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Clipping the horse gives it more energy? This is why

You have probably realised it too: It has become autumn and the horse’s coat is becoming quite long. Therefore, you decide to clip off the coat. But suddenly the hacking and training with your horse feels much more hectic, and the horse is basically a ticking bomb to sit on. You ask yourself: What really happens when you clip your horse, and does it matter in terms of energy to clip the horse’s coat? You probably ask that question as you desperately try to hold back the horse in the rains. And yes, clipping you horse does have an impact on its energy level.  

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Horses have no problem staying warm 

By nature, horses are designed to have a body temperature between 37,2 and 38,2 degrees, and this is no problem for most horses also without a blanket. Therefore, you should only use a coat for your horse if you decide to clip it or if you want to avoid the thick winter coat. If you do not put a blanket on, the horse will by itself regulate its temperature. This is of course only possible for the horse if its living conditions are fulfilled. This meaning a shed to seek shelter in cold weather, movement when it is feeling cold, and lots of good hay to keep the amount of calories intact.  

Not until the weather is saying real wintertime is it advisable to put on a blanket of 300 grams. Photo: Stock

When you clip off the horse’s coat 

Clipping the horse also means that you remove the natural weather regulator – the coat. A blanket can never supply the same effect as the horse’s own fur. However, at rule of thumb is that if you do decide to use a blanket, it should be about 300 grams for the cold days.  

Air is isolating 

You have probably heard that air is isolating. Therefore, it can seem logic that two blankets with 100 grams each on your horse will have the same effect as one with 200 grams. This is, however, not the case. Agronomist Karin Morgan explains that the isolation only increases with 10 precent using two blankets. This is caused by the lack of isolating air between the upper blanket and the one underneath. Therefore, Karin Morgan advices to put a wool blanket under the synthetic one.  

Therefore, your horse is more energetic after the clipping 

Let us go back to the matter of clipping and a very eager horse. Clipping does make your horse more energized. This is caused by the fact that when the winter coat is off, the horse does not have to use the same amount of energy to keep its body temperature down during training – thereby you receive the joyful riding session with the extra level of speed.  

Source: Agria Dyreforsikring

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