Help cant clip straight lines!! Any advice please

[atillathefun]

Thought I would cheat this year and pay someone to clip my horses 1 was successfull but the other one would not let a stranger near him with scarey horse eating clippers lol! He is perfect for me and I clipped him all off last night but have left the blanket messy as I can not for love or money clip straight lines - the finish is all jagged!! I am fine clipping vertical lines its just horizontal!!!!
Any help or tips greatly appreciated

Thanks
:)

[Gabrielle]

You could always start a new trend - The zig zag clip! :D :o

[atillathefun]

Ha ha I might have to if I cant get them striaght lol Either that or clip it all off :)

[Jessey]

Masking tape :D I've seen that used a few times :D and it normally works.
I think the problem is that when you clip the horizontal lines you still get some of the ends of the hairs (whos roots are above the line) hanging below it, I normally choose my line and clip it normally, then turn the clippers side on (so the egde of the blade is against the body) and just tidy up thos jaggedy end bits, be careful though :p

[Perfect Pony]

this is why i dont clip shadow, i cant do straight lines!!! also then im there to hold him!!! he is usually fine tho, he has it done every year!!!
If all else fails and your lines are not straight clip it all off!!! :D
thats what i end up doing!!! :o

[atillathefun]

I think I might try and do it with tape then if it doesnt work I may clip it all off I could leave a saddle pad as no one will see it lol! ;)
Its funny he will let me clip him without him being tied up he just stands there falling asleep but if anyone else comes near him with the clippers he hits the roof!! bless him least I know he trusts his mum

[Mehitabel]

the trick is firm pressure on the blades, if you are being too light, it wobbles, and know where you are going. so plan it by eye, use chalk if you need to, but know where you're going and don't faff about - blades on, flat to the horse, firm pressure and go for it. if you dab gently then the lines will wobble and it will tickle the horse - firm and decisive is what you need to be.

[atillathefun]

I will try that thankyou

[No_Angel]

to help get the lines straight when you do horizontal, first clip about a cm below the line you want (best done with chalk) then clip upwards taking off a little bit, this helps it get straight.
as Mehitabel says, firm pressure is best, its less tickly for the horse aswell.

[HorseyGurl]

Ok, while I've never clipped a horse I have done plenty of dogs and some dog breed patterns are very close to horse patterns. It does take lots of practice though and at first moving very slowly.

The way I would get straight horizontal lines is to first trace with chalk my line. Then clip first horizontally following your chalk line. Then go back clip vertically in to your line to neaten it up.

[sophiet88]

Use chalk to mark out the lines then clip along the chalk!