Choosing from the best horse clippers to suit your needs will make the potentially arduous task of clipping quick and easy – and deliver a smart clip to make your horse the envy of his stablemates. It can be tricky to know which is the best clipper handset for you as there are so many options and a lot of technical information to sift through.
If you’d like a bit more guidance on what to look for, then we have loads of advice on how to choose the best horse clippers for you . If you’re looking to do smaller areas of tidying, check out this selection of the best trimmers.
Best horse clippers: H&H’s quick guide
Best mains powered clippers: Liveryman Black Beauty
Best battery powered clippers: Heiniger Xplorer
Best clippers for nervous horses: Liveryman Harmony Plus
Best clippers for the one-horse owner: Lister Star
Best clippers for multiple horses: Masterclip Hunter
Best lightweight clippers: Lister Eclipse
Liveryman Black Beauty
Heavy-duty clipper that is ideal for the professional or a larger yard with or without a power source
Power source: Mains
Handset length: 22cm
Grip diameter: 5.4cm
Weight: 800g
Cord length: 5m
Warranty: 1 year
H&H review: 10/10, H&H Approved
Reasons to buy
- Lightweight
- Adjustable speed
- Leave a great finish
Reasons to avoid
- If you are only clipping one horse
This is Liveryman’s most powerful clipper – it has been designed to cut through the heaviest of winter coats with ease and can run for extended periods of time without overheating. It incorporates brushless motor technology, which makes the clipper more reliable, efficient and powerful than a standard clipper motor. It’s designed to have less moving parts that are subject to wear and tear, which means less vibration, less noise and increased reliability.
The Black beauty is lighter and slimmer than many traditional clippers, which makes it easy to handle and will reduce user fatigue while clipping. The variable speed allows you to adjust the speed of the blades. By slowing the speed you can further reduce the noise level and vibration – making them ideal for nervous horses or when clipping the more sensitive areas such as head and legs. Box contains a handset fitted with A2 blades and combs, oil, brush and instruction manual.
You can also purchase this handset with a battery pack, which will give you four hours of clipping time and the flexibility to use the clipper anywhere.
We love these clippers and our tester (freelance groom Lucie Holt) used then as a mains powered clippers and she finds that they are now her first choice for all her clipping tasks. She said “I’ve clipped all types of horse with these – from Shetlands to thoroughbreds – and the finish has been excellent in all cases. They really do just glide through any thickness of coat. ”
Read H&H’s independent Liveryman Black Beauty clippers review.
Heiniger Xplorer
Designed for professionals as well as enthusiastic amateurs
Power source: Rechargeable Li-ion battery
Run time: Up to 2 hours per battery
Charge time: 60–70 mins
Handset length: 30cm
Grip diameter: 5.7cm
Weight: 990g
Warranty: 3 years
H&H review: 8/10
Reasons to buy
- Cordless
- Good battery life
Reasons to avoid
- High price
This battery-powered Heiniger handset is described as extremely powerful. It has patented noise reduction features and the absence of a trailing cable increases the flexibility and portability. It features a practical LED display on the charger unit that indicates the current battery charge level – Our tester freelance groom Lucie Holt was able to carry out three straightforward clips with one full charge. She found they were great for getting through really thick coats. She also had no problems setting the tension.
The set includes a standard blade set, screwdriver, oil, brush and charger unit in a durable carry case.
Read H&H’s independent Heiniger Xplorer clippers review.
Liveryman Harmony Plus
A very versatile clipper that can be used by anyone from beginners to professionals for clipping and trimming
Power source: Rechargeable battery
Run time: 90 min
Charge time: 3 hours
Handset length: 17cm
Grip diameter: 4.7cm
Weight: 550g
Warranty: 1 year
Reasons to buy
- Low noise
- Easy change blade system
Reasons to avoid
- Longer charging time than some others
Liveryman described this as their most versatile clipper as it can be used as both a clipper or trimmer and is extremely quiet. The Harmony Plus is easy to use and is suitable for daily use. It has low noise and low vibration, which is ideal for horses that are not used to frequent clipping. The blades are easy to switch and require no tensioning. The box contains a handset fitted with A5 blade (narrow, wide or two blade options), oil, brush and instruction manual. Additional battery packs are also available to purchase separately.
