What are your top tips for clipping?

BYR

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As the title really!

What are your top tips or secrets of the trade if your a pro?

How do you get your lines straight and your sides symmetrical ?

Also how do find the easiest way to get a smooth even clip ?

Im going for a trace clip this year so any tips for making out the lines on a grey ?!

Any advice welcome :D
 

Pat10

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Get someone else to do it!!! (I HATE clipping).

But on a more serious note - on a (white) grey, you can actually DRAW the lines (dry wipe marker pen), and make sure you get the clip even on both sides before you even turn the clippers on.

Use a length of twine from the spine to where you want your clip, then the same length on the other side, to make sure you're level (then when you've STILL managed to get it unlevel, consol yourself with the fact that you can't see both sides at once).

If you have made lines with the clippers, go over them in a different direction (ie across them).

And finally - what's the difference between a bad clip and a good one?......answer: about 2 weeks.
 
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BigRed

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Choose a dry, bright day. Have a clean, dry horse, add some sharp blades (plus a spare set) and decent clippers. Make sure you have clipping oil handy.

Make sure the horse is hungry and give it a small net of hay while you do the body. I use a piece of string to make sure the lines are even on both sides, measuring from the spine/neck. I use soap or a wet finger to mark the line I want to clip.
 

Luci07

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Have 2 lines drawn for a trace - one lower than the other, its my "just in case". It it looks fantastic it stays, if I have cocked it up I have another option to go to!. Echo the "make sure your horse is really really clean" comment as well. I don't tend to give them a net because of the arguments that ensued when it was removed but horses for courses!

Actually its clothes that are my best prep. A friend wears a very elderly ski suit, just for clipping. I have been known to wear one of those papertype overalls but normally resort to a painting polo shirt (butoned up), elderly underwear and paint splashed/ripped jogging bottoms. I also have a cover over my seats for the drive home..

Not looking forward to clipping this year at all. Previous horse was a doddle. Old mare needs sedating and a very very quick clip (though don't take a lot off her an only do it once). Pretty sure my youngster is going to be awful so that will be a 2 man job to see how we get on first before I have to think about sedation. (Billy has a lot of opinions about everything).
 

MerrySherryRider

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Do not clip one side of the horse before starting on the other side.
When the power goes off, its no fun.

Do you rug or not rug ?? Do you close your ears to the howls of laughter on the yard and try to look dignified, or do you threaten to get everyone who laughs with the hose ????:eek::eek:
 

BSJAlove

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take a towel and keep it AWAY from the hair. then when you have an itchy face (which will be covoered in hair) you can use your hairless towel :)
 

Winklepoker

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Use long sweeping strokes and dont press down hard - this will avoid the tram lines - bunch the mane over on the opposite side that you are clipping, mark the lines out with blackboard chalk for darks and charcoal for lights, pull any wrinkles tight before running over to avoid nicks. Use trimmers around the hard parts (elbows/face/legs if you are taking them out) but make sure the length of clip on the trimmers will blend in with the clippers.

Always always hot rag/warm wash off (I use Virkon in the water too) afterwards - you wouldnt believe what a difference this makes to the shine/line removal/comfort and no bobbles/rash popping up on the skin 2 days later from ingrowing haiirs
 

Pedantic

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Mark out with coloured chalk and use a broom handle to get level all round an straight lines.

I'm hoping to do a video of marking out soon as it's easier than trying to type it all out, I'm waiting for his winter coat to fully grow.

This was last years

09102010137.jpg

09102010136.jpg
 

Polotash

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Pedantic, you might want to do a sloping line over the back leg this year... IMO looks a bit nicer than a flat one as it follows the leg more naturally.
 

Spyda

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Pedantic, you might want to do a sloping line over the back leg this year... IMO looks a bit nicer than a flat one as it follows the leg more naturally.

