Show me your blanket/chaser/irish clips!

[Stenners]

I need to clip my boy in the next couple of weeks but he's not in heavy work as coming back from rehab so wanting to give him either a blanket clip or an irish clip but with all of the neck off which is what he's had before. Any tips for getting the lines even on both sides would be great! For the last few years I've mainly done full clips and taken everything off so getting lines to match both sides are always tricky! Please do show me your photos and share any tips! I need to leave his back on until probably Jan time and he's in harder work as he's a sensitive lad in the cold!

 

[Barton Bounty]

I use chalk , i dont think you will ever get anything perfect but I always go with, if its good enough for me Good god , look how scrawny he looks compared to now

 

[fidleyspromise]

I cheated and got someone else to do it
Mare was sweating in walk. Very little sweat now unless she winds herself up.

 

[Bernster]

I do the same as above, I get someone else to do it but it’s the same clip. Irish clip but all neck off. Could you use a saddle pad and mark certain points on each side? Terrible (and older) photo btw horse doesn’t look this weedy but this is to show the clip.

 

[Tarragon]

You never get to see both sides at the same time ;-)

 

[Spotherisk]

Always check it from the front and the back, not just the side!

 

[MinnieP]

If you use some baling twine it’s easy…

Measure from the mane to the existing clip line and then repeat on the other side making a chalk mark or wet the hair at the right spot. Use as many markers as you need and then just ‘join the dots’ with your clippers.

 

[Stenners]

I do the same as above, I get someone else to do it but it’s the same clip. Irish clip but all neck off. Could you use a saddle pad and mark certain points on each side? Terrible (and older) photo btw horse doesn’t look this weedy but this is to show the clip.

This is the exact clip I'm thinking! Very smart clip and gorgeous horse!

 

[criso]

I use a professional as pony isn't the most cooperative. Various clips.

I like the blanket on him.







Just to add a blanket clip is less forgiving because not only do you want to get the sides level, you also need a straight line from front to back.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

No pics to hand, I take off all the neck (and half head behind cheekpieces) to about an inch in front of the saddle. Go straight down front of saddle, then small curve at bottom of front of saddle and aim for point of stifle taking all the belly off and lower sides. We jokingly call it the Irish blanket.

Ideal clip for still getting turned out without a rug on nice days, or standing around when mounted without needing any exercise blanket on.
Repeat till end Jan when I might also take off hairy trousers, giving a blanket type clip.

 

[Trickywooo]

I do love an Irish clip my pony sporting her clip last winter.

 

[Stenners]

I do love an Irish clip my pony sporting her clip last winter.

View attachment 148092

Your line is so straight!

 

[CanteringCarrot]

OH has used link chalk, but I've always freehanded things and gotten extremely lucky with symmetry I guess! I've also done creative designs too.

This year I'm starting with a bib clip of sorts and going from there. I haven't clipped nor exercised this horse through winter before, and he will be in light work, so I'm starting with just taking a little and going from there. I can take more off, but I can't put it back on!

 

[southerncomfort]

If you use some baling twine it’s easy…

Measure from the mane to the existing clip line and then repeat on the other side making a chalk mark or wet the hair at the right spot. Use as many markers as you need and then just ‘join the dots’ with your clippers.

Wish I'd read this yesterday!

 

[dottylottie]

i find it easy to get even going from back of belly to wither!

 

[Slightlyconfused]

I do the same as above, I get someone else to do it but it’s the same clip. Irish clip but all neck off. Could you use a saddle pad and mark certain points on each side? Terrible (and older) photo btw horse doesn’t look this weedy but this is to show the clip.

We do this but with more of a curve down from the withers to the stifle so its not such a straight line

 

[MinnieP]

Wish I'd read this yesterday!

at least you know for next time. And anyway, you don’t see both sides at the same time so it really doesn’t matter!

 

[fidleyspromise]

at least you know for next time. And anyway, you don’t see both sides at the same time so it really doesn’t mmatter

I clipped my friend's pony when she was sedated. Friend admired left side. Admired right side. She was really impressed and then stood in front and said, it was severely lopsided.
I was confused. I'd never thought to stand in front and check the symmetry of the clip. I just did each side to wherever and was done.

 

[MinnieP]

I clipped my friend's pony when she was sedated. Friend admired left side. Admired right side. She was really impressed and then stood in front and said, it was severely lopsided.
I was confused. I'd never thought to stand in front and check the symmetry of the clip. I just did each side to wherever and was done.

Yes, but aside from the owner, no-one really notices! Did you have to level it up?! Baling twine use No.342!

 

[daffy44]

My favourite clip for young horses, as shown here by a weedy, lanky youngster!

 

[Trickywooo]

i find it easy to get even going from back of belly to wither!

That's how I do and always start low. You can always take more off if needed.

 

[Trickywooo]

Yes, but aside from the owner, no-one really notices! Did you have to level it up?! Baling twine use No.342!

As a professional once told me, you can only see one side of the horse at once

 

[silv]

As a professional once told me, you can only see one side of the horse at once

Its perfectly true i have never been too fussy about matching sides, so long as they are even at the hind legs so it looks fine from behind.

 

[Red-1]

Rigsby blanket clip.



That was when he was a solo horse. Now I mainly ride BH, he has a much smaller clip, just a line down the gullet, between the front legs, to the full width of the gap, then a point to his sheath. No photos as it isn't really visible; I call it his secret clip!

This year, he will have a shoulder one

 

[criso]

As a professional once told me, you can only see one side of the horse at once

Though with a blanket clip you can see easily see from behind if your blanket is level
.

 

[P.forpony]

Another vote for the combination, save yourself the faff!
All the neck off, straight down from the wither to mid shoulder, then from there straight back to stifle, round off the corner on the shoulder, job done.
If you're picky use a bit of baler twine to measure how far down from the wither you go, but I always just eyeball it.

 

[Trickywooo]

Though with a blanket clip you can see easily see from behind if your blanket is level
.

True! I suppose at least with an Irish clip it's far enough back that you cannot really see it from the front but the flanks and bum are still covered so it cannot be seen from behind. The only time I notice if it's uneven is when I'm riding and I look down

 

[fidleyspromise]

Yes, but aside from the owner, no-one really notices! Did you have to level it up?! Baling twine use No.342!

Haha, no I offered her the clippers and she decided it was fine
2 years ago she just wanted her ridden horse neck done so I messaged her laughing saying it looked like a c@ck and balls the way I'd done it.
I'm amazed she let's me clip. (She's my best friend and we're always winding each other up).
I have a grey and I embrace the muddy horse but she likes her horses sparkling clean. she was horrified when I took her horse jumping that a flick with a brush was good enough for me and nearly fainted. He's bay and he looked clean to me

 

[nagblagger]

A question because i'm genuinely curious.
When the saddle area is clipped out, is the horse more sensitive to the saddle, saddlecloth, rubbing etc. also when it starts to grow back are there any issues.

 

[catkin]

A question because i'm genuinely curious.
When the saddle area is clipped out, is the horse more sensitive to the saddle, saddlecloth, rubbing etc. also when it starts to grow back are there any issues.

Depends upon the horse, some are super sensitive, some not so much. Like anything, tack, rugs etc keep a close eye on everything fitting.
I use a sheepskin as a numnah on mine all year round and that seems to solve any issue, though I have never clipped the area directly under the saddle panels even with a full/hunter clip (usually do a chaser clip unless they absolutely need more)