Lister Star
A great introductory clipper – ideal if you have one or two horses
Power source: Mains
Handset length: 24cm
Grip diameter: 5cm
Weight: 750g
Cord length: 5m
Warranty: 2 years
Reasons to buy
- Intelligent tensioning system
- Comfort grip
Reasons to avoid
- Will need mains power to run
One of Lister’s most popular products, the Star is described as a powerful, fast and efficient clipper that is ideal for professionals as well as horse owners – it really sits between the light and medium duty categories. It has a slim, balanced grip for maximum comfort, and it features an intelligent tensioning system to ensure the right cutting pressure. The handset also has a ventilated head to prevent overheating, an overload switch that protects the motor in the event of a jam, a self-cleaning function to remove clippings during use, and a removable and replaceable air filter for easy cleaning. It is supplied with A2F blades fitted as standard, and the set also includes 60ml clipper oil and a brush.
Masterclip Hunter
Heavy-duty clipper that is ideal for the professional or a larger yard with a power source
Power source: Mains
Handset length: 28cm
Grip diameter: 18cm
Weight: 1,050g
Cord length: 6m
Warranty: 2 years
Reasons to buy
- Easy to hold non-slip grip
- Suitable for novice users through to professionals
Reasons to avoid
- Need mains power to run them
The Masterclip Hunter is a powerful air-cooled heavy-duty horse clipper that has a modern magnetic motor that is suitable for clipping a variety of different horse breeds. It comes with one set of high grade 1.5mm fine cut blades – ideal for full body clipping, along with a 100ml of clipper oil and is presented in a silver carry case.
Lister Eclipse
Ideal for light/medium-duty clipping by a one-horse owner with no power, or great for professionals with an extra battery
Power source: Rechargeable Li-ion battery
Run time: 2 hours 10 mins
Charge time: 2 hours 10 mins
Handset length: 21.4cm
Grip diameter: 4.2cm
Weight: 845g
Warranty: 2 years
Reasons to buy
- Lightweight
- Ergonomic grip
- LED charge indicator
Reasons to avoid
- Will need an extra battery pack for longer running time
Described as one of Lister’s “most exciting developments to date”, the Eclipse weighs in at just 845g, which makes it the smallest and lightest cordless clipper (excluding clipper/trimmers) available on the market. Being slim with an ergonomic grip gives you greater control and reduces wrist fatigue. It’s built with an efficient brushless motor for smoother, cooler running, and has cool close-cutting blades for a smart finish. It has an LED charge indicator on the battery and charging stand, so you know how much power you’ve got left. Spare batteries are also available. The Eclipse comes with a set of fine blades, battery, charger, changing stand, brush and clipper oil.
Heiniger Xperience 2-Speed
Ideal for the professional clipper to ease through multiple coats
Power source: Mains
Grip diameter: 4.5cm
Weight: 1.18kg
Cord length: 5m
Warranty: 3 years
Reasons to buy
- Balanced handset
- Ideal for a professional
Reasons to avoid
- If you don’t have mains power
This slim, powerful, agile and balanced handset from Heiniger has a patented noise reduction mechanism. It has two speeds, with a top speed of 2,900 double strokes per minute, and is well ventilated to allow for cool running all day. The handset comes with a standard blade set, screwdriver, oil and brush in a durable carry case.
Masterclip Cordless HD Roamer
An ideal solution for horse owners on yards with no power
Power source: Rechargeable Li-ion battery
Clipping time: Up to 2 hours per battery
Charging time: 2–3 hours
Handset length: 31cm
Grip diameter: 5.4cm
Weight: 1.2kg
Warranty: 2 years
Reasons to buy
- Cordless
- Comes with two batteries
Reasons to avoid
- Longer charge time for batteries
If you’re looking for a cordless heavy-duty clipper, this Masterclip handset could be the one for you. The batteries are stored neatly in the handset making it ideal for clipping fidgety, nervous horses and youngstock. It’s one of the heavier handsets, but it does have to accommodate the batteries, which not all cordless clippers do. The HD Roamer comes with two rechargeable Li-ion batteries, which provide plenty of time to carry out a full clip. It can cope with any type of coat and a variety of A2 clipper blades can be used to offer a superfine, fine, medium or coarse finish. It comes in a sturdy carry case with two batteries, charger, clipper oil, cleaning brush and one set of premium A2 blades.
