Drawing lines for clipping.

[scramble_cam]

Hi

Due to wonky eyes (medical term) I have trouble judging if lines are even and straight so prefer to take my time drawing clip lines rather than clipping freehand. I tried using chalk last year but it was hard to draw a line that was visible and didn't just flake off. Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions of what I could use instead. Obviously it needs to be non permanent and not clog up the blades. Also my horse is very dark bay do would need to be bright or pale coloured.
Thanks,
Emma

 

[Dave's Mam]

Draper's chalk?

 

[Tiddlypom]

Draper's chalk?

This, or I have heard heard of folk using insulating electrical tape (white on a dark coloured horse). What clip are you planning on doing?

 

[Llee94]

When I first started clipping I would use masking tape to get my lines straight as it was easier to see than chalk and I could take my time marking the horse up to make it perfect. The clippers would run over the tape fine when cutting the straight lines and then I would just peal it off and have perfect lines.

 

[Kezzabell2]

you can get hair chalk on ebay, they come in all sort of colours these days, that might work! I always struggled on my dun mare with chalk, so ended up going freehand! using a saddle cloth to line them up on each side!

 

[JillA]

I like a chaser clip and it is really hard to get the lines looking good (depends on where the horse's head is). I like the idea of tape, but TBH no-one ever sees both sides at once so as long as each side looks tidy I have stopped stressing about symmetry

 

[scramble_cam]

Thanks for the ideas I will try them. I was going to do a high trace or blanket clip. I did a trace last year but a blanket clip looks abit easier and I dont think my mare will get to cold with her neck off.

 

[FfionWinnie]

Have you tried drawing it in the hair with your finger. Wet finger if necessary and clip the lines first. That's what I do.

 

[PorkChop]

Also liquid chalk works well

 

[Gentle_Warrior]

also do bear in mind than people can look at both sides of a horse at the same time ! helped me in deciding not to worry if one side looked slightly wonkier than the other ! I do have a wide chested horse which helps to !!

 

[Molasses]

I use an old lipstick that i don't like, i call it trashy-red ;-)
I think it was a freebie or a gift, it's a horrendous orange-red, so rather than putting it on my face i draw on the horse with it. sticks well to the hair really well, doesn't all lippy stick to hair afterall

I'm sure everyone has some hated lipstick in a drawer somewhere - great for clip lines

 

[MyBoyChe]

I use lipstick too, works really well. I do a blanket clip on mine so I tend to just put dots on him where I want the lines to join. I clip just above the dots so the lippie comes off with the clipped hair.

 

[sprytzer]

I used to use a bit of baler twine and clip a spot then join the marks, worked for me for years

 

[c2b]

Masking tape

 

[Hexx]

Magic marker!

 

[Luci07]

Saddle soap....

 

[neddy man]

dry wipe pen works lovely on pale colours , not sure what colour would show up on yours. A chalk line , a thin string covered in chalk held at both ends then twanged leaves a nice neat line.

 

[Django Pony]

Pedantic on here made a video on this... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74WEY2JK6ps

 

[case895]

Also liquid chalk works well

Second this. Tried dressmaker's chart.and useless.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

Take everything off and just follow the muscle lines on the front and back legs lol

 

[Peregrine Falcon]

Take everything off and just follow the muscle lines on the front and back legs lol

He he, I like your style.

 

[FNC]

Take everything off and just follow the muscle lines on the front and back legs lol

I'm a fan of this too, the less lines the better. However my mare is now semi retired and I really can't justify scalping her completely. I managed to get away without clipping last year - waiting to see what I can get away with this year !

 

[twiggy2]

Take everything off and just follow the muscle lines on the front and back legs lol

this is what I do

 

[Tnavas]

Lipstick is great, so is a piece of glycerine. For trace or blanket I get the height by putting on the saddle and nipping the coat just below the saddle flap.