Clipping a grey horse & marking out your clipping lines

[FemelleReynard]

I'm clipping my grey this weekend, and being fairly inexperienced (and not very neat!) I'd like to mark out the lines I intend to clip first to ensure that they are straight and even.

On a dark horse I'd usually use chalk, but that won't show up on a grey, so what can I use?

I was thinking an eye liner pencil may work and wash off? Or is there anything else you'd suggest?

Thanks.

 

[Annagain]

I used cheap face paint....then ballsed it all up and ended up having to take everything off anyway. Have taken everything off ever since! Lines are just too hard in my opinion!

 

[Finlib]

You can get coloured chalk pinks yellows would show on a grey

 

[Nessa4]

Tailor's chalk?

 

[Hexx]

I used to use a magic marker!

 

[UU_HORSE_UU]

Art shops will sell coloured individual chalk and if they're broken they're cheap.

 

[Llee94]

Whatever you do, make sure your blades are a medium grade if you have a grey horse with pink skin. If you clip them with a fine you will end up with a pink horse and a clip that takes forever to grow out which isn't a very good look!
As for lines, I normally just follow the lines of the muscles on the legs. The front ones are easier than the backs for me. I would just use a coloured chalk to get a rough idea of where they should be.

 

[ashlingm]

I used to use kids markers They wash off the hair too if you make mistakes while drawing on them.

 

[Cowpony]

Does it matter what you use if you clip just over the marked hair so that disappears too?

 

[lula]

Does it matter what you use if you clip just over the marked hair so that disappears too?

you dont clip over it, you clip just under it so you can still follow the lines you've drawn.

 

[stencilface]

Just clip one side then the other. As long as the front and back sections line up its fine. It's impossible to see both sides at once after all!

 

[FemelleReynard]

Thanks all, hadn't even thought of coloured chalk. Durgh!

Yes you won't clip the marked lines out, just along them.

Thanks for the replies.

 

[MissTyc]

Just clip one side then the other. As long as the front and back sections line up its fine. It's impossible to see both sides at once after all!

^ this!
I've never let it worry me

 

[Cowpony]

you dont clip over it, you clip just under it so you can still follow the lines you've drawn.

I don't see the difference - if you have the precision to clip up to the line, you surely have the precision to clip the line itself. I was always taught that it doesn't matter what you mark with because it disappears with the clip. But I'm no expert as I usually take it all off

 

[stencilface]

It's only hair, it grows back, nothing is permanent. And if you mess it up, just take the lot off!

 

[MyBoyChe]

I work on the basis that noone can see both sides at once but like to be fairly tidy. I do a blanket clip. I chuck an exercise sheet on and use a lipstick to mark out the corners, then just clip to join up the dots. As long as his backside is level from behind, the rest is never far off.

 

[dreamcometrue]

I find it much harder clipping my grey pony compared to the bay I had previously. Its so hard to see where you have clipped! It never looks as neat.

 

[JulesRules]

I'm getting someone else to clip mine this afternoon as I'm lazy, but I usually just use a water based felt tip