A body-clipped horse is typically a performance horse or a horse that is heavily worked in the winter months. Discover how the skin can be sensitive on a body-clipped horse with help from an equestrian riding instructor in this video on horse grooming.
Hello, my name is Chelsea Sawtell, primary riding instructor at Black Friar Farm in Kingston Springs, Tennessee. And today we're going to be discussing the reasons for body clipping and how to groom your body clipped horse. Performance horses and horses that are in heavy work in the winter months are often body clipped and blanketed. The reason being is a sweaty horse with a full coat is then put away wet in cold weather, where it can catch a chill. A body clipped horse will dry quickly and can be blanketed and his body temperature monitored more closely. Because most of the coat is removed on a body clipped horse, the skin can become sensitive. When grooming you want to take extra care and be gentle as to not irritate the horses skin. Begin with a soft curry. Starting behind the horses ears, work in circular motion across the horse's body. This will remove any dirt, dander, or debris up against the horse's skin. Next, you'll need a medium bristle brush. Going with the grain of the hair, starting with the neck, work in long, sweeping, flicking motions across the horse's body. Finish your grooming with a soft brush. Once again, starting at the base of the neck, in long sweeping, flicking motions, polish the coat. This will bring any oils up to the surface and give the coat a nice luster. When grooming the horse's face, be sure to pay special attention to eyes, ears, nose, and mucus membranes. Look for any signs of disease, sickness or illness. Proper grooming is essential in the maintenance of healthy, shiny body clipped horse. Because horses that are body clipped are often blanketed, they are prone to blanket rubs. Rubs on the points of the shoulders are signs of an ill fitting blanket. Now, is a good time to inspect your horse for any areas of hair loss or rubbing due to an ill fitting blanket. Blanket rubs on the points of the shoulder, while unsightly at first, have the ability to turn into infections when the integrity of the skin of the shoulder is compromised. Take special care to inspect the horse's shoulders on a daily basis and readjust any blankets as necessary. This is a good time to check your horse for any cuts, scrapes, or signs of fungal infection. Hair loss, flaky, itchy, irritated, or red skin, are all signs that something may be wrong.
Specialty: Young Stock and Horsemanship
