Companion Animal Welfare

Horse Clipping and Welfare

Clipping removes winter coat from working horses to prevent excessive sweating during exercise, with welfare implications for thermal regulation and skin health.

Key Facts

Unclipped horses exercised at high intensity sweat profusely and take longer to cool
Different clip styles from trace to full clip suit different exercise levels
Clipped horses require rugging to compensate for reduced insulation
Clipping itself can cause skin irritation if poorly executed with blunt blades
Some horses become anxious about clipping requiring desensitisation training

Welfare Considerations

Clipping welfare involves balancing the overheating risk from exercising with a full winter coat against the need for adequate rugging and shelter after clipping. Appropriate clipping style matched to exercise level and good follow-up management optimises welfare for working horses in winter.

What You Can Do

Match clip style to your horse's exercise level and avoid unnecessary full clipping
Ensure clipped horses have appropriate rugging and shelter in cold conditions
Use sharp blades and desensitisation training to minimise clipping stress