I was just thinking about this, and although we're a long way from entering a ring, thought I'd ask anyhow. Do you HAVE to shave off a horse's facial whiskers, or can they be left as long as the rest of your grooming is outstanding? I'm asking because I know those whiskers serve a purpose, and I don't want to do it just so it "looks good". I've heard that some people leave them. Anyone here?

It depends on what you want to show in. Most "show" classes such as hunter, pleasure, and equitation will fault unshaved whiskers. Working classes such as cutting, barrel racing, trail, and jumpers shouldn't say anything. I'm unsure of reining though.

I shave my horse's whiskers, but leave the ones on his eyes. I also only shave the outside of the ears, although many people do more.

It depends on what you're showing in. If you plan to compete in events where turn-out is important, you'll most likely want to shave them off.

As a side note, I've always done a thorough clip job on my show horses and haven't had any issues because of it. This includes muzzles, eye whiskers, and ears. My show horses aren't pampered barn babies, either.

At the barn where I ride we only shave the horses' muzzle whiskers. I've heard that it's not good to clip ear or eye hairs (not sure why ).

I have been a professional groom for years, mainly with hunters and jumpers.

Depends on what type of show you are going to. If its a A rated show....then shave em all off for sure, except the ones around the eye. And shave the ear hair out as well as extra leg hair.

For B and C rated shows its touch and go....I would clean them up for sure....trim muzzel whiskers, feathers around feet, and trim up the ears some. I personally would do at leat this much for open shows and such too. Makes a good impression when they look neat. That being said, its a big thing in europe to not shave all their hair off and I have known several american dressage riders who trim up the legs and ears some as well as under the jaw, but leave all the muzzle hair alone.

As long as you have a clean horse who does not looked pulled out of a pasture you should be good to go!

I agree with Robinson.

Anytime when I think having an ultra-groomed horse might give me an advantage....... I would do it. I've never had any ill effects of clipping a horse - although with reining, I've never totally clipped the ears, just cleaned the edges and shaved away the tufts.

quote:
"I've heard that it's not good to clip ear or eye hairs (not sure why )."

It's because the whiskers around the eyes, and muzzle, act as "feelers", like a cat's do. The ear hair is there to keep dirt and debris from going down into the ear canal. That's why I'm having trouble with the "shave it all off" idea, but I guess I'll have to cross that bridge when I come to it.

I do not clip the muzzle at all, and it is not penalized at all in dressage shows. I am against clipping any type of whisker hairs, as I think they act as feelers. In Germany (and maybe other places in Europe) it is actually illegal, and considered to be 'mutilation of a sensory organ' (according the the german trainer at my last barn). I will trim the hairs on the outside of Odhinns ears, and the hairs underneath his throatlatch to make it look neat, but I personally, leave the muzzle alone. I can imagine that it would matter in a halter-type class, but if I was showing hunters, and I put in the best trip, and my horse had the best form and I didn't get a blue ribbon because I did not clip my horses muzzle, I would be very shocked and would never show with that judge again.

Edited to add: You can have very neat turnout WITH muzzle hair. In my siggy Odhinn has all of his in tact

Oh, YES, thank you, thank you!lol Stupid as it probably seems to some, I'm relieved, especially since I plan on eventually going to dressage tests.

When I get my own horse I don't think I'm going to clip any of his/her facial hairs. As I mainly only compete at hunter/jumper schooling shows at my barn that doesn't penalize for having whiskers.

i use a disposible razor. the kind you buy at the dollar store that are pink.

Well it would certainly make it easier to groom for shows if you don't have to! I am so used to shaving that unshaved horses look messy to me.

If it makes ya feel any better, none of mine get anything shaved or trimmed, including bridle paths, except their hooves

I do use a battery operated clipper once every couple years on the bridle path just so the horse will learn to allow it, but I do not like the look and have not found a need to have them clipped, so don't do it regularly.

I do clip whiskers, around eyes, (NOT lashes, just the longer hairs above and below the eye) around hooves, the outsides of ears, and bridle paths. I really only do that for shows, except I keep bridle paths trimmed and legs tidy all year so my horses don/t get scratches.

If you don't want to get rid of the whiskers completely you could probably just trim them a little shorter.

Personally, I would not enter a show ring without whiskers and all shaved. Too me it just looks sloppy (sorry..) I do not shave the insides of the ears unless in a class that is judging on looks, like a pleasure class. Although a judge would not pin someone else just because their horse is trimmed and yours is not, judging is very subjective and the overall impression a judge gets can be the deciding factor in a close call. Now in a dressage test or reining run which is scored on points it may not be a factor at all. But I love the look of a beautifully groomed horse and to me that includes the whiskers, just makes their head look so much more refined. JMHO.