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Home > Horses > 5 Best Horse Clippers of 2023 – Reviews & Top Picks

5 Best Horse Clippers of 2024 – Reviews & Top Picks

woman clipping a horse

Over the cold winter months, our horses can grow an impressively thick coat in just a few weeks. If you want to regularly ride your horse during this time, you’ll need to clip them to prevent excessive sweating, which can later cause them to catch a chill. Clipping your horse means they won’t sweat as much, and it also enables them to cool off faster once you’re back at the barn.

You can schedule a professional groomer to come and clip your horse, but depending on where you live, that’s not always practical. Investing in a pair of clippers to use yourself means you’ll always be able to keep your horse looking neat and tidy.

There’s a huge range of clippers out there to choose from, so it can be hard to know which ones are going to suit you and your horse best. We rounded up the top five clippers and included reviews for each one with everything that you need to know, making it easy for you to choose the pair that meets your needs.

A Quick Glance at the Winners of 2024

Image Product Details
Best Overall
Winner
Andis Super 2-Speed Detachable Blade Clipper with UltraEdge T-84 Blade Andis Super 2-Speed Detachable Blade Clipper with UltraEdge T-84 Blade
  • Used by professionals
  • Quiet running
  • Includes 1-year warranty
  • Best Value
    Second place
    Wahl Arco SE Cordless Horse Clipper Wahl Arco SE Cordless Horse Clipper
  • 80-minute runtime
  • Cordless
  • Comes with two batteries
  • Premium Choice
    Third place
    Oster Clipmaster Variable Speed Clipping Machine Oster Clipmaster Variable Speed Clipping Machine
  • Shatter-proof housing
  • Variable speed
  • Heavy duty
  • Wahl Professional Bravura Horse Clipper Wahl Professional Bravura Horse Clipper
  • Five-in-one blade
  • Cordless
  • Lightweight
  • Oster A5 Two Speed Animal Grooming Clipper Oster A5 Two Speed Animal Grooming Clipper
  • Professional grade
  • Easy to change blade
  • The 5 Best Horse Clippers

    1. Andis Super Detachable Blade Clipper With UltraEdge — Best Overall

    Andis Super 2-Speed Detachable Blade Clipper with UltraEdge T-84 Blade

    As the best overall horse clippers, the Andis Super 2-Speed Detachable Blade Clipper is a professional-grade clipper that does a great job creating a clean clip in whatever shape you prefer. For sensitive areas, you can switch to a lower speed to increase comfort. This clipper is specifically designed for cool and quiet running, making it perfect for horses. It’s super-heavy duty and will make easy work of clipping all types of coat textures, including the thicker hair found on draft horses’ legs.

    The detachable blade means you can use this clipper with any Andis® UltraEdge® or CeramicEdge® blade. Oster A5® blades will also fit. The clipper comes with 1 UltraEdge® T-84 blade. It has shatter-proof housing in case you accidentally drop it. The heavy-duty power cord is 14 feet long, so you can easily reach a power outlet and still tie your horse in your preferred location.

    Pros
    • Used by professionals
    • Quiet running
    • Made in the U.S.A.
    • Includes 1-year warranty
    • Shatter-proof housing
    Cons
    • 14-foot cord might still not be long enough

    2. Wahl Arco SE Cordless Horse Clipper — Best Value

    Wahl Arco SE Cordless Horse Clipper

    In terms of the best horse clippers for the money, we highly recommend the Wahl Arco SE Cordless Horse Clipper. This brand is well-known for its high-quality clippers, and while this model is of exceptional value, it performs just as well as some more expensive models. This cordless clipper comes with a multi-purpose blade that can clip to five different lengths when used with the included guards.

    It’s an excellent choice for finish work around your horse’s face, ears, bridle path, and legs. It might struggle to complete an entire hunter clip, though, especially if your horse has a large amount of hair. This set comes with two batteries, each of which should last around 80 minutes. You’ll also get an instructional DVD, which is useful if you’re going to be clipping your horse for the first time. Reviewers love how easy to use this clipper is, and it’s also quiet with low vibration, so clipping delicate areas is easy.

