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In a message dated 3/16/00 1:07:09 PM Pacific Standard Time, hn.heather@wanadoo.fr writes: << > I know that during the winter they get all fluffy and not so sleek...but who cares... Have you ever tried conditioning a horse with a thick winter coat? Have you ever tried drying off a horse (on a freezing cold day) thats sweated heavily because of his shiny slick winter coat? Try it sometime and you'll see why we clip competiton horses in winter! >> Heather is right, Renee. A thick winter coat can greatly inhibit cooling in a horse that has to work. Furthermore, many horses in warmer areas have not shed completely by the time the weather is warming up, so if worked, they get a double whammy of overheating! Put on your down parka and try jogging several miles on a warm, humid spring day--doesn't work well at all! So--clipping becomes the most logical compromise, with a commitment to the horse to blanket if the night in ride camp dips below acceptable levels for those less hairy. (Have to do that with the hairy ones, too, if it is cold post-ride, because the heavy coat prevents adequate drying--so after overheating, the horse then chills. Not fun!) Heidi
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