Liveryman Bruno
Lightweight clipper or trimmer that is ideal for the one-horse owner
Power source: Mains
Handset length: 16cm
Grip diameter: 4.5cm
Weight: 400g
Cord length: 4.9m
Warranty: 1 year
H&H review: 8/10
Reasons to buy
- Easy to fit snap-on blades
- Lightweight
Reasons to avoid
- No adjustment to cutting length
This is Liveryman’s lightest clipper and can be used as either a clipper or a trimmer. We found it to be very quiet with low vibration. It has two speed settings to choose from, which makes it ideal for horses that are nervous or uncomfortable with a larger, more powerful motor. It is lightweight and easy to manoeuvre. Here is what our tester Lucie Holt, a freelance groom, had to say “they are lightweight and found they leave a good finish when clipping tricky areas such as around the head and legs. Clippers come in a pre-packed display box with oil and a brush plus an instruction manual.
You can purchase a separate battery pack that will give you three to four hours of run time from a four-hour charge.
Read H&H’s independent Liveryman Bruno clippers review.
Hauptner 3000
Power source: Mains
Handset length: 28cm
Grip diameter: 5.2cm
Weight: 1.45kg
Cord length: 4.9m
Warranty: 2 years
Reasons to buy
- Relatively quiet
- Easy to hold handset
Reasons to avoid
- Mains powered might not appeal to everyone
This high-quality German-built heavy-duty mains clipper offers smooth performance in tough conditions, which gives it the edge when clipping varying types of coats. It is described as a reliable all-round clipper suited for a variety of uses. It has a relatively quiet running motor for a heavy-duty machine and is easy to handle, plus the handpiece is slightly tapered and easy to hold. It is supplied in a hard carry case with A2 blades, clipper oil and a brush.
How to choose the best horse clippers for you
Clippers are a real investment. When choosing a new handset you should consider…
- the size of your hands – will you be able to hold the handset comfortably for a long period of time?
- the amount of horses you need to clip, their hair type and personality – these will all affect the power you need
- access to power – do you have mains power or will you need a battery-operated handset?
- brand and clipper quality – choose a reputable brand and avoid options where the manufacturer is unclear
- price – battery-operated clippers tend to be the most expensive, and the price generally increases with the power
The main decisions you need to make are whether you need cordless or mains-powered clippers, and whether you would benefit most from light, medium or heavy duty. Not all clippers fit clearly into a category, but these descriptions offer some guidance…
- light-duty clippers – ideal for those with one or two short-haired horses
- medium-duty clippers – more powerful and durable than light-duty clippers, these are useful if you have up to five horses as they can handle feathers and most jobs well
- heavy-duty clippers – the best option if you have lots of horses to clip or have horses with particularly coarse or difficult hair
Mains-powered vs cordless clippers
Owning a set of cordless clippers is definitely convenient. There are no trailing power cables for your horse to potentially tread on, they can be lighter and easier to handle so better for clipping awkward and sensitive areas, plus they are good for remote yards without mains power or with limited power sockets. However, they are limited by their battery life and some need to be coupled with a heavy battery pack that may take a while to charge.
The benefit of mains-powered clippers is that they can run for as long as is needed (subject to short breaks to prevent the blades from getting hot) and don’t need to be recharged. You will have a power cable to contend with, but you’re less likely to be left with a half-clipped horse.
Should I wash my horse before clipping?
Yes, your horse should have a thorough wash before clipping. This helps to ensure maximum comfort for your horse, longevity of your clipper blades and it will also leave a better finish. You could also hot cloth your horse post clip to help remove loose hairs and oil remaining on top of the skin.
How do I maintain my clippers?
To ensure your clippers last well…
- oil regularly every 5-10 minutes with clipper oil
- set the tension correctly
- keep the clipper and filter clean
- use the correct blade type for the application
Why won’t my blades cut?
There are a number of reasons why the blades may not be cutting, including…
- they may be blunt and need sharpening
- they may have been incorrectly sharpened
- the clippers may not have been tensioned correctly
- the blades may not have been oiled as frequently as recommended
When is the best time to clip a horse?
You should clip your horse as soon as his growing winter coat starts to get in the way of his work. If he’s sweating more than he was, then it’s time to take it off. You can then keep on top of it throughout the winter – some horses need going over more often than others. There is debate about when you should do your last clip before the spring, but the general, traditional view is that clipping should be avoided after the end of January.
What clip is best for my horse?
There are lots of different types of clip. Your horse’s management, including workload, rug availability, and whether he’s stabled at all will determine the best clip for him.
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