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Like dogs and cats, the coats of horses are continually growing. In winter they grow a thick, shaggy coat. This gradually falls out to be replaced by a sleek, shiny summer coat. Some breeds grow thicker coats because of where they have originated. Shetland ponies from the Shetland Isles have very thick, hairy coats to help them make it through the severe winters. Arab horses from Egypt won’t show as much difference between their summer and winter coats. In many countries horses are clipped for various reasons. Sometimes the whole body is clipped or perhaps just parts of it. Once clipped, they horses need to wear rugs to make up for losing their protective covering. Clipping makes it easier to keep them clean. If they are expected to do a lot of physical activity, they will sweat less without a heavy coat, and even when they do sweat they can be washed down and dried much more easily and quickly. In the photo you can see one of the endurance horses that we watched last weekend. You can see his legs and saddle area are unclipped and they have also left a decorative heart on the hindquarters. Horses sweat most on the shoulders and flanks so these are the areas which have been clipped. Leaving the hair on the legs will stop him getting chilled so easily.