Anyone else here do a full body clip for driving rather than a trace clip? My reason: I can never get my clip lines straight enough for a trace! :lol:
We’ve done trace clips in the past but then my horse ends up in May looking horrible. So we have gone to a full body clip. He just wears a heavy blanket with a neck cover and a driving quarter sheet when we drive.
I usually body clip in October, then trace clip in January or whenever the hair gets too long for quick drying-out. This spring, I got impatient with shedding vs. warm weather and body clipped then as well; it did not ruin my pony’s summer coat at all.
One way to get good lines on the trace clip is to put the breast collar and traces on the horse, have a helper hold the trace in draft, then use chalk to draw the clip line on the horse.
^ I like this idea. Will have to try it.
Tricks of the Trade
Don’try to clip freehand. Have a plan and some cutting lines to follow. Here’s a cute site with good pics of the various clips:http://www.newrider.com/Library/Horse_Care/clipping_how_much.html
I draw the cutting lines on my ponies with washable Crayola markers (hot pink shows up well on mine).
Good clippers are essential. I’ve tried a lot of them over the years and am completely sold on my Lister Stars. They compensate for my sometimes lousy technique. :winkgrin:
Pics of my ponies from last year:
http://pets.webshots.com/album/581343837nqwzeD
OMG… love this site!
[URL=“http://www.newrider.com/Library/Horse_Care/clipping_how_much.html”]
http://www.newrider.com/Library/Horse_Care/clipping_how_much.html
Just went to a casual club drive and I found it amazing how shaggy the little minis were already!!. Most has been clipped already.
