10 Best Horse Clippers – Reviews & Top Picks

Buyer's Guide: How to Find the Best Horse Clippers

If you’ve made the decision to buy a set of clippers to maintain your horse’s mane and tail nice and tidy throughout the winter, it may seem to be an easy chore. However, a cursory examination of the market reveals its intricacy. To assist you out, here’s a guide.

Do I need to trim my equine companion?

During the winter, most horses acquire a thick coat to protect them from the harsh weather conditions. It is possible for them to overheat and start sweating if we exercise them. Having a damp coat makes it difficult for your horse to remain warm and dry, which might result in a chill.

They may avoid overheating and sweating by clipping their jackets. A ride will leave your horse’s freshly trimmed coat largely dry.

When should you trim your horse?

Ideally, you should finish your first clip in the autumn when the weather begins to cool down. This may happen as early as September, or as late as November, depending on where you reside in the country. Every month, you may need to cut your horse’s coat since it grows so swiftly throughout the winter months.

Generally speaking, it’s best to finish your final clip by the end of February. Beyond that, you run the risk of interfering with your horse’s developing summer coat.

What to look for when purchasing horse clippers

Consider these key aspects when shopping for a new set of horse clippers

Cordless or corded

The battery pack for cordless clippers may be recharged. Some let you to switch between cordless and corded clippers. You don’t have to worry about a worried horse stepping on the power wire while using cordless clippers. As a consequence, they’re more suited to finishing up regions on your horse’s head, ears, and face since they’re generally quieter.

To use corded clippers, you’ll need to connect them in to a power outlet using the included power wire. Even though these wires are normally quite strong, you must take care to prevent your horse from stepping on them. When it comes to cutting your horse’s body, corded clippers are typically more suited to the task. Compared to cordless clippers, they have higher power, which allows them to be louder and vibrate more.

Even while it’s preferable to use corded clippers to trim your horse’s body and cordless clippers to complete their face or smooth up the lines on their body, this isn’t always possible.

Strokes per second

This tells you how quickly the blades are moving. SPM is another name for it. The quicker the blades travel, the higher the SPM. Generally speaking, this implies that clippers are more suited to dealing with thicker locks. When using a clipper with a higher SPM, keep an eye on the blades to make sure they don’t overheat or get too hot to hold comfortably.

Some clippers have a changeable SPM, while others have a predetermined one. For sensitive parts like your horse’s face and ears, a lower SPM might be beneficial. When shaving areas of the body or legs with thicker or coarser hair, a higher SPM is advantageous.

Blades

Horse clippers typically use one of three blade types:

• Blades that may be adjusted to the user’s preference. The length of the blade may be adjusted using a lever on the side. Plastic guards may be added to certain clippers with movable blades to further modify the cutting length.
• Fixed knives. Although it is possible to remove these screws to use a different gauge blade, this may be a bit of a challenge. Ensure that you are using the correct gauge for your clipper before replacing the blades. Fixed-blade clippers may also have plastic guards that allow the user to fine-tune the length of the cut.
• Blades that can be removed for cleaning. You can quickly and easily swap them out since they snap on and off. They aren’t as strong as the other two, therefore they’re better suited for minor trims than than a whole cut.

Number 10 is the most common length blade that comes with horse clippers. It cuts hair 1/16 of an inch long. A number 40 blade, which can cut down to 1/100 of an inch, is an option. One-half inch of hair is left after using a 3 34 blade. In colder climates, you may want to choose a longer blade so that your horse has a little more protection from the chilly air. Shorter cuts might save you time and money if you live in a climate where your horse’s coat tends to grow thicker.

Types of clip

Depending on the sort of clip you pick, the following factors will influence your horse’s clip:

• No matter if your horse spends the majority of their time in a stable or the rest of the time in a paddock,
• They have a lot of work to do.
• They’re of the same species.

Full clip

All of the horse’s coat is clipped in a complete clip; this includes the horse’s legs, face, and ears. Eventers and jumpers are the only ones who should use this. When it comes to full-clipped horses, they’ll almost always be kept indoors.

Hunter clip

The legs and saddle region are left unclipped in a hunter clip since it removes so much of the coat. Your horse’s legs and saddle region will be kept warm and protected by this. If put out, horses with hunter clips will require rugs of a heavier weight to keep them warm.

