Low trace clip daft question!

[Fools Motto]

planning all my clipping requirements/requests.
Selection of ponies, most get ridden daily, some are just gentle plods out, others are in medium work. All live out. Most ponies get neck and belly clips - I call it an Irish clip.
I've been told to give several low trace clips too. No trouble. However, when I jestured where I would clip the line to would be, the boss said it was way too high. I didn't think so, but it got me thinking, is there a measurement system that dictates low, medium or high clips? What do you consider low? Over the hind quarters, do you slope the line down or keep it parallel to the line along the belly? I know what I like to do, but got a difference of opinions going on!! lol

Also on a clipping note, is the general verdict for or against clipping up alongside their tails?

 

[ester]

My line is straight for a trace no slope, I've done both re tail but find it better to take it off (hairy native bum crack ) No idea of measuring system! my low wouldn't be much above the stifle.

 

[be positive]

Line on quarters straight in line with the belly clip, I do go up to the sides of the tail on some if clipping a bit higher than a very low trace but if they only required a low trace I wouldn't choose to do the quarters as it can look rather odd so I stop at the stifle. As for what is high or low that is a matter of opinion, to me low is hardly anything off which means they can get away living out unrugged for much of the time.

 

[DabDab]

My low trace ends up being so that I take about a 3" strip out of the side of the hindquarters, and the rest straight from that.
That'd just how I was taught though....tbh I've never really seen the point in a trace that low in preference to an Irish.

 

[Tiddlypom]

I'd think of a low trace clip as the above. IMHO only suitable for something in very light work. I do clip up against the tail.

 

[Fools Motto]

Thanks for the pic Tp. Perfect. Would you clip up the tail with it that low?

 

[ester]

I chasered F for the first time last year, always do the mare as that's the bits she doesn't mind. But F even just hacking he was awful without his stifle area off so he ended up with some sort of hybrid then! I took the photo incase we needed to remember what worked this year good job he wasn't going out anywhere- historically he's always been a blanket clip pony. - I am not responsible for the grown out hind leg line, freelancer forgot what the aim was when she did the first clip!

 

[ester]

Thanks for the pic Tp. Perfect. Would you clip up the tail with it that low?

If they are doing a lot of living out and not masses of work I'd err on leaving it for first clip and taking it off later if they needed it.

 

[Tiddlypom]

I'd probably not clip up the tail on a clip that low. I do more of a medium trace clip with a half head.