    Pros
    • 80-minute runtime
    • Cordless
    • Comes with two batteries
    • Five-in-one blade
    • Quiet
    Cons
    • Best for finish work, not a whole clip

    3. Oster Clipmaster Variable Speed Clipping Machine — Premium Choice

    Oster Clipmaster Variable Speed Clipping Machine

    If you’re ready to invest in a premium pair of clippers, you can’t beat the Oster Clipmaster Variable Speed Clipping Machine. This clipper has a variable speed that can be adjusted from 700 to 3,000 strokes per minute. The low speeds are perfect for delicate areas around your horse’s head, while the high speeds will easily cut through body hair. The balance of this clipper has been designed to make maneuvering them easy while reducing fatigue. It comes with a toolbox case, brush, grease, and an extra intake screen.

    This clipper has been designed to be 30% lighter than previous models, which makes a significant difference when you’re clipping a large animal and will be holding this product for extended periods. This clipper is pricey, but if you’re looking for a durable pair of clippers to clip multiple horses with ease, you won’t regret buying it.

    Pros
    • Shatter-proof housing
    • Variable speed
    • Heavy duty
    • Non-slip finish
    Cons
    • Expensive

    4. Wahl Professional Bravura Horse Clipper

    Wahl Professional Bravura Horse Clipper

    The Wahl Professional Bravura Horse Clipper is a great choice if you’re looking for a lightweight cordless clipper for finish work around your horse’s head, ears, and legs. The lithium-ion battery gives a runtime of 60 minutes. A great feature about this clipper is that you can also use it as a corded clipper when the battery runs out.

    This product comes with a five-in-one blade and six guides, so you can choose the perfect length finish for different areas of your horse’s body. You can also choose from five different colors, so if you want to coordinate with the rest of your grooming kit, you can! Reviewers do note that the housing of this clipper isn’t shatter-proof, so take care not to drop it.

    Pros
    • Five-in-one blade
    • Cordless
    • Lightweight
    • 1-year warranty
    Cons
    • Only one battery included
    • Best for finish work only

    5. Oster A5 Two Speed Animal Grooming Clippers

    Oster A5 Two Speed Animal Grooming Clipper

    The Oster A5 Two Speed Animal Grooming Clippers have a powerful motor designed to stand up to heavy-duty clipping work. These will make easy work of clipping multiple horses, including full-body clips. The speed can be adjusted from 3,000 to 4,000 strokes per minute. Even on the lowest setting, this is still a high speed, so you might need to give your horse time to get used to these. The textured casing makes the clippers easy to hold and handle, while the 10-foot professional-grade power cord means you’ll have plenty of flexibility when maneuvering around your horse.

    One word of warning from some reviewers is that these clippers can heat up quickly. Make sure you keep them well oiled, and check the temperature regularly by placing the blades on the back of your hand. If they’re uncomfortably hot, you’ll need to switch them off and take a break while you wait for them to cool down.

    Pros
    • Professional grade
    • Easy to change blade
    Cons
    • Expensive
    • Only includes one blade
    • Can overheat

    horse shoe divider new

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

    If you’ve decided to invest in a pair of clippers to keep your horse neat and tidy over the winter months, it might seem like a fairly straightforward task. But a quick look at the market will reveal its complexity. Here’s a guide to help you out.

    Why Should I Clip My Horse?

    During the winter, most horses grow a nice thick coat to keep them well insulated from the cold weather. When we exercise them, this can cause them to overheat and start sweating. Too much sweat can then lead to your horse getting a chill because they can’t stay warm and dry with a soaking wet coat.

    One solution is to clip their coats, which means they won’t overheat or start sweating as much. After a ride, your horse’s clipped coat will still be mostly dry.

