How do you get your clips to look right?!!

seoirse

seoirse

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I've been clipping my own horses for years now, but I still seem to be crap at it! It's fine when I'm doing a full clip, thats no problem, but when, like tomorrow I need to do a chaser or a trace type thing I seem to spend ages faffing about trying to get the line right, then getting it level both sides. I almost feel like its easier to just pay someone else to come and do it as I will save myself the stress, but then I've got a super set of clippers and a horse that stands like a rock so it seems a waste! How do other people manage to do such a good job? What makes things worse is my horse is like a polar bear and its always harder when they are really hairy. Eurgh. I'm dreading it! Though it will be worth it when its done and I've cleaned up and had a shower!
 
spend a few mins beforehand with a piece of chalk, and get the lines drawn on evenly, saves a lot of time later on as you will always get it even, so long as you follow the line you drew :)
 
Thank you for that - I still haven't done it yet. Keep putting it off!!! Think I'm going to try and do it this Saturday, I ought to have got the hang of it by now but it's just one of those things I don't think I'll ever be much good at!!!
 
I just draw the line in the hair on both sides. You can use a bit of string to measure down from the spine on both sides but I just do it free hand. No point stressing, it grows back :)
 
No one can actually see both sides of the horse so if the lines are not exactly level it will not be noticed, try and get them level on the neck, quarters anywhere in the middle should then be almost even.
Do the lines with a confident sweep it is easier to maintain a straight line if it is done in one go, once you have done the first side and are happy with it start on the other side with a clear line possibly a little lower than required, check it is level by standing in front of the horse, if not go up a little, try not to fiddle about too much.
 
Practice :)

I have been clipping my own (and friends horses) for the last 4 winters and it does practice but I think you either have the nack for it or you don't :o
 
Chaptertwo said:
Practice :)

I have been clipping my own (and friends horses) for the last 4 winters and it does practice but I think you either have the nack for it or you don't :o
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I'm usually quite artistic too! How about roud the top of the front legs, how does everyone get that so neat and sharp looking? Mine always look chewed by mice! I'll post a pic of my finished article when I've got my act together and done it!
 
I did a trace clip on George this year and I used masking tape to get the lines straight and even, once I've done one side I get some string round his bum to make sure the masking tape is the same level on both sides.
 
seoirse said:
He is grey but he's soooooooooo furry the lines stand out, last winter everyone joked that his blanket clip looked like I'd stuck a bathmat on his back :D
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Ahh mines not quite so fuzzy so you can't see as much when he's got tufts I've missed... :rolleyes: or wonky lines.

Having said that my friend did the lines for me I just removed the general fuzz, and she's been clipping hers for a whilev her moto is "its a full clip or nothing" she says she can't do lines, she'll leave half a face and legs on but everything else is long gone... Good job it's a full clip he needs, as I wouldn't fancy attempting those lines :D
 
Fresh first clip, no lines. I use fine blades and have been doing it for years and years. So I get practise?

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"Don't stress no one can see both sides at once." Something my lovely boss once said to me after a horse I was clipping reared up and clipped my head sending me to hospital for stitches. I'd only just finished one side - The horse was due to race the next day so went clipped on oneside and not the other.

I round corners so it's harder to tell if the sides match but always try to do the lines in one good full sweep.
 
I just did a bib though it looks neat and he looks soooo much smarter now, bit higgledy piggledy under his jaw as he wouldn't keep still and there was no-one about to hold head up for me but all in all quite pleased! Would have taken more off but due to our current circumstances (cushings/ongoing cough) he's not doing much so didn't need a proper hair cut, it was more to tidy him up and take the beard off so when I do ride (20 min walk down the lane at the moment is all we are up to!) I can actually get the bridle done up! :D
 
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