How to Choose the Right Horse Clippers

Horse clippers are a staple in just about every horse owner’s barn. It is often hard to determine which clipper will best suit each person’s individual need.

First, you must determine how you will use the clipper. Do you body clip? Do you show? Just for home? Clipper or trimmer? Corded or cordless? Where can you get blades and parts? How quiet are they?

“Body clippers” tend to want a good corded clipper. The Groomers Edge clippers or the Oster Variable Speed Clipmaster have withstood the test of time as to their reputation of great quality body clippers. Body clipping is generally done in the late fall or early spring in preparation for show season. Horses that have Cushing’s disease also require body clipping as they don’t lose winter coats readily. Generally the heavy duty horse clippers are priced a little higher but are worth it for being a real “work horse.”

In the show ring, appearance is everything. Horses will have a nice clean look with a clipped bridle path, facial hair and whiskers trimmed, ears and eyes should be nicely cleaned up as well as the fetlock and pastern areas. Often times a nice cordless clipper is perfect for the job. This makes it easy to clip your horse anywhere without having to rely on an electrical outlet. Clippers that use an A-5 blade are the easiest to find replacement blades for. Wahl Chromado and Wahl Bravura clippers are blade specific as their blade is adjustable from a #10 to a #40 blade height.

For home use, owners may include clipping into their daily grooming routine. Keeping a nicely trimmed bridle path helps halters and bridles lay flat and comfortable at the poll. Generally, the cordless models are the clipper of choice. Clippers with #10 blades are used for trimming bridle paths.

Trimmers are small battery or rechargeable units. They have either a #30 or #40 blade that is used for closer trims for sensitive areas such as muzzles, eyes and ears. Oster, Andis and Wahl have models that are wonderful to keep in grooming bags at ringside for the last minute touch ups.

In deciding which clipper is better or what brand to buy, keep in mind the availability of replacement parts and access to blades. For clippers that require an A-5 or snap on blade, you’ll have a greater chance of finding replacements blades locally. Some of the cordless clippers and smaller trimmers are blade specific and only compatible with their own unique blade. Replacement parts can generally be purchased directly from the manufacturer if need be.

Always keep in mind: The higher the number, the closer the shave.

#10 blade: A good general blade length. Used for body clipping, trimming bridle paths and legs.

#30 and #40 blade: A much closer shave. Used on muzzles, eyes and ears

#50 blade: This is a surgical blade; use with caution.