    When to Clip Your Horse

    Ideally, your first clip should be completed when temperatures start to drop in the fall. Depending on where you live, this may be as early as September or as late as November. Horse coats tend to grow quite quickly over the winter, so you may need to clip them every month.

    It’s generally recommended to complete your last clip no later than February. Beyond that, you may interfere with your horse’s summer coat that will be starting to come through.

    What to Look For in Horse Clippers

    When buying a new pair of horse clippers, these are the main features that you should be looking for. 

    Cordless or corded

    Cordless clippers come with a battery pack that can be recharged. Some also give you the option of using them as corded clippers. Cordless is great for use with nervous horses that may move around, so you don’t have to worry about them standing on the power cable. It’s also usually quieter, and as a result, it’s best suited for finishing off areas on your horse’s head, ears, and face.

    Corded clippers have a power cable and need to be plugged into an electrical outlet. The cable is usually heavy duty, but you still need to be careful that your horse doesn’t tread on it. Corded clippers are usually better suited to clipping your horse’s body than their face. Their increased power compared to cordless clippers means they can be noisier and vibrate more.

    In an ideal world, it’s best to have a pair of heavy-duty corded clippers for clipping your horse’s body and a pair of lightweight cordless clippers for finishing their face or tidying up clip lines on their bodies.

    Strokes per Minute (SPM)

    This measurement tells you how fast the blades move. The higher the SPM, the faster the blades move. Generally, this means the clippers will do a better job of tackling coarse hair. At a higher SPM, the clipper blades will heat up quicker, though, so you’ll need to check that they’re not overheating or becoming uncomfortably hot.

    Some clippers offer a variable SPM, while others are fixed. A low SPM can be useful for clipping delicate areas, like your horse’s face and ears. A high SPM is useful for clipping bodies and legs with coarse or dense hair.

    Blades

    There are three main types of blades found on horse clippers:

    • Adjustable blades. These have a lever to the side of the blade, which enables you to adjust the cutting length. Some clippers with adjustable blades also come with plastic guards that enable you to further adjust the length.
    • Fixed blades. These are screwed in place. Although you can remove them to use a different gauge blade, this can be a bit tricky. Some clippers with fixed blades should only be used with one gauge, so be sure to check before changing yours. Fixed-blade clippers also sometimes come with plastic guards to adjust the length that they cut to.
    • Detachable blades. These snap on and off, so you can change them quickly with minimal fuss. They might not be as robust as the other two options, though, so they are better for light trims rather than a full clip.

    The most common length blade that comes with horse clippers is the number-10 blade, which cuts hair to 1/16 of an inch. You may choose to use a number-40 blade, though, which cuts very short, to 1/100 of an inch. A 3 ¾ blade leaves ½ of an inch of hair. If you live in a cold climate, you may choose to use a blade with a longer cut so your horse has slightly more coverage. If you live in a warm area and your horse tends to grow a thick coat, you could use a shorter cut so you won’t have to clip so often. 

    close up shearing a horse
    Image Credit: Daniele RUSSO, Shutterstock

    Types of Clip

    The type of clip that you choose for your horse will depend on:

    • If your horse lives out in their paddock 24/7 or is stabled some of the time
    • Their workload
    • Their breed

    Full Clip

    In a full clip, the horse’s entire coat is clipped, including their legs, face, and ears. This is only recommended for horses that do hard work, like eventers or jumpers. Most horses with a full clip will live inside most of the time.

    Hunter Clip

    A hunter clip removes almost all the coat, leaving the legs and saddle area unclipped. This leaves some warmth and protection on the horse’s legs and saddle area. Horses with hunter clips will need warmer weight rugs to keep them warm if they’re turned out.

    Blanket Clip

    This clip pattern leaves a “blanket” over your horse’s back and loins. The hair on their face, neck, and chest and under their belly is removed. This is a popular choice for horses in medium work that are also turned out. The blanket clip helps your horse stay warm when turned out but also reduces excessive sweating.

