Several people have asked me about the winter clip that Biasini has this year. Previously we have been going to Florida and warm temperatures in the winter so he would have a full clip; all the thick winter fur off! But this year we are staying home in Ontario. So I do not need to give him a full clip. I need to have some of his fur off or he would be too hot when working in the indoor arena even when it is colder. So he has a Trace Clip. This clip leaves the hair on his legs, and his back but takes off all the hair on his lower neck and belly.
You may notice in the first photo he is clipped going up the sides of his bottom beside his tail.. This is because in the work we do he uses those muscles and they can get hot and sweaty. You don’t want your horse to get hot and sweaty and then they have a lot of coat to dry off in the cooler weather. This means they can get chilled. Not a good idea. Why is it called a TRACE clip? The clip is at the level of the traces of a carriage .
It is a practical clip and as Biasini does not like the cold this helps, along with his winter blankets , to keep him warm.
Thanks to Lexi Bradbury for the photos of Biasini and his trace clip! For more info on the Dutch Carriage horse click on the link at the bottom of the photo.
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