My guys have stalls with runs, but they don't have doors, so is never closed up tight. So I hear ya about the "shelter, but not warm" problem. When we had that HOT week in June I body clipped Billy, then had to blanket him at night. He was clearly needing protection when the sun went down, even with his layer of insulation, stall and a nice bed of shavings.
It was over 80 here today, and has been for a long time. Supposed to get down to 75 by the end of the week. But it is still over 40 every night. So I haven't had to worry about anyone getting cold, even with their little clip. I am hoping by the time the temps finally dip that the belly hair will have grown out. I will continue to do just the chest clip. I have never had a horse get chilled from that little bit of hair clipped. But I do tend to feed a lot of hay when it is cold.
With my riding horse I walk him after work to cool, then put either my wool or polar fleece cooler on. This seems to wick the sweat of fairly quick, then I can brush to fluff the hair after it is dry. My riding horse hairs up fairly long/thick, but NOTHING like the miniatures. This is the first winter I will have the fur balls working....at least I hope to. I only have an outdoor arena, so who knows. But I bought a small polar fleece throw that will work as a cooler for the little guys. But I really don't know if it will work to dry them or not. They have SOOOO much hair. If it looks like I am going to be able to work them, and they won't cool/dry, I may have to body clip them and then blanket.
What works for others who are working miniatures in the winter?
I guess I called the clip I do the wrong name. It is not a low trace clip, it is a belly/neck clip. I didn't trim outside the legs at all. But I did trim the bottom of the head like in the Chaser clip in this link....
http://www.newrider.com/Library/Horse_Care...g_how_much.html
I love this clipping page, cracks me up how the man is getting naked with the horse.