Equine Grooming Tweaks With These 9 Best Horse Clippers

What are Horse Clippers?

Horse clippers are battery power or electrically handheld machines for clipping horses’ hairy coats, and choosing the best horse clippers depends on how quickly and easily you want to clip. The cordless horse clippers are becoming the best clippers due to their popularity increasing and the use of cord-free clipping and powerful batteries for several hours of clipping time.

Reasons to Clip a Horse

Clipping benefits horses in various ways, depending on the animal. Some of the benefits are:

Helps to Regulate Horse’s Body Temperature

The main reason horse owner clips their horses is to help them regulate their body temperature. During fall months, horses grow a thick winter coat which plays an important role in keeping them during winter. But, the coat can cause the horses to sweat if they engage in regular activities all year round.

The combination of cold air and sweat in horses makes it challenging to regulate body temperatures. Clipping the horse’s thick winter coat reduces sweat and allows the horse to dry off more effectively.

Minimizes Grooming Time

Normally, horse owners love spending time with their horses, and grooming them is a task that never ends. The thick coat increases the time it takes to groom the horse. Clipping is the best way to reduce grooming time by keeping the horse inside most of the winter and engaging in regular activities.

Encourages Glossy Summer Coats

There is nothing great than a horse’s shiny and healthy summer coat. Clipping encourages the horses’ coats to grow back glossier than before, just in time for summer.

Necessary for Horses With Cushing’s Disease

Cushing’s or pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction is an endocrine disorder common in ponies and older horses and one of the most common equine diseases. Cushing’s disease causes coat changes, hormonal imbalance, weight and muscle loss, and laminitis.

Clipping is necessary for horses suffering from Cushing’s disease because it causes them not to shed winter coats naturally.

Our Favorite Product

Owning cordless clippers is very convenient. Cordless clippers don’t have trailing power cables for the horse to thread on; they are light and easy to handle, the best in clipping sensitive and awkward body parts, and a logical choice for nervous horses. Cordless clippers for horses are also the best in remote areas without main or limited power sockets.

Although, the Professional AGC Super 2-speed horse clipper with detachable blade is the best. It is easy to clean, quiet, durable, and perfect for trimming multiple horses.

The Different Types of Equine Clippers

There are three types of horse clippers:

1. Trimmers Horse Clippers: They are for light-duty areas such as the ears, face, and muzzles. They can be cordless or main-powered trimmers. 
2. Body Clippers: They are more powerful and larger, designed to make cutting coats quicker and easier.
3. Multi-Purpose Clippers: You can use them on multiple areas of the body and mostly use removable screws or clip-on blades, making it to change and choose the blade length you need for clipping.

At a Glance: Our Top Picks

Name of the product	Best for	Features
Professional AGC Super 2-Speed Horse Clipper with Detachable Blade	Body trimming	-Removable drive cap to ease cleaning -It has a locking blade hinge for securing it. -It is a cool, quiet, and long-live horse clipper. -It is durable and great for multiple horses. -It has a storage case and a T-84 blade for body trimming.
Wahl Bravura Lithium Ion Clipper	Full body clipping	-The lithium-ion battery provides 90 minutes of running time and a 60-minute charge -Use high precision blades to ensure the best cutting performance -Have removable blades for thorough cleaning -They can be cordless or corded with a fast-recharging battery -Recommended for full body clipping but also versatile on other body parts -It has a 5-in-1 blade that is convenient for inventorying and clipping.
Oster Clipmaster Variable Speed Clipping Machine	Clipping multiple horses at a time	-Variable speed of 700 to 3,000 strokes per minute. -An adjustable tension knob for accurate blade adjustment. -A quiet, cool-running motor, although some reviewers say it can be loud. -They can handle back-to-back jobs because of their size and ability to trim faster.
Wahl Professional Animal Pocket Pro Equine Compact Horse Trimmer and Grooming Kit	It is perfect for ears, paws, face, whiskers, in-between, and touch-up trimming.	-It is quiet, lightweight, weighing only 2.5 oz (0.071 kg), and a compact trimmer that can be concealable in the palm of your hand. -Perfect for traveling. -It has a cordless battery that is convenient anywhere. -You can not beat the price point of these trimmer and grooming kit clippers.
	All types of coats and great finishing	-It has a variable and adjustable speed of 1,500 and 2,700 rpm.  -Brushless and durable motor. -It can come as a standard main power or a battery pack with a charger and a lithium-ion battery.
Lister Legend Large Animal Clipper	Trimming and clipping livestock and horses	-It has a ventilated head and self-cleaning element to prevent blades from overheating. -It has rubber motor mountings to minimize noise and vibration. -Snap-on washable air filter to ease maintenance.
WAHL Professional Animal Miniarco Corded/Cordless Clippers	Perfect for clipping ears, paws, muzzles, and hard-to-reach areas.	-It is quiet, cool running, lightweight, only 4 oz (0.11 kg), and has a cordless operation for convenience. -It takes 100 minutes of cordless running time. -It is cordless but also comes with a corded option to increase the clipping time window -It offers one year warranty
	Trimming	-It is compatible with the joust trimmers and clipper man crest.
Master clip HD Roamer Rechargeable, Cordless Heavy Duty Horse Clipper	Clipping any coat	-It comes with two lithium-ion rechargeable batteries. -Perfect for yards with no power and has a charging unit.

