Doing my first clip tonight - any tips?

Measure and then draw the clip lines out first otherwise you could end up with a unsymmetrical clip and end up taking the lot of (I speak from experience!)

Regularly feel the heat of the blades and oil so you dont burn your horse or pull at his coat.

Allow yourself plenty of time to do this and have spare blades at the ready.

Give yourself and your horse regular breaks.

Where a boiler suit/overalls, clippings get everywhere in places you didnt know you had!
 
Use chalk or saddle soap to mark the lines and if you decide to go for half a face take the noseband off your bridle and put it on your horse to give you an idea of where to clip.
If it is fairly cold when you are clipping cover the naked bits with a blanket.
When you have finished go over the clipped bits with warm water that has a drop of baby oil in it. It gets rid of all the grease.
 
- If a girlie then take your Bra off before you start, you will never get the hair out of it otherwise.
- Don't wear fleece (same reason).
- If you are using mains clippers don;t forget to use a circuit breaker, and have a helper who looks after the cable for you while you clip.
- Start on the neck where there are no straight lines until you get the hang of it.
- To get rid of tram lines go back over the coat at a different angle.
- To make nice 'square' edges on your lines cut them first and then cut towards them lifting the clippers as you get to the line.
- If in doubt remove less coat. Its easier to retrim a bit higher than to stick some back on!

Good luck, clipping is easier than it looks so I am sure you will do fine.
 
All the above^^^^^^ and don't forget to post pictures of the finished clip
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I posted something simular yesterday and someone posted a link to a fab site.... if you look though yesterdays posts you will find it
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I'm doing my first ever clip tonight, pony sleeps when he's clipped so that's okay.

Any tips on doing lines etc? As i'm planning on doing a blanket.

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Try never to clip in artificial light. Tram lines will be visible in day light and then you will have to get the clippers out - again. Someone begged me to clip a pony one dark evening. I did not want to but eventually succumbed. I had to go up again in the morning to sort out the tram lines!
 
Firstly those disposable painting overalls from B & Q etc are fab for clipping in!

Other than that, take your time, try to keep smooth even strokes, cheap lipstick style concealer is fabulous for drawing lines with and brushes out easily.

I don't mark out personally, I do it all by eye and have never had any complaints. I don't worry too much about tram lines as they disappear in a couple of days anyway. Be sure to hold the skin taut as you go to avoid nicks. Personally I work with the clipper lead going over my shoulder and down my back. Even if I step back it then moves with me. Make sure you oil and check your blades every 10 minutes at the very least. While I am doing this I always have the helper whisk over the horse with a brush, gives me a clear pitch and I can spot any misses. If you go wrong, take a breath, think about it and go again. What's the worst that can happen? A wonky line never hurt anybody nor does a chip out in the wrong place. We all have to start somewhere.

Good luck and pics please!

xx
 
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