Clipping during moulting

Hi! As a rule it is best to avoid clipping in the middle of the moult, because the skin is a little more sensitive then. That said, it depends a lot on why you are clipping. If the horse sweats up, works hard, or gets too hot in training, clipping can certainly still be worth it.

If you do clip, hose the horse down beforehand so the coat is clean, which saves the clipper blades. Afterwards, bath or brush thoroughly to lift out the loose hair and dirt. With a sensitive horse it helps to split the clip into several sessions and to use sharp blades so you can work efficiently.

Some horses may come through with a slightly poorer summer coat if they are clipped during the moult, but in most, especially where the diet and general condition are good, you will not see much difference.