Ernest having the bot scratch of his life |
Secondly, it's hard to keep him clean when he's 'full fur'. Maxx and I groomed Ernest for 90 minutes on Thursday, and I'd groomed him for an hour on Wednesday. Even after that he wasn't sparkling, and he wears a turnout rug so most of his body was clean, but it still takes forever to get thick, dried mud out of a thick coat. Not keeping him clean means he gets very itchy.
Finally, it’s very hard to tell if Ernest has any cuts or bumps which
need attention with long fetlocks (the hair on his lower legs). For breeds with even longer fetlocks, I’m
sure their owners are adept at doing this, but I find it difficult to keep this
area really clean. When Nadine was clipping she noticed he had little scabs
around his feet. They weren't anything serious, but I'd still prefer to know if he has any scratches or cuts.
I have plenty of rugs to keep him warm when riding, in his field or in his stable, and I always check his temperature (behind the ears and under the 'arm' pit). I hope that's answered any questions you had as to why Ernest is clipped!
LOVE these pics :) xx
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