Pedigree Query

I saw this filly in the 9th at Aqueduct today---and she looked two-toned. Both in the paddock and on the track! Her back was darker than her sides, and I don't mean shaded. It was like someone painted a line down her.

What is the deal? Can a horse sweat out like that? Or was she partly-shaved down?

The database lists her as bay and indeed that's what she looked like, but two-toned light and dark with a sharp defining line, just like a Chevy Bel Air.

This one has me puzzled and there is probably a really obvious answer, but I can't find an image of her.

She was probably clipped.

What are the reasons to clip a horse? I'm here to learn.

If they are fuzzy wuzzy in their winter coats it takes longer for them to cool out after galloping with all of that hair to dry. The hair stays wet and it is possible a horse could become chilled or sick with that wet coat. Horses are also usually bathed after galloping, so if they arent sweaty then they are probably wet from a bath. Of course in the coldest times they are only bathed in warm barns with warm water and with a couple layers of blanktes on them. To deal with this the horses are often clipped in the winter time and then blanketed to keep them warm. The "trace" clip is a popular clip because it leaves hair on the back and loins to keep them warm while clipping the sweaty parts - the underside of neck and the belly.

The whole idea is for the horse to dry quickly so it doesn't become chilled.

This link should illustrate some of the most popular clipping "patterns."

http://www.masterclip.co.uk/horse_clipp ... types.aspx

The clipped parts are almost always lighter in tone and color than the longer hair that is left unclipped.

With mine I use either the high trace clip or a modified hunter clip, in which I take everything off from the knees or elbows and stifles or hocks up while leaving the lower legs alone.

Thank you so much JP! This is very cool to know. Yup, Rizzi Rose seems to have that high trace clip. ^^

Thanks, Jessi. I've often seen pix of clipped horses, but didn't know why it was done. Most of the horses around here will just be plain shaggy pasture ornaments most of the time until spring!

And here is one of my *two toned* horses. Yes, she is clipped. Miramyst a buckskin mare by Mirabeau.

She's purdyyy. And can she jump!