Re: winter riding indoor and clipping advice
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Thank you so much to everyone who shared their experiences. I have a complete collection of wonderful sheets, coolers, light weight, medium weight and heavy weight blankets from my last two horses. The fjord I lease, Finne, is quite wide and 14'3 and can take up most of the length in my 78-80 blankets. I have plenty of experience with blanketing and using coolers in stalls, and have coolers with chest buckles and leg straps so I can use them as long as I am still around to check now and then. I was sure I was going to hear a large outcry to not clip or blanket, but heard from most that responded and ride indoors in the winter that they do at least partial clips and blanketing. I loved the idea of having a horse that didn't need any winter covering, but after seeing his thick coat full of sweat, I was no longer sure. Thank you particularly to Paula for including a picture of her clipping. I will take the info to my trainer and she will clip Finne for me.
winter riding indoor and clipping advice
This message is from: A S LONGFELLOW [EMAIL PROTECTED] I live in Minnesota. I am working with a trainer who rides my fjord once a week and then I take a lesson. I also do a lot of trail riding. The indoor ring is heated and Bjorn is a pasture horse who is out 24/7. I didn't believe in blanketing until I realized that cooling down time would cut into the amount of time and the type of work my instructor could do with him. I started by blanketing him in the fall to limit his winter hair growth . Then last winter I had him trace clipped. That really helped with the cooling down process. I also use a fleece cooler after I ride. It does an excellent job of wicking the moisture away from the body. When it's really cold and windy, I use a wool quarter sheet for riding outside. I also use it for warming up in the indoor ring. In the winter he's a fit fjord and cools down quickly. Hope this helps. Ann Longfellow
Re: winter riding indoor and clipping advice
This message is from: Reena Giola [EMAIL PROTECTED] Genie The other winter I rode pretty extensively with no clipping (here in MI) with a full coat. when we were done, he was 'dripping' with sweat after some of our lessons, not all but some, riding in an indoorand I would put a cooler (wool) on him...now this would take him quite a while to dry and not something I would recommend doing. This was during a once a week lesson... and not EVERYTIME did this happen.but still, it is a hassle and I would either recommend riding LIGHTLY where he/she is not going to become overheated or to clip... I'd also like to say, that I still did keep him blanketed.may have been overkill?! but our first winter here, he lost TONS of weight, and I was certainly glad I'd had blanketed him and him not have to keep himself that much warmer thinking how THIN he would have been WITHOUT the blanket (and that wasn't even a COLD winter---and I made sure that he was not overheated with it on...not sweating or anything)...and when they are fuzzy it's hard to tell by just looking at them. The barn owners I think thought he was too fat (with the fuzzy hair) and didn't feed him as much, or perhaps the hay quality wasn't the greatest by then (they are eventers and like that slab sided look..which by the way, doesn't look good on a Fjord). But I got the weight back on him and he looks great.This year he came through great, no weight loss at all..with light winter riding, blanketing..(light weight)... and no clip. He is an older horse, so I am trying to take precautions. I'd recommend a clip on the chest area up the underside of the neck for sure if even if you don't want to clip so that he can cool-out and dry quicker... and any other places where you see him sweating alot. I usually chose not to clip and know that it will limit me with my riding.but that is my choice. Reena (leonard, MI) This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] The fjord I'm riding has already put on a heavy coat for winter and is sweating quite a bit when ridden. While it is still warm, I hose him off and let him dry which takes a very long time. I Thanks Genie in Ann Arbor, MI
winter riding indoor and clipping advice
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] The fjord I'm riding has already put on a heavy coat for winter and is sweating quite a bit when ridden. While it is still warm, I hose him off and let him dry which takes a very long time. I can't quite imagine what his full winter coat will be like. I am concerned about winter time when I ride in an indoor arena and how long sweat will take to dry. As I don't have my horse at home, I will have to stay at the barn while waiting for him to dry, etc. I love the idea of not clipping and not blanketing, etc. but I don't know if that will work well. What do those of you that ride indoors over the winter do about clipping and blanketing - no clipping, trace clipping (and where), other clipping - with or without blankets. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks Genie in Ann Arbor, MI
