Why clipping is good for your horse

Horses in the wild grow long, thick protective coats during the winter; they are better at staying warm than cooling off. Their bodies are designed to generate and store heat unlike humans who evolved from a warmer climate.
By stabling horses we have created an unnatural winter environment, in addition feeding well, and providing artificial warmth through stable rugs all means the extra protection of a thick winter coat is no longer needed, and can sometimes do more harm than good, especially if your horse is being asked to work regularly. Leaving a long thick coat on a horse that is stabled or one that is often exercised can cause problems. Being too hot can actually cause a horse to lose condition, even if he is being properly fed, keeping a horse in good condition can become almost impossible.
Reasons for clipping: -
• For quick drying after exercise
• To allow a horse to carry out fast work without too much stress
• To conserve condition by avoiding heavy sweating
• Makes grooming easier
• Maintains a smart looking horse
In general, you should consider clipping if: -
• Your horse is too hot during exercise, winter or summer, and is in danger of overheating, or
• Is in danger of becoming chilled while waiting to dry in cold weather
• Your choice of clip depends on the type of work your horse will be doing over the winter period, taking into account how much he usually sweats
• You need to establish why and ultimately what sort of clip you need to give your horse

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