Reviewing the Best Equine Clippers on the Market Today

Professional AGC Super 2-Speed Horse Clipper with Detachable Blade: Best for Full Body Clipping

About: The two-speed rotary motor clippers offer performance similar to a professional, and they can trim thick hair in less time. ACG super two-speed clipper has an extra wide UltraEdge size T-84 blade, which is detachable and designed for cleaning and changing blades easily. Its magnetic field is very flexible, allowing easy blade control from back to front.

Andis clippers are very useful in small jobs and intensive trimming. They can control heat and prevent overheating, making them very convenient and safe for horse owners grooming horses and other large animals. You can use Andis clipper on all coats, but it works best for a thinner horse coat. To put a new blade, turn on the clipper, and to remove it turn off the clipper.

ACG2 speed clippers run coolly and have a strong frame that makes them compatible with animals. Andis clippers are the most affordable quality and a great choice because of their quiet motor features; if you don’t want to scare your horses when shaving them, Andis is the best horse body clippers to buy.

It also has a 14 in (35.56 cm) heavy-duty cable to ease maneuvering around the machinery and animals.

Brand: Andis

Cordless: No

Pro tip: The best when clipping your horse’s full body

Recommended uses: Sports, grooming,  livestock, professional

Color/s: Burgundy

Weight: 1.1 lb (0.49 kg)

Material: Carbon steel

Power source: Corded electric

Handset length: 7.5 in ( 19.05 cm)

Grip diameter: 1.75 in (4.45 cm)

Cord length: 3.5 in (8.89 cm)

Warranty: One-year limited warranty

Guarantee: 30-day satisfaction 

Wahl Bravura Lithium Ion Clipper: Best for Full Body Clipping

Amazon Award in Dog Grooming Clippers by WAHL

About: Wahl bravura clipper is a lightweight cordless horse body clipper that combines the durability and power of lithium-ion battery innovation and an adjustable 5-in-1 blade to give the best results to groomers, pet owners, and professionals. It is perfect for the face and feet and offers great finishing on all dogs and cat grooming.

The 5-in-1 blade sizes are #9, 10, 15, 30, and 40, and they offer a convenient variety of cutting lengths. Bravura offers a 90-minute running time, takes minutes to charge, and has low vibration and quiet operation.

You can also use bravura to trim horses’ ears, bridle paths, muzzles, fetlocks, and small show cuts for pigs, goats, and cattle.

The Bravura clipper storage case comes with a cleaning brush, blade oil, instruction book,  5-in-1 fine blade set, charge stand and charger, and six plastic attachment guide combs.

However, its design is for the United States’ use only and not for international use.

Brand: Wahl

Cordless: Yes

Pro tip: Their durable lithium-ion battery offers longer clipping time

Recommended uses: Professional

Color/s: Berry

Weight: 0.59 lb (0.27 kg)

Material: Plastic

Power source: Lithium ion cord/cordless

Handset length: 10.2 in (25.91 cm)

Grip diameter: 6.4 in (16.26 cm)

Cord length: 4.8 in (12.19 cm)

Warranty: One-year limited warranty

Guarantee: 30-day satisfaction 

Oster Clipmaster Variable Speed Clipping Machine: Best for Clipping Multiple Horses at a Time

About: Oster Clipmaster is a lightweight, versatile, cool running, and quiet motor home perfect for clipping on horses, cattle, and goats. It has a variable speed of  700 to 3,000 strokes per minute and does the job quickly and efficiently. Oster Clipmaster also has an adjustable tension knob for adjusting blades.

The Oster Sheamaster shearing machine is one of the best heavy-duty clippers, which consists of an additional intake screen, a cleaning brush, and a wide blade. It is a light and suitable tool for long-hour clippers or clipping multiple horses at once.

