My daughter's Morab gelding has responded very well to treatment of COPD/allergies (there is now a question on what exactly the problem was last spring) no wheezing, coughing, nothing for the last 10 months. He needs to go back to productive work, he's harassing the other horses. On several occaisions I've seen him run circles around the Quarter Horse biting him in the butt each time he ran past trying to get him to play. We are cautiously optimistic that we'll be able to lightly barrel race him this year, but I'd rather run him when it's cool so the spring and fall shows would be best. This horse hairs up like a yak and it takes him longer to shed out than most horses (had him tested for Cushings), and I'd like to body clip him but I've never done it this late. Will clipping him now effect his summer coat? If I don't clip him and we put him in conditioning it will take hours to properly cool him out.

Stacy in NY

-- Stacy (KincoraFarm@aol.com), March 20, 2002

Answers

I live in the sunbelt, but would still have to blanket an equine if I were to body clip him today. It would really make it tough on me, since the blanket has to be removed as soon as the day warms up and put back on when the sun is setting. This would have to be done until our nights warm up. Just one reason why I don't body clip! -G-

The body clipping will have no effect on the summer coat.

Don't mean to be presumptuous, but is this critter on a regular deworming program? If you don't live in a place like Montana, it could be the reason for the equine turning into a yak!

-- ~Rogo (rogo2222@hotmail.com), March 20, 2002.

Stacy: I have body clipped horses about this time of year before to get them ready for early shows and had no problems. You might want to give him a hot oil treatment after body clipping, that seems to help their coats from getting scruffy looking. And depending on the horses color he will look different for awhile. My chestnut horse turns orange. I also have a horse that was diagnosed with COPD about four years ago, he was at death's door and we tried everything. The winter passed and he was perfectly fine the next spring and has coughed a few times since. He is now 21 years old and in great health! I just wonder what was out that season to cause him such problems? Good luck! Renee

-- Renee (aerie@dotnet.com), March 20, 2002.

Yup, Star baby lives in Upstate NY and is on a regular deworming schedule, he just hairs up like a yak. I was worried the first few years I owned him and had him tested for Cushing's but he's fine. I still don't know why he had the COPD/allergy attack last spring, but I did a few things different this year leave the window in his stall open all winter, soaked every mouthful of hay (last year I didn't soak outside hay), knock on wood the old coot is looking and sounding really good. I'm still going to be very careful with him this year, if he shows any symptoms while we're conditioning him--he's done and back to being an annoying pasture ornament.

I body clipped my daughter's liver chestnut rail horse early this year, when clipped he looks dun!

Thanks for your help.

Stacy in NY

-- Stacy (KincoraFarm@aol.com), March 21, 2002.

Stacy, Yes, I do trace clips in March, to keep the horses from overheating as they begin endurance conditioning each spring. I use a #10 blade and it does not shave close enough to chop off the beginnings of the summer coat, but gets close enough to do the job, and it sure looks nicer than a yak. The halter folks say don't do it 'cause it could take the tapered ends of the coming summer coat off and cause a less than perfect haircoat lay. For most other horses it's just not an issue. Hope this helps!

-- Debbie in MO (risingwind@socket.net), March 22, 2002.

Hey Debbie- I'd been told that too if you clip too late in the season it would effect the summer hair coat. He's certainly no halter horse so I'll just wait for this horrendous cold front to move on and clip him.

Thanks to everyone for their help.

Stacy in NY

-- Stacy (KincoraFarm@aol.com), March 22, 2002.