Blanket clip

When you use this clip pattern, your horse’s back and loins will have a “blanket” effect. Hair is removed from their face, neck, breasts, chest, and belly. Some people like this for horses doing modest labor who are also ridden in the pasture often. Blanket clips not only keep your horse warm, but they also prevent excessive perspiration.

Chaser clip

Like the blanket clip, the horse’s neck is not clipped save for the hair on the top of its neck. Suitable for horses in medium work that are put out during the day, this clip gives extra warmth to the neck muscles.

Trace clip

The hair on your horse’s head is left unclipped in this clip design. They are shaved from their neck to their belly, starting at the throat and going down to their crotch. Suitable for medium-work horses who spend more time outside than in a stable, this is an excellent choice. Hair on their top neck and lower legs keeps them warm.

Irish clip

The hair on your horse’s face and lower neck, as well as on their chest and belly, is clipped off during this procedure. Their forelegs and hindquarters are left unclipped. This clip’s line stretches from your horse’s poll to the place where their stifle meets their hind leg. You may use this clip on horses who do minimal labor and spend most of their time grazing.

Bib clip

Only the hair on your horse’s neck and chest is removed with this easy clip. For those who want a neck and belly clip, you may stretch the clip beneath their torso. Suitable for horses who spend most of their time turned out, this is ideal.

Other clips

You may want to go all out and produce a one-of-a-kind video! In other cases, owners opt to draw a pattern on their horse’s hindquarters or mix multiple clip patterns to create an original design that is tailored to their horse’s specific requirements and preferences.

Preparation for cutting

 Once you’ve purchased your clippers and selected your preferred clip pattern, it’s time to begin clipping!

Preparing your horse

• Having a clean horse makes clipping go more smoothly, so wash your horse the day before. Their coat must be completely dry before they may go outside.
• Keep your horse entertained by tying him up in a familiar spot and providing him with a haynet.
• It is advised that you clip in a well-lit, wind-free location.
• The clip line should be drawn using chalk. It’s possible to accomplish this freehand, but if you’re not sure in getting both sides equal, it’s best to use chalk.
• To avoid becoming tangled, secure your horse’s mane and tail with bandages or plaits.
• Having a grooming brush on hand will let you to see the clip line more clearly.
• As soon as they’ve been cut, have a rug ready to place on them and remember to keep them a little cooler for the first week so they can get used to having less hair!

Preparing your clippers for use

• Make sure that the blades are properly tensioned in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
• When using clippers, have a bottle of clipper oil and a tiny brush on available to keep them oiled and clean.
• Use a circuit breaker if you’re going to be utilizing corded clippers.
• Using baling rope, attach the electrical line to the roof of the barn if you are concerned about your horse standing on it.
• The blades of your clippers should be sharpened at least once a year.
• Make sure you have a replacement pair of blades on available, particularly if you’re conducting a full-body clip or clipping numerous horses at once.

When it comes to trimming your horse’s mane

• Your horse’s shoulder is a good place to start.
• Before you begin clipping, put them on your horse and let them to feel the vibrations.
• Use lengthy, quarter-overlapped strokes to follow the chalk line of your clip pattern.
• When you have a spare hand, use it to tug the skin of your horse.
• The temperature of the clipper blade should be tested on your hand from time to time.
• Clippers should be moved in the opposite direction of the hair’s direction of travel.
• Turn off your clippers every 10 minutes to clean the blades and lubricate them.

 

Conclusion

The Andis Super 2-Speed Detachable Blade Clippers with UltraEdge T-84 Blade are the best horse clippers because of its two speeds, shatter-proof casing, and silent operation.

In no time, your horse will be ready for the show arena thanks to the blade. The Wahl Arco SE Cordless Horse Clipper is our top pick for greatest value.

Two long-lasting batteries power these cordless clippers for up to 80 minutes of cutting time. You may use them to finish up your horse’s face, ears and bridle path.

When there are so many clippers to select from, it might be difficult to narrow your search to just one.

By evaluating our favorites, BestForPets (bestforpets.org) has done all of the legwork for you. Hopefully, you’ve now figured out which ones are ideal for your horse!

