Working your horse through the winter months with a thicker coat can lead to him sweating more. This can make coat and skin care tricky. That’s why many horse owners choose to clip their horse’s coat. Removing part or all of his winter coat will make him more comfortable and makes it a little easier to take care of too.
Our testers have tried out four sets of clippers on several horses with different coat thickness to find out which produce the best results, and they recommend.
Each set of clippers is given a mark out of five for ease of use, end result and value for money. This gives an overall value out of 15.
1. Liveryman Black Beauty
RRP £345
Ease of use: These clippers are light and the body is slim, making them easy to hold and manoeuvre. Even when doing a full clip, I don’t get an achy arm and wrist. The set that I have has a battery pack, but there is also the option to use them as a mains clipper. This gives you great flexibility. I’ve used both and there’s no difference in the results.
When fully charged, the battery gives you up to five hours of clipping time. You must make sure that the cable is securely plugged into the battery pack – I found it disconnected a few times – you have to push the cable in quite hard to prevent this. You tension the blades a little differently to other clippers; it’s not difficult but highlights the need to read the instructions before use. 4.5 stars
Results: These have been used to clip several horses with varying coat thickness and have coped really well, leaving a good finish on all the horses I’ve clipped. For their size they are surprisingly quiet, and there’s little vibration too. I have one horse who can be a little nervous to clip but with these he was ok.
There’s also the option to vary the speed, which is another plus point if your horse isn’t too sure about being clipped or for sensitive areas such as under the chin or on the head. 4.5 stars
Value for money: Not the cheapest, but you get a lot for your money so good value. 4 stars
What’s in the box:
- Set of A2 blades 3mm cutting height
- 100ml clipper oil
- Cleaning brush
- Battery pack
- Charger adapter
- Storage box
Total score: 13
2. Wahl Avalon Horse Clipper
RRP £268.99
Ease of use: These battery-operated clippers are so easy to use — they are smaller than others but still capable of some serious clipping. The handset is easy to hold and feels secure in your hand even when clipping tricky areas. Another plus point for me is that the blades snap on, so you don’t need to worry about tensioning them. It also makes them easier to clean and oil. I was initially concerned about whether wearing the battery pack clipped onto my waistband would feel restrictive, but after a few minutes I forgot about it as the cable moves as you clip and doesn’t get in the way. 5 stars
Results: These clippers are very quiet, with minimal vibration. They have been great for clipping two sensitive Thoroughbreds, both of whom seem happier and less nervous about being clipped since using these.
When fully charged, the battery gives you around two-and-a-half hours of clipping time, which is enough for the high blanket clip that I do. The blades are not as wide as bigger sets of clippers so it does take longer, but they do a great job. However, don’t expect them to do lots of horses as they are slower than a set of heavy duty clippers. 4 stars
Value for money: Great clippers, especially if your horse is nervous of clipping. 4 stars
What’s in the box:
- Battery pack
- Pouch
- Body harness
- Hygienic spray
- 118ml clipper oil
- Cleaning brush
- Charger
- Storage case
Total score: 13
3. Masterclip HD Roamer
RRP £249.99
Ease of use: The body of the clippers is easy to hold, although I did find these a little heavier than other clippers I’ve used and a little awkward to use in those fiddly, hard to reach areas. However, this is to be expected when there’s a battery in the end of the handset. Having said that, I really like the fact that there’s no cable to worry about and you can just focus on clipping.
It’s simple to tension the blades and the battery is easy to fit and change. Having two batteries fully charged means you can have continuous clipping for around four hours. Regular oiling and cleaning during clipping is needed to stop the blades and motor getting too hot. 4 stars
Results: These are a heavy duty set of clippers and they make short work of all coat types. I’ve used them on four different horses, including an elderly horse with Cushing’s who has a thick coat, yet they cut through it effortlessly. They are a little noisy but they leave a great finish and the battery life is good too, I can get a full clip done easily.
I did need to use a smaller set of clippers in those hard-to-reach areas such as around the elbows, and under and around the chin, as these clippers were too big. or for sensitive areas such as under the chin or on the head. 4.5 stars
Value for money: These clippers offer very good value – and they also come with a two-year warranty for extra peace of mind. 4 stars
What’s in the box:
- Silver carry case
- A set of A2 toughed steel 1.5mm blades
- Two Li-on rechargeable batteries
- Charging unit
- 100ml clipping oil
- Cleaning brush
Total score: 12.5
4. Lister Star Clipper
RRP £258
Ease of use: A really nice set of mains-operated clippers. They are lightweight and the body is a little shorter than others I’ve used, but they are well balanced. This makes them easy to use and manoeuvre in those tricky areas, plus there are grips on either side of the body to help them feel secure in your hand.
The on/off button is in a good place on the clippers and clicks into place securely, so it’s not easy to knock them on or off by mistake. Tensioning the blades is easy and with regular oiling during clipping they don’t get too hot. Obviously because they are mains operated you do need to be aware of the cable, which can sometimes get in the way. 4 stars
Results: These are powerful, fast and efficient clippers that glide through the coat effortlessly. I’ve clipped horses with not much winter coat and some heavier types who have a thicker coat. The results on both have been great.
They are not the quietest clippers and there is a fair amount of vibration, but I found that only one horse — who is nervous about clipping anyway — objected to them. All in all, they are a very good set of clippers that produce a great finish on a variety of coat types. 4.5 stars
Value for money: These are a worthwhile investment. 4 stars
What’s in the box:
- Set of A2 blades
- 60ml clipper oil
- Cleaning brush
- Plastic storage box
Total score: 12.5
