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Chapter 1. Why Do We Body Clip Horses?

Jun 29, 2023

Chapter 1. Why Do We Body Clip Horses?

Why Horses Are Body Clipped

Body clipping is a practice commonly carried out on horses for various reasons, depending on the specific needs of the horse and it’s activities.

It’s worth noting that the extent and type of body clip can vary depending on the horse’s needs and the climate it lives in. Some common types of clips include full clips, hunter clips, trace clips, and blanket clips, each removing varying amounts of hair from different areas of the horse’s body. When considering body clipping, it is essential to consult with an experienced professional or a veterinarian to determine the most appropriate clipping style for your horse based on its individual circumstances.

Some of the primary reasons horses are body clipped:

Steam Horse

Prevent Excessive Sweat & Chilling

Horses with a heavy winter coat can easily become sweaty during exercise. If the horse is not properly cooled down and blanketed after sweating, the moisture trapped in the coat can lead to chilling and potentially cause health issues. Clipping helps reduce sweating, making it easier to manage the horse’s post-exercise care.
Steam Horse

Coat Appearance

Clipping is often done for aesthetic reasons, particularly for show horses or horses in competitive disciplines. Clipping can create a sleek and tidy appearance, highlighting the horse’s musculature and overall condition. It allows judges or spectators to better evaluate the horse’s conformation during shows or competitions.
Steam Horse

Easier Grooming

Clipping a horse makes grooming tasks such as brushing, saddling, and cleaning easier and more efficient. It reduces the amount of loose hair, dirt, and mud that can get trapped in the coat, making it less time-consuming to keep the horse clean.
Steam Horse

Temperature Regulation

Horses naturally grow a winter coat that provides insulation and keeps them warm in cold weather. However, if a horse is in heavy work during the winter months or is kept in a heated barn, the thick coat can cause the horse to overheat. Body clipping helps to remove excess hair, allowing the horse to cool down more efficiently during exercise and prevent excessive sweating.

Steam Horse

Faster Drying

After exercise or bathing, a clipped horse will dry much more quickly since there is less hair to hold moisture. This can be beneficial in colder climates or when time is limited.

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Did You Know?

In some cases, a horse’s long and fluffy coat may not be entirely from cold climates. If you notice that your horse’s coat appears excessively fluffy, longer than expected, or seems inappropriate for the season, it may be worth investigating potential medical causes.

One of the primary medical reasons for a long coat in horses is Cushing’s disease. Equine Cushing’s disease, also known as pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID), is a condition that affects the horse’s endocrine system. While it is more commonly observed in ponies, it can also affect horses, typically seen in the mid-teens and older age range. Occasionally, older horses that do not have Cushing’s may also develop longer coats as a result of their body’s natural response to slow metabolic rates, aiming to keep them warm.