The Oster Shearmaster shearing machine has an ergonomic design that emphasizes convenience and durability, and its durable material makes it easier to maneuver when grooming hard-to-reach areas.

You can use clipper grease, oil, or blade oil to lubricate the blades to prevent friction and heat and improve dull blades.

Brand: Oster

Cordless: No

Pro tip: Perfect when you want to clip many horses at the same time

Recommended uses: Grooming

Color/s: Blue

Weight: 7.8 lbs (3.53 kgs)

Material: Steel

Power source: Corded electric

Handset length: 20.25 in (64.14 cm)

Grip diameter: 9.87 in (25.07 cm)

Cord length: 9.25 in (23.49 cm)

Warranty: One-year limited warranty

Guarantee: 30-day satisfaction 

Wahl Professional Animal Pocket Pro Equine Compact Horse Trimmer and Grooming Kit: Best for Ears, Paws, Face, Whiskers, In-between, and Touch-up Trimming

Amazon Award in Dog Grooming Clippers by WAHL

About: The Wahl professional equine cordless clipper kit is high quality, convenient, and one of the best cordless clippers. It has a lightweight design for easy maneuvering and convenience when grooming small, hard-to-reach horses.

It is a compact, cool-running, powerful, with 6,000SPM, cordless, and battery-operated trimmer that is perfect for trimming horses, cats, dogs, and other animals’ ears, paws, whiskers, and faces.

Wahl professional is the best equine clipper; it has less vibration and a quiet motor making the horses comfortable and calm when grooming. It has a longer battery life, facilitating a constant full-body clipping of thicker hair, and has a charge time of 75 minutes.

It is also ideal for touch-ups and traveling, it has an adjustable blade that can fit three different sizes,# 10, # 15, and # 30, and is concealable in your hand’s palm, and the more precise the blade sire, the more cut will be.

The Wahl professional animal pro equine clipper is a great hair clipper for horses and gives a perfect finish to thick hair; and comes with a face brush, trimmer, cleaning brush, blade guard, grooming tool, and a heavy-duty cord. 

Brand: Wahl

Cordless: Yes

Pro tip: They are quiet horse clippers and don’t even scare a cat

Recommended uses Trimming, grooming, professional, traveling

Color/s: Blue

Weight: 0.2 lb (0.09 kg)

Material: Aluminium

Power source: Battery powered

Handset length: 4 in (10.16 cm)

Grip diameter: 3.25 in (8.26 cm)

Cord length: 1 in (2.54 cm)

Warranty: One-year limited warranty

Guarantee: 30-day satisfaction 

: Best for all Types of Coat and Great Finishing

About: Liveryman black beauty clippers are the most powerful, can be used on all types of horses, and have excellent finishing. It has incorporated brushless motor technology making the clipper more efficient, powerful, and reliable than a standard clipper motor.

The design of the liveryman black beauty clipper provides up to 10,000 hrs of work, a smooth performance due to its unique aluminum streamlined head, and a variable speed of 1,500 and 2,700 rpm and multiple vent design to keep it running at a cool temperature.

Its design features fewer moving parts subject to low tear and wear, resulting in less noise, less vibration, increased reliability, and adjustable speed. So, it is possible to slow down when clipping a fine coat or around the legs and head. You can only supply the Liveryman clipper with a UK main adapter, not EU fittings.

Brand: Liveryman

Cordless: No

Recommended uses: Professional trimming

Color/s: Burgundy

Weight: 6.88 lbs (3.12 kgs)

Material: Aluminium

Power source: Mains powered

Handset length: 13.82 in (35.1 cm)

Grip diameter: 12.99 in (33 cm)

Cord length: 4.41 in (11.2 cm)

Warranty: One-year limited warranty

Guarantee: 30-day satisfaction 

Lister Legend Large Animal Clipper: Best for Trimming and Clipping Livestock and Horses

About: Lister legend is a medium or heavy-duty clipper for professionals or horse owners with several horses and the best horse clippers for body clipping and trimming livestock and horses. The powerful Lister Legend professional clipper offers a dual-position grip for longer, faster, and more comfortable clipping and state-of-the-art motor technology.

It also makes it easy to clip dirty and thick coats.

Brand: Lister

Cordless: No

Pro tip: Can work for different livestock such as goat cattle and horses

Recommended uses: Livestock

Color/s: Blue

Weight: 2.16 lbs (0.98 kg)

Material: Steel

Power source: Electric corded

Handset length: 2.56 in (6.50 cm)

Grip diameter: 2.2 in (5.59 cm)

Cord length:10.24 in (26.01 cm)

Warranty: One-year limited warranty

Guarantee: 30-day satisfaction 

WAHL Professional Animal Miniarco Corded/Cordless Clippers: Best for Clipping Ears, Paws, Muzzles, and Hard-to-reach Areas.