    Chaser Clip

    Similar to the blanket clip, everything apart from the hair on the top of the horse’s neck is left unclipped. This clip provides additional warmth on your horse’s neck muscles and is suitable for horses in medium work that get turned out during the day.

    Trace Clip

    This clip pattern leaves the hair on your horse’s head unclipped. The clipping starts at their throat and extends down the bottom half of their neck, across their chest, and under their belly. This is suitable for horses in medium work that spend more time turned out than in a stable. The hair left on their face, upper neck, and legs helps keep them warm.

    Irish Clip

    For this clip, the hair on your horse’s face and lower neck is removed, as well as on their chest and belly. Their hindquarters are left unclipped, as are their forelegs. The line for this clip runs from your horse’s poll down to the point of their stifle. This clip is good for horses in light work that spend most of their time turned out.

    Bib Clip

    This simple clip only removes hair from your horse’s neck and chest. If you prefer, you can extend the clip under their belly to form a neck and belly clip. This is suitable for horses in very light work that spend most of their time turned out.

    Other Clip

    You may decide to let your imagination run wild and create a personalized clip! Some owners choose to trace a pattern on their horse’s hindquarters or combine different clip patterns to create an individual design that suits their horse’s needs.

    Preparation for Clipping

    Once you’ve bought your clippers and decided on your chosen clip pattern, it’s time to get ready!

    Preparing Your Horse
    • Clipping is easiest on a clean horse, so give your horse a bath the day before. Their coat needs to be dry.
    • Make sure your horse is tied up in a familiar area, with a hay net to keep them occupied.
    • Clipping in a well-lit area that’s out of the wind is recommended.
    • Use chalk to mark out the clip line. Some experienced clippers can do this freehand, but using chalk is recommended if you’re not confident about getting both sides even.
    • Bandage your horse’s tail, and plait up their mane to make sure they don’t accidentally get caught.
    • Keep a grooming brush on hand to lift away cut hairs so you can see the clip line easily.
    • Have a rug ready to put on your horse after they’ve been clipped, and remember that they’ll need to be kept warmer than usual for the first week to allow them to adjust to having less hair!

    Preparing Your Clippers
    • Check the tensioning of the blades according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
    • Have clipper oil and a small brush (both of these usually come with the clippers) at hand to keep your clippers lubricated and clean.
    • If using corded clippers, use a circuit breaker for safety.
    • If you’re worried about your horse standing on the power cable, secure it loosely to the ceiling of the barn with a loop of baling twine.
    • It’s advisable to get your clippers serviced once a year, including blade sharpening.
    • Keep a spare set of blades on hand, especially if you’re doing a full-body clip or clipping multiple horses.

    Clipping Your Horse

    • Start with the clippers on your horse’s shoulder.
    • Rest them on your horse to allow them to feel the vibrations before you start to clip.
    • Follow the chalk line of your clip pattern, using long strokes that overlap each other by around a quarter.
    • Use your spare hand to pull your horse’s skin taut.
    • Periodically check the temperature of the clipper blade by testing it on your hand.
    • Change the direction that you move the clippers in areas where your horse’s hair changes direction.
    • Every 10 minutes, turn off your clippers, brush away accumulated hair, and oil the blades.

    horse shoe divider new

    Conclusion

    As the best horse clippers, the Andis Super 2-Speed Detachable Blade Clipper With UltraEdge T-84 Blade has two speeds and shatter-proof housing and is cool and quiet to run. The blade makes light work of clipping, so your horse will soon look ready for the show ring.

    In terms of best value, we highly recommend the Wahl Arco SE Cordless Horse Clipper. This cordless clipper comes with two batteries that can last up to 80 minutes. It’s best suited for finishing areas like your horse’s face, ears, and bridle path.

    Finding the best clippers can feel like an uphill struggle when there are so many out there to choose from. We’ve done all the hard work for you by collecting reviews of our favorites. Now you should know exactly which ones will suit your horse best!


    Featured Image Credit: Chelle129, Shutterstock

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