Reviews

UltraEdge T-84 Blade Clipper by Andis, Super 2-Speed Detachable Clipper, Best Overall

For a clean, precise clip in any desired form, the Andis Super 2-Speed Detachable Blade Clipper with UltraEdge T-84 Blade is the greatest all-around clipper on the market today. You may adjust the speed to a lower setting if the region being worked on is very sensitive. Make no mistake, these clippers are ideal for horses because of their low-noise design. This is a heavy-duty clipper that can handle all sorts of coats, including the thicker hair seen on draft horses’ limbs.

This clipper may be used with any Andis® UltraEdge® or CeramicEdge® blades thanks to the removable blade. In addition, Oster A5® blades will work. One UltraEdge T-84 blade is included with the clipper. If you do happen to drop these clippers, you won’t have to worry about them breaking. It’s easy to reach a power outlet while still tying your horse up thanks to the 14-foot heavy-duty power wire.

Pros

• Applied by experts
• Running quietly.
• Produced in America
• This product comes with a one-year guarantee
• Housing that can’t be broken

Cons

• None that we can see.

For the best value, Wahl Arco SE Cordless Horse Clipper

The Wahl Arco SE Cordless Horse Clipper is our top pick for horse clippers at this price point. Although this company is well-known for its high-quality clippers, it operates just as well as other more costly versions despite its outstanding pricing. Using the provided guards, these cordless clippers can cut to five various lengths when using the multi-purpose blade.

You may use these clippers for finishing work on your horse’s face, ears, bridle path (and legs) If your horse has a lot of hair, cutting a full hunter clip may be difficult. There are two batteries included with this set, and each one should last for around 80 minutes. An educational DVD is also included, which is helpful if this is your first time trimming your horse. Reviewers laud the clippers’ simplicity of use and little vibration, making it simple to trim sensitive places.

Pros

• Eighty minutes long
• Cordless
• Two AA batteries are included.
• Blade with five blades in one
• Quiet

Cons

• Final touches, not a whole clip.

Variable Speed Clipping Machine: Oster Clipmaster Variable Speed Clipping Machine

It’s hard to beat the Oster Clipmaster Variable Speed Clipping Machine if you’re willing to spend the money. The speed of these clippers may be set between 700 and 3,000 strokes per minute. Horses with sensitive skin around their heads benefit from lower speeds, while those with thicker coats benefit from greater speeds. The clippers’ weight distribution has been optimized for ease of use and reduced fatigue. There is also an additional intake screen included with the toolbox case.

Compared to prior models, these clippers are 30% lighter, which makes a big difference when you’re trimming a huge animal for a long length of time. The greater cost is the only thing preventing these clippers from making our top two. These clippers are great for clipping numerous horses at once since they are long-lasting and easy to maintain.

Pros

• Housing that can’t be broken
• Faster or slower
• Heavy-duty
• The surface has a non-slip coating

Cons

• Expensive

Bravura Horse Clipper by Wahl Professional 

You may use the Wahl Professional Bravura Horse Clipper for finishing work on your horse’s head, ears, and legs with this cordless clipper. The lithium-ion battery has a 60-minute run duration. When the battery runs out, you may switch to the corded version of these clippers.

Five blades and six guides allow you to customize the length of your horse’s mane and tail to your liking. In order to match your grooming kit’s color scheme, you have five options to select from! The clippers’ casing isn’t shatter-proof, according to the reviews, so be careful not to drop them.

Pros

• Blade with five blades in one
• Cordless
• Lightweight
• A one-year guarantee

Cons

• A lone AA battery is included with this package
• Only use this for the last stages of a project.

The Oster A5 Animal Grooming Clipper has Two Speeds. 

The strong engine of the Oster A5 Two-Speed Animal Grooming Clippers is built to withstand the rigors of heavy-duty clipping. Multiple horses may be clipped quickly and easily using them. From 3,000 to 4,000 strokes per minute may be selected. There is a possibility that your horse may require some time to adjust to the higher speeds of these even on the lowest level. With the 10-foot professional-grade power chord, you’ll be able to easily navigate around your horse thanks to the clippers’ rough shell.

Several reviewers have noted that these clippers may become quite hot very fast. Check the temperature of the blades on a regular basis by laying them on the back of your hand and making sure they are adequately lubricated. To cool them down, you’ll need to turn them off and take a little pause until they’re comfortable again.

Pros

• Expertly made
• Changing the blade is a breeze.

Cons

• Expensive
• One blade is included in the set.
• This device has the potential to overheat.