Amazon Award in Dog Grooming Clippers by WAHL

About: Wahl’s Miniarco Corded/Cordless Clipper is perfect for trimming ears, faces, and paws on cats, dogs, and other pets. It is quiet, cool running, and lightweight, with a cordless operation for convenience. Wahl mini acro takes 100 minutes of cordless running time.

It comes with a cleaning brush, blade oil, a mini acro rechargeable trimmer, two attachment guide combs, and a #30 fine-cut blade. Wahl’s MiniArco corded/cordless clipper offers 6,000 strokes per minute, and its design use is for electrical outlets in the United States only and not for international use.

Brand: WAHL

Cordless: Yes

Recommended uses: Trimming, professional

Color/s: Champagne

Weight: 0.31 lb (0.14 kg)

Material: Stainless steel

Power source: Mains power

Handset length: 5.81 in (14.76 cm)

Grip diameter: 1.13 in (2.87 cm)

Cord length: 1.13 in (2.87 cm)

Warranty: One-year limited warranty

Guarantee: 30-day satisfaction 

: Best for Trimming

About: The clipper man handset is suitable and well-ventilated for clipping a yard full of horses and has long cables for easier maneuvering. Clipperman is a cable-free 12V clipper with a cutting speed of 2,500 RPM. It comes with an A2 blade with a 3mm (2.36 in) cut length, with a quick and simple blade tension adjustment to ease the swapping and removal of blades.

You can purchase the compatible A22 blades separately with a 1mm (0.039 in) cut length and an A6 with a coarse blade.

Brand: Clipper man

Cordless: Yes

Pro tip: It is possible to buy a detachable blade for clipper man clippers

Recommended uses: Trimming

Color/s: Transparent

Weight: 6.61 lbs (3 kgs)

Material: German steel

Power source: Main power

Handset length: 16.54 in (42 cm)

Grip diameter: 3.94 in (10cm)

Cord length: 0.078 in (0.2 cm)

Warranty: One-year limited warranty

Guarantee: 30-day satisfaction 

Master clip HD Roamer Rechargeable, Cordless Heavy Duty Horse Clipper: Best for Trimming any Coat

About: Master clip cordless HD roamer is the best heavy-duty clipper and is perfect for horse owners in a yard with no power. The HD Roamer contains two rechargeable Li-ion batteries, which provides a lot of time to carry out a full clip.   

Master clip copes with any coat and a variety of A2 clipper blades which offer a fine, superfine, medium, or coarse finish. The sturdy carry case has two batteries, clipper oil, a charger, one set of premium A2 blades, and a cleaning brush. A master clip takes two to three hours to charge and two hours of running time.

Brand: Master clip

Cordless: Yes

Pro tip: It has two rechargeable batteries, and it is possible to do a full-body clipping

Recommended uses: Outdoors

Color/s: Purple

Weight: 2.65 lbs (1.2 kgs)

Material: Stainless steel, carbon steel, alloy steel

Power source: Battery powered

Handset length: 12.2 in (31 cm)

Warranty: Two-year limited warranty

Guarantee: 30-day satisfaction 

How to Pick the Best Horse Clippers

Size of hands vs. size of clippers: When picking horse shavers, you should determine whether your hand can hold or fit in the size of the clippers for a longer period.

Corded vs. cordless: You should check if you need corded or cordless clippers. Cordless clippers are highly mobile and more advantageous to use; there is nothing to risk or trip over when you are distracted, although a cordless clipper’s battery life may diminish over time and go off inconveniently.

Blades: Clipper blades are of different sizes, and you should choose blades that fit your clipper and are suitable for the horse’s body. A chart to help you know which blade you may need for trimming your horse.

Body part	Blade
Body	T-84
Ears and face	#30
Legs	#10
Bridle paths	#10

Noise level: Some clippers are extremely noisy while others are less noisy, and picking your preferred horse trimmers should depend on how noisy you want them to be.

The number of horses to be clipped: Power, hair type, and horse personality determine how many horses to clip.

Power access: Power access will depend on whether you want a corded or cordless clipper.

Quality: You should choose a reputable brand to avoid options where the producer could be clearer.