Now who's being pedantic! LOL :p :D

Great straight lines Pedantic but don't think mine would appreciate me approaching her with a waving broom handle and chalk doesn't show up - even though she's bright bay. Deep sigh. Looks like I'm doomed to wonkey lines again this winter :rolleyes:
 

catdragon

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Another one to say get a professional in.

They are clipping for a job so have more experience so good at getting nice lines :D

Also much much quicker than the average horse owner at clipping - very handy, especially if you have a clipper shy mare as I do.. No blades to remember to get sharpened, no outlay for clippers and less hair all over you :D
 

BYR

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wow thank you some great tips in there, im having my first attempt this afternoon, so if it doesnt all go wrong I will post some pics!

Pedantic - that is VERY neat, im impressed!
 

tinap

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Get some good waterproofs so you don't get covered in hairs!!! I wipe the finished clipped bits over with a rag soaked in hot water & vinegar afterwards to get rid off loose hairs too (don't know why vinegar just a tip someone gave me :D)
 

Pedantic

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Pedantic, you might want to do a sloping line over the back leg this year... IMO looks a bit nicer than a flat one as it follows the leg more naturally.

Yep will do :).

Don't think I need a profesional, I don't think mines bad for a plumber ;), and all done with the Dextella clippers from Ebay which I paid £99.00 about 3 years ago
 

Marydoll

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I wear a tyvex suit from b&q with a hood ( all in one suit with zip up front
A la ghostbusters:D )
String and chalk if your not great with your lines,
Spotlessly Clean horse, saves your blades
Oil blades regularly every 10 mins or so
Small Paintbrush to clear hair from clippers
PLENTY OF DAYLIGHT TIME
Hot water wi small squirt of hibiscrub, facecloth to rub over
Baby wipes for your face
 

Vickijay

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Lots of funny replies in this thread!

Biggest tip, pay someone else! The sad thing is everyone want to pay me, but I want to pay someone else!

Sharp blades, good well serviced clippers, clean and dry horse, mane in bands sticking up in the air, I always try to do a day clipping so I only have to get hairy once for maybe 4 horses, have rank old clothes that dont matter on, throw them out after and have a friend for pony leg pulling to make inbetween front legs (I should add that even whilst Im writing this im feeling all itchy!)

There isnt much nicer than showering after you have clipped loads of horses though!!
 

meesha

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just did mine, chalk line (builders type although bit hard to hold and ping to get the chalk line) and also mobile phone - did line - did clip - took picture of one side with phone to compare to the other side ! (he still has some blue chalk lines on him hehe)

ooohh and on my chap - dont get too near ears as he wont tolerate it !!

and, wear jeans and wellies and t shirt - hair brushes off it all quite easily
 

JenTaz

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loving the idea of taking photo on phone to compare for doing the lines on the other side, i dont have any tips, as i clip the whole lot off so no lins to worry about :)
 

JenHunt

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wash him a week in advance and keep him in a lightweight rug until you clip him

keep the clippers in good condition and the blades sharp and well oiled

take your time - allow twice what you think you'll need

afterwards wipe over with a bucket of hot water with a cap of dettol in it, using a well wrung out sponge to bring out the grease and make him shiny

wear waterproofs to keep the hairs out of your clothes!
 

Ravenwood

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Having worked in both polo and hunt yards I've done an awful lot of clipping!

Top tip from me is to make sure you have a bucket of very hot water and a tiny bit of Fairy. Dip in a sponge and gently wipe over what you have clipped - every bit you have missed will stand out like a sore thumb ;)

Also use chalk to mark out saddle patches for hunter clips. Keep standing back and surveying what you have clipped. Keep calm and prepare for it to take ages even if it doesn't. Quarter the horse if its mid winter.

But most importantly make sure that the horse is spotlessly clean and grease free before you start.

The worst bit is wrinkly skin around the stifles (or all over like my current mare :rolleyes:) but if there is someone handy to pull out legs for you - so much the better ;)

At the hunt yard we did full faces that takes ages but now I just do half a face as its so much easier ;)
 
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