Clipping...

[TBEventer2002]

Hi all!

I have decided to clip Rumby during Christmas break as he will be in semi-heavy work at school next semester and currently looks like a wooly mammouth! :rolleyes:

I am having trouble deciding between (referencing NR's clips) a chaser, trace, or blanket clip. Rumby has been on grass running up and down steep hills almost every day since the beginning of October, but hasn't been ridden save for the once I took him to school for a class a month or so ago.

He has a tendancy to sweat up pretty good on his neck and shoulders anyways, so I am concerned for his ability to dry out after riding. He'll be in the jumping course 3x per week (one hour each time) with my friend who is just starting over fences, and I will be riding him the other days working on the flat and maybe a few X's here and there. He will probably have the weekends off unless it is very nice outside, and even then it will just be a hack.

I am prepared to blanket him as necessary, and I also have a slinky hood just in case (though I don't think they are very warm!). The barn stays relatively chilly, but not breezy, during the winter.

I attempted to give my mare a chaser clip last year, but I had quite a time trying to figure out where exactly to draw the lines. I am hoping that you all have some piccies of clipped horses that I might be able to reference! :D

Any piccies would be greatly appreciated! I am having no luck finding anyone around here that actually gives their horses various clips (it seems like all that goes on around here is no clip or full body clip, nothing in between).

So, does anyone have any good examples of clips for me? :D Thanks so much!!!

[Mehitabel]

a chaser is pretty variable.
you can either follow the line of the belly then turn upwards at the shoulder and go up the neck, or go from the stifle, diagonally upwards and in a straight line to the throat.

the pic attached is the old git with a wonky trace clip.

[TBEventer2002]

Great, thanks a ton, Es! :) I don't want to embarrass my boy any worse than he'll already be (He's got a slinky shoulder guard for under his blanket that has a colorful ribbon design).

So, if what I actually clip is sort of 'in-between' two different clips, I should be OK? :D

[Mehitabel]

yep. imagine if where the semicircle is on copper, you just sloped down to the stifle instead of taking any off him bum, and then pretend he has straight lines - that's a chaser.

always start low, you can take more off but you can't put it back on!

[Big Ears]

best thing is to take as little off as possible as you can always take more off next time if he is still sweaty. more difficult to stick it back on....

some of the uk race trainers do an interesting clip whereby they modify a trace clip by leaving all the quarters on and back leg, then start the trace from the ribcage onwards - keeps the horse backside warm when turned out.

you could leave bum on and do a very low blanket so that only tum and underneath of neck is taken off - really depends on how hot he is, whether he is ever turned out unrugged, and how wet/cold it is.