[moukoyui]

i know that there are 101 threads about clipping but i am really nervous about doing my boy this year for a couple reasons:

He is black and will show lines ALOT!!
My old trainer used to do all the hard parts ( on a white - grey) and i did large body segments

I am doing some sort of trace clip. The weather is really weird here and while he doesnt have a thick coat he has started getting sweaty after rides and my BM doesnt really believe in stalling or anyhting like that so he usually has to go straight back outside. i have a TON of blankets, in every weight imaginable, including two new Bucas with hood!

what do i need to know? i am trying to see if i can barrow body clippers... but if not are smaller clippers ok? How far up should i go? How can i idiot proof making the lines straight?

I am going to try to clip him Weds.

Gina

[horsiehuntersam]

If you're nervous about not being able to get straight lines you can tape up your horse with painter's tape! It works really well and is recommended in "Grooming to Win."

Good luck! My guy just got a trace clip 2 days ago and I love it. The weather is really erratic here too, and I keep my horse out in a paddock.

[horsecrazy1982]

i used tap to make my lines i was very worried about doing it i have never done it or seen it done but i finly did it i had a cheep pair of clippers and here is my photos

[horsiehuntersam]

^Looks great!

I arrived at the barn with a DEAD camera!

[horsecrazy1982]

thanks she stay dryer and hardly have to use a cooler now my mom said i was crazy to do it but i am glad i did

[LeftLeadLope]

Have you heard the saying... the difference between a good clip and a bad clip is 2 weeks ...? Its very true!
Good luck

[jumpergirl221]

I personally am not a fan of a trace clip because in the spring when it grows out you can see the lines from the trace...unless you do a full body clip and then you have to be careful not to clip to close to spring because then you will cut the new hairs as well, which will cause the summer coat to be dull.

If I want a short cut then I do a hunter clip, where you shave everything except for the legs. This helps keep the horses legs protected from thorns if your riding in the woods, you don't have the lines like you can get from a trace and they dry really fast because of the short coat.

I'm not planning on doing a ton of riding this winter, maybe some shows in December with my TB, but my lesson mare grew a very thick coat and has been dying doing the lessons. I decided to clip her and did it this weekend, (plus I LOVE the color of a body clipped chestnut).
The white on her throat is scarring from a crib collar, not sure what the dark spot on her butt is but its the hair color.

I did this with my 8 year old pair of Andis clippers (about $150 new) this is the 4th or 5 body clip it has done and as you can see...very little lines, I did buy a new T-84 blade though. Just with a hunter clip, you end it in the ridge of the muscle on the legs so that the lines are fairly hidden when they grow back.

[moukoyui]

Hmmmm I haven't heard/seen summer "lines" on any of the horses...
I am not boardng at an ideal winter barn and he is a hard keeper so I really dont want to take away all his hair.

Plus I am prob. going to have to do this with smaller clippers.... like these
http://images02.olx.com/ui/2/81/31/38908031_1.jpg


And I really dont want him to look funny.

[horsecrazy1982]

those are the same clippers i used

[moukoyui]

well i did it....
and let me tell you my boy is a saint!!!

i have bad knees so when i did his belly i had to sit on the floor... which i know is a huge no no... BUT he just leaned around and checked out what i was doing down there. then took a nap. until i needed help getting back up... which he also does.

i need to trim up some areas later today then i will take pictures. i am quite proud of us and it worked perfectly in our lesson the AM. i guess we ended up doing a medium trace clip. pictures will be up later.