Sussex horse clipping services

18/10/2026

Let's talk rugs!

I wasn't going to do a rug post this year but from what I have seen driving around, we need more rug posts.

We have had some crazy weather recently and it is that changeable season where is can be jumper weather, shorts weather, waterproof coat and then sunglasses all in one afternoon.

What is worrying is seeing horses in light rain rugged with neck rugs and it's 20°C. Personally I hate neck rugs for daily use and they should be reserved for short term use in mid winter or just the night before a show.

Horses 100% should be treated as an individual I am definitely not anti rug (as my rug collection will testify) but I am very much against over rugging and the use of badly fitting rugs.

Horses do not melt in the rain, they will stay wamer than us when they shiver, short term shivering is okay, they way horses stay warm is by digesting fibre, when dry they puff up their coats and they have a coat pattern and grease layers in their coat to stop the wet reaching the skin.

Please don't rug your because you feel cold or its a bit damp or everyone else is rugging so, I better had too. Rug because your genuinely needs a rug.
Old and struggling with weight (rugs don't keep legs warm), a horse struggling with weight, a very fine coated, freshly clipped (use a rug lighter then you think), poor shelter, you may need some kind of rug now or if you are planning in riding and rain is likely then a rain sheet is sufficient.

Yes your horse will get muddy they are meant too you may need to groom just the areas you need for a saddle - yes even if they are grey!

Dry and cold your horse will cope much better than wetter and warmer (I am not talking 18°C, they will be fine.

There is an obesity crisis amongst the equine community and over rugging is definitely contributing to it as horses don't need to work to stay warm and we are all feeders that like to feed because it makes us feel good.

I am not saying don't rug but think before you reach for that rug, do they actually need it or can I go lighter in weight?

**One last point over rugging absolutely 100% won't make your clip last longer! What every anyone will tell you, it Will make the coat lay flat so the coat looks less fluffy but it will do nothing to change the coat growth!**

Picture is my gang in the wet last week. Lauri and Enza rug less Bee a 50g rug because she is feeding a mammoth and is very fine coated gets rain scald and really doesn't need to use more calories to stay warm. Equally she has worn it around 5 times.

18/05/2026

Team work!

17/05/2026

Stay vigilant, take precautions. So far we have been quite "lucky" in Sussex. Let's keep it that way.

A reminder to everyone to stay vigilant. Flu cases are still popping up. Two in Kent and one in Hampshire were announced at the end of the last week. Also bare in mind other infections diseases such as stangles and EHV 1-4, both of which have been close to home (seprate yards) recently. Not all infectious horses will have symptoms as they can be asymptomatic and in the case of EHV shedding can happen before symptoms show and it can be dormant for several weeks.

With good bio security there is no need for panic. If you want more bio security information there is lots of guidance out there or speak to your vet. I will do a bio security post later and things you can do to keep your horse and others safe.

When you are out and about (even hacking) do not assume everyone else takes bio security seriously you do not know the contact every horse has had or what isolation protocols that horse/yard has adhered too when dealing either new horses or infectious horses (21 days is recommended after last symptom/negative test flu/EHV).

Keep up with vaccinations, keep good bio security and we can safeguard the local community.

13/05/2026

01/05/2026

Please be vigilant. As many of people will have already seen there are a lot of cases of flu around. Please please Make sure vaccinations are up to date especially for flu, any concerns get more information from your vet. Temperature checks would not be a bad idea for anyone who is concerned.

Yes this is close to home for many reading this. The yard is doing everything right. With good bio security there is no cause for alarm but be vigilant and make sure you are implementing good bio security especially if you take your horse out and about you do not know who was there before you or what contact other horses have had.

Next week is the start of stangles awareness week and there will a lot of information around about good bio security which is applicable to all infectious diseases.

Thank you to everyone who notified me of this case yesterday as I really do need to be extra careful with a very pregnant Bee.

Any yards with horses that are snotty, have temperatures or a cough of unknown origin please let me know so that I can reschedule your visit.

05/04/2026

Happy Easter Sunday.
What are you all up to?
Ponies time? Nice lunch?

Me working this morning, then pony time.

24/02/2026

What horse owner CPD have you done since the start of the year or in the last year? Demo/talk/webinar/books.
These days, there is so much out there, and every owner owes it to their horse to gain as much knowledge as they can.

I challenge anyone reading this to do at least one horse owner CPD in the next month, and then when I post in a months time, you can reply about what you did and learnt from it.
These can be webinars, demos, talks, or a book.

Places to fine webinars lots get advertised on Facebook, World horse welfare have lots for free on YouTube, Intelligent Horsemanship members have lots of webinars on the website (you can join as a member), horses inside have loads of options, many vets will do regular clients evenings and some venues may hold demos.

And yes, I totally used AI to create the image used!

14/01/2026

Indie 1998 -2026 🌈🦄

You know that day will come and you know that day is coming soon, but you are never ready and it is always heartbreaking.

Today I had to say goodbye to one of my best friends of 18 years. I am so lucky to have had 18 years, but it still never feels enough.

The last few months she had been "odd" the last few days she had problems eating, then she had colic and today she no longer had colic but she was clearly very sick. A massive thanks to her support group that were all around her and to vets have gone above an beyond, for which I am so very grateful.

Way too many memories to mention she lived every one of her lives to the fullest. I nearly lost her so many times as she did really like to dance with death a little too much, but she was a tough cookie and always bounced back with a vengeance.

Memories that will always stick out would be having had her less than 24 hrs she jumped a 1m25 wooden fence from trot to meet new friends a habit that did continue for several years!
The sprinkler incident where I had to be rescued after the sprinkles made Indie wild and we got very stuck.
Escaping and disappearing in the dark through the woods away from all her friends and having to go after her but not too fast or she would start trotting.
Holding any visitors hostage until they had sctrached her bum for at least 5mins.
And soo soo many more.

See was 1 in a million.

Lauri, Bee (and baby Bee) will miss her, her influence on the group was huge and will take some adjustment for us all.

There will be a delay in getting back to people this week and apologies to all those I have had to rearrange this week

05/11/2025

I may have caught up with most if my messages but I may have missed some given the amount I get at this time of year. If you are waiting on me please re message. November is 99% fully booked just a few random spaces and December is rapidly filling up. Please don't leave it to the last minute to request clipping.

Please remember to bath and scrub your horse before clipping- there have been lots of dirty horses!
If you wanted a sedated clip with the vet that is fine I do this a lot and work quickly enough to get them done but you do need to book an appointment time as I don't have capacity in the winter to wait.