Clipping horses’ sensory hairs on their muzzle and around their eyes is forbidden starting in July under a new FEI rule, passed during the governing body’s General Assembly last week that means disqualification for violators. There is no penalty for clipping ear hair, but since it protects against bugs, why not even it up a bit and then leave it?
The rule only applies to FEI horses in all disciplines, so if you’re not FEI, or you’re a hunter or equitation rider, it doesn’t affect you. Even so, wouldn’t it be kind to give your horse a break and let the whiskers function the way they were designed to? If a judge wants to mark you down for not having clipped your hunter’s whiskers, maybe you should do a re-think about showing in front of an official who reacts that way.