How to Maintain Horse Clippers

• Before clipping, ensure the horse is clean, dry, and grease-free.
• Check whether the blades are sharp and not damaged.
• Make sure you set the tension of your clipper correctly; follow the manufacturer’s instructions if you are unsure how to set it.
• Uae blade regularly, and if possible, apply every ten minutes on the blades and the clipper’s head.
• Make sure the air filter is hair free.
• If you are not clipping, make sure the clippers are not running.
• If you finish clipping, switch off the clippers, disconnect them from the battery pack, or unplug from the mains and remove the blades.
• Clean your clippers with a small soft brush or clipper brush, the blades, and the cavity in the clipper head.
• Make sure you store the clippers in their case after clipping.

FAQs on Horse Clippers

Which Blade Should I Use on Which Body Part?

There are different types of blades depending on the body part:

• T-84 blade: it’s for clipping the body.
• #10 blade: it’s for clipping the legs.
• #15 blade: for clipping bridle path.
• #30 blade: for clipping the ears and face.

How Late Can You Clip a Horse?

You can clip your horse any time of the year, and it is easier to clip the horses earlier during winter. Waiting for mid-winter with winter fuzzies is big and time-consuming work. Starting to clip before winter when it’s still warm enough makes it easier for a pre-clipping bath. Clipping clean hair is easier than cutting dirty hair, which causes clipper blades to wear out. 

How do You Desensitize a Horse to Clippers?

Desensitizing a horse needs time and patience. On the first day, you should not expect total cooperation from the horse. Allow your horse to see, sniff and hear the sound of clippers first; give your horse time to adjust to the sound and vibration.

You should also leave the clippers there 7 to 8 in (17.78 to 20.32 cm) from his ears until it relaxes his ears, turn the clippers off and rub him. The session should be short and positive. You can also use dormouse gel, a mild sedative that veterinarians recommend in difficult circumstances.

Should You Clip a Horse With Rain Scald?

Rain scald or rain rot is a bacterial skin infection. In wet conditions, the bacteria causes inflammatory reactions on the horse’s skin. If your horse has long or thick coats and the weather is hotter, clipping is the best way to prevent or cure rain scald and reduce moisture.

First, gently groom the affected skin to remove loose hair; removing the hair allows the skin to dry quickly and easily and reduces the spreading of the infection. It is important to keep the horses dry when treating the rain scald.

If the rain scald has been there for a while, the horse’s skin may be too sensitive to handle the clippers. You can treat it aggressively with diluted apple cider vinegar or shampoo first and then clip it away.

Can You Clip a Horse With Dog Clippers?                                                              

Using the right clippers, you can clip a horse with dog clippers. Although some lightweight dog clippers cannot handle a horse’s workload, many multi-tasking clippers can. A large dog can take 30 minutes to clip, while a horse takes an hour. Some dog blades may overheat and slower the clipping process.

The Oster 2-speed is the right choice to clip both dogs and horses.

How do You Prevent Lines When Clipping a Horse?

To prevent lines while clipping, you should:

• Use sharp clipper blades.
• Start with a clean canvas; a clean coat is usually easy to clip.
• Make sure you are using cooling spray and oil throughout the clipping process.
• You go over a spot a few times to even the horse out.

How do You Clip Horse Feathers?

It is helpful to leave feathers during winter; the long hair keeps the horse insulated and warm in wet or cold weather. In warmer seasons, feathers make it hard to clean the horse and increase the chances of developing scratches during cold weather.

If you want to clip the lower leg, go against the hair growth direction using the #10 blade—clip towards the hair by removing the shaggy bits to look natural.

What’s the Difference Between Light, Medium, and Heavy-Duty Clippers?

Light-duty clippers are perfect if you have one or two short-haired horses. They are smaller, quiet, light, and cordless or mainly powered clippers.

Medium-duty clippers are useful for people with approximately five horses. They are more powerful and long-lasting, slightly larger, fairly quiet, and easy to manage than light-duty clippers. They can be cordless and main-powered medium-duty clippers.

Heavy-duty clippers are perfect for large numbers, coarse, or horses with difficult hairs. They are mainly larger, louder, with more vibrations, and very tough.

Key Takeaway

Wahl Bravura Lithium Ion Clipper is the best horse trimmer for full body clipping; It is a lightweight duty clipper and can be both cordless or corded. You can use the Wahl bravura clipper in places where there is power or no power.

You should consider noise, quality,  budget, quantity, and customer reviews. New clippers should prevent skin damage, injury, and other potential danger. Clipping and grooming your horse is healthy and helps them regulate body temperature during hot seasons, among other benefits.

No matter the brand of horse shavers, take breaks to clean the excess hair, oil the blades, and apply the cooling spray. Horse clipper blades wear out faster if they cut through dirty hair. Body clipping protects horses from insects.