Buyer’s guide to clippers
Slice your way through the world of clippers as we give you all the tips and advice you need to invest in the right set for you
Spend your money wisely and buy the right clippers for the job
THE TASK OF choosing clippers may seem a little daunting, given the array of designs and options available. There are different motors, speed ratings, power levels and other features to choose from. Plus, you need to think about the more subjective elements too, such as how the clippers feel in your hand, how easy they are to use, and how well they clip. A good place to start, as with many things in the horse world, is to ask your friends at the yard what clippers they use and whether they’d recommend them to you. They may even offer to lend you theirs to try so you can assess whether they’re going to meet your needs. Also, make a visit to your local country store to find out what clippers they stock and discuss your requirements with them. They’ll be able to offer you advice and you can ask if you can hold a few different models to get a feel for the balance and weight of them.
SIZE IS EVERYTHING
The main decision you need to make is what size clippers you need. This will depend entirely on what clip you’re planning, how often you clip and how thick your horse’s coat is.
THERE ARE THREE MAIN CATEGORIES TO CHOOSE FROM: LIGHT 1 DUTY
These are capable of doing a basic clip on finer coats. The blades aren’t as wide as bigger clippers and it’ll take a little longer to clip, but they’re lighter, smaller and quieter, which makes them easier to use. If your horse isn’t keen on being clipped these can also be a good option to help him get used to the feel and noise.
MEDIUM 2 DUTY
This size is a popular choice for many horse owners. If you’re looking at doing a simple clip once or twice a year and your horse has a fine to medium thickness coat, these clippers will cope well and do a good job.
3 HEAVY DUTY
These are designed to cope with clipping large amounts of coat and are the ones to choose if you clip a number of horses on a regular basis. They’re more powerful and Bring in the big boys if you have lots of horses that need clipping regularly can cope with heavy usage over longer periods of time. However, they tend to be heavier, noisier and more awkward to use for clipping tricky areas such as the elbows.