Grooming tips for an Icelandic

[eah4me]

We recently purchased an Icelandic horse for our daughters. We live in a very temperate climate right on the coast and I am worried he will be too warm with all that furry hair! Do Icelandics shed out in the spring? He doesn't seem to be shedding very much right now and my TB has already completely shedded out. I've heard they often need to be body clipped if they are to be ridden regularly in a warmer climate, but I've never dealt with body clipping before. Are there other alternatives? Also, if we do body clip would we need to do a full clip or just a trace? I'm a little clueless here. Never had such a furry horse before! Thanks!

[Wally]

If he was an imported Icelandic he might hold on to his coat for weeks yet.

One of our mares was just about in her full summer coat by the end of August, then BAM! back into her winter drawers.

We just used to take off her throat, chest and belly in spring to giver her some releif from the spring and summer heat with a full coat.

When the summer coat does come in it is generally finer and softer and silkier than the average Arab! :D :D One extreme to the other.

I have just found a photo of Ugla and her haircut! We used to take all the belly off and the insides of her back legs where she got sweaty.

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f177/sprimble/ugla.jpg

[eah4me]

Thank you so much for your reply. I think I will try clipping his tummy and inner thighs first to see if that makes him more comfortable. He doesn't look horribly uncomfortable, but he was not being worked much at all before and my daughters now ride him almost every day. We bought him from a farm not too far from us so he's been in a warm climate for most of his life. I'm sure he's fine, I'm just a worried Icelandic mommy. Thanks again!