I'm SO useless at clipping

[mickey]

Just spent over 2 hrs trying to clip my horse. I had lines everywhere! Just about repaired some of the damage. If anyone has any tips for a good clean smooth clip do let me know! The fact that my horse is threatening to kill me when I do under his stomach/around his back legs does not help.....Even when he is heavily sedated....!
ARGHHHHH I HATE clipping.

 

[LouHardwick]

I had such a hard time with my girl when I started doing her.Track marks everywhere- I changed the blades to a heavier wider toothed blade to get the worst of then switching to the finer ones to finish off- this year I have had no marks- My girl is coloured too and the marks used to show really badly on her white bits-
Much better now- no lines- perserve xxx

 

[mickey]

Yes, I just wonder if the fine blades I am using are making things even worse for me?? I want my horse to look smart, not like a dog's dinner!!

 

[Daisychain]

What you need to do is press quite hard across your horses coat, keeping the skin as taut as you can, if you have lines just go over that area again, another tip is when you are doing the quarters for example make sure you do really long lines, dont do short lines as that will encourage a bad finish, its just practice really, i taught my self at 17! good luck..

 

[mickey]

This is only my 2nd time of doing it. I figure it's all learning a new skill and hopefully with practice I will become good at it in the end!!
I do try to take long sweeps but it's just getting rid of those darned lines!
Thanks for your help

 

[MillionDollar]

Ahh don't worry, practice does make perfect

A tip is to go back over the coat in the other direction. So if your lines go diagonally bottom to top, go over these the other way diagonally, this gets rid of them and 2 days later you can't see anything.

Here is a litlle diagram for you (can you tell I'm bored

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I clip using Lister fine blades and it hasn't made a difference on my hairy Natives or my WB.

And if it makes you feel any better greys and coloureds are the worst to clip

 

[mickey]

Thanks Claire! My YO also showed me how to go over the lines up and down after the original lines were side to side.....if that makes sense. I have some more touching up to do tomorrow.!!!! I just don't want my horse looking silly because of my ineptitude!!!!