him, quarter the rug so you only expose parts of him when you groom. Then, when you ride warm him up with a fleece on, or buy an exercise sheet to ride him in.

How cold is it? My horse was unclipped in -26 and still being ridden in -15oC... he was rugged up so his hair didn't get too thick, but I just made sure he was warmed up and cooled down.. also not left without a rug for periods of time.
 
#3 ·
Haha it's nowhere near as cold here as it is where you are Duffy! Between 5 and 12 degrees normally. But I'm a bit of a wuss when it comes to the cold so maybe I'm just transferring my human emotions onto my horse.
 
#4 ·
Riding in the cold doesn't really bother me, it's just the wind. Blasting wind can really chill you faster than a constant temperature.
 
#6 ·
When you rode him just keep him moving at a brisk pace. His back is covered (sort of, never seen the flanks taken out quite so high) in the UK hunt horses are fully clipped most are exercised without exercise sheets and out fox hunting they can often be standing around for some time but they survive and thrive on it.

Next time just have a trace clip done and leave his head unclipped.
 
#7 ·
I hack my girl out in the winter when she is clipped with wind chills of up to minus 20 Celsius. I use a quarter sheet on her when its super chilly.

I don't know if you can see the clip job or not, but she has a trace clip like your boy.

 
#8 ·
I've bitten the bullet and bought a quarter sheet. I paid $50 brand new made to my specifications.
Wool seems to be the way to go.

I felt a bit the same on those days when I just wanted to walk her.

She also needs a good cool down after quicker rides so I got a removable one so if need be I can pop it on.
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#9 ·
Yeah haha I was letting my friend do a blanket clip on him for experience and she got a bit carried away. That's alright. Thanks for the advice everyone!
 
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