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.
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 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.
We’ve rounded up the best horse clippers – suitable for all horse owners, from clipping novices to professionals – and split our guide into mains-powered and battery-operated clippers.
Keep scrolling for the best mains-powered clippers, or click to jump down to the best battery-operated cordless clippers.
Best mains-powered horse clippers
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 | RRP: £499.99 | H&H review: 10/10, H&H Approved |
This is Liveryman’s most powerful clipper – we used these on all types of horses, from Shetlands to thoroughbreds, and the finish has been excellent in all cases. 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.
It’s possible to adjust the speed, so if you’re clipping a horse with a particularly fine coat, or doing around the head or legs, you can slow them down, which also reduces the noise slightly if you’re dealing with a sensitive horse – very handy. For a large clipper, it is lighter and slimmer than many other handsets, which makes it easy to handle and will reduce user fatigue while clipping. We think these clippers are great value for money and would be our first choice when mains power is available.
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.
Read H&H’s independent Liveryman Black Beauty clippers review.
In the UK? View now at amazon.co.uk, viovet.co.uk, gsequestrian.co.uk or ebay.co.uk
Lister Fusion
Heavy-duty clipper designed for the professional and all coat types
Power source: Mains | Grip diameter: 5.2cm | Weight: 1.1kg | Cord length: 5m | Warranty: 2 years | RRP: £393.60 |
With two speeds to accommodate any clipping application, the Lister Fusion offers exceptional performance under challenging conditions. Designed for easy and comfortable handling, the handset is slim and perfectly weighted. It also features a double fan design and ventilation outlet to ensure consistent cool running during long periods of use.
In the UK? View now at wahl.co.uk
In the US? View now at amazon.com
Clipperman Fortress
Great if you have a yard full of horses
Power source: Mains | Handset length: 32cm | Grip diameter: 5.6cm | Weight: 1.4kg | Cord length: 6m | Warranty: 2 years | RRP: £305.45 |
This Clipperman handset is described as well ventilated and suitable for clipping a yard full of horses and the long cable allows for plenty of manoeuvrability. The handset comes with an A2 blade with a 3mm cut length, and the quick and simple blade tension adjustment allows you to swap or remove the blades with ease.
In the UK? View now at amazon.co.uk, viovet.co.uk or ebay.co.uk
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 | RRP: £262 | H&H review: 8/10 |
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 – we found it was suitable for clipping tricky areas such as around the head and legs. 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.
In the UK? View now at amazon.co.uk, viovet.co.uk, gsequestrian.co.uk or ebay.co.uk
Heiniger Xperience 2-Speed
Ideal for the professional clipper to ease through multiple coats
Power source: Mains | Run time: Up to 2 hours | Grip diameter: 4.5cm | Weight: 1.18kg | Cord length: 5m | Warranty: 3 years | RRP: £434.51 |
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.
In the UK? View now at ebay.co.uk
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 | RRP: £268.80 |
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, filter, a brush and A2F/AC (fine) blades.
In the UK? View now at amazon.co.uk, viovet.co.uk or ebay.co.uk
Lister Legend
Medium/heavy-duty clipper that would work well for a professional or those with several horses
Power source: Mains | Grip diameter: 5.2cm | Weight: 980g | Cord length: 5m | Warranty: 2 years | RRP: £368.40 |
Lightweight, powerful and durable, the Lister Legend delivers professional performance every time. It features a dual position grip so that you can clip for longer, faster, and more comfortably.
In the UK? View now at amazon.co.uk or ebay.co.uk
In the US? View now at amazon.com
Hauptner 2000 Plus
Power source: Mains | Handset length: 28.5cm | Grip diameter: 5.2cm | Weight: 1.53kg | Cord length: 4.9m | Warranty: 2 years | RRP: £295 |
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.
Best battery-operated horse clippers
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 | RRP: £390 |
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 fatugue. 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 (RRP £60).
In the UK? View now at amazon.co.uk, viovet.co.uk, wahl.co.uk or ebay.co.uk
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 | RRP: From £249 |
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.
In the UK? View now at amazon.co.uk, viovet.co.uk, gsequestrian.co.uk, naylors.com or ebay.co.uk
Heiniger Saphir
Perfect if you’re new to clipping and have one or two horses
Power source: Internal rechargeable Li-ion battery | Run time: Up to 2 hours | Charge time: 1 hour | Handset length: 20.4cm | Grip diameter: 4.5cm | Weight: 435g | Warranty: 2 years | RRP: £356.87 |
These battery-powered light-duty Heiniger clippers are described as perfectly balanced and quiet with minimal vibration. It comes with two rechargeable batteries but also has the option for mains connection. Also included is one 10WF pre-tensioned snap-on A5 blade, a dual charging station, clipper oil and care utensils – all in a practical, sturdy carry case.
In the UK? View now at amazon.co.uk or ebay.co.uk
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 | RRP: From £467.96 | H&H review: 8/10 |
This battery-powered Heiniger handset is described as extremely powerful – we found they were great at getting through really thick coats. 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 – we were able to do three straightforward clips with one full charge. The set includes a standard blade set, screwdriver, oil, brush and charger unit in a durable carry case. While not the cheapest on the market, we found these clippers were easy to use and give a good finish, particularly on horses with thicker coats.
Read H&H’s independent Heiniger Xplorer clippers review.
In the UK? View now at amazon.co.uk or ebay.co.uk
Clipperman Dragon
Gives a powerful clip if you don’t have a power source
Power source: 2 rechargeable Li-ion batteries | Run time: 2 hours per battery | Charge time: 1.5 hours | Handset length: 20cm | Grip diameter: 5cm | Weight: 0.9kg | Warranty: 2 years | RRP: £317.46 |
This cordless Clipperman handset is supplied with an A2 blade with a 3mm cut length. It offers a really good run time totalling four hours, although larger batteries are also available to extend this further. The set also contains a blade guard, charger, clipper oil, cleaning brush, screwdriver and instruction manual.
In the UK? View now at amazon.co.uk or ebay.co.uk
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 | RRP: £279.99 |
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.
In the UK? View at amazon.co.uk or ebay.co.uk
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Understanding clipper power
It’s best to avoid getting caught up with different watt ratings, rpms or the different types of motor as this can be misleading and pretty confusing. The easiest way to start narrowing it down is to work out whether you should be looking at light, medium or heavy duty clippers.
- Light-duty clippers are ideal for people with one or two short haired horses. They are usually smaller clippers that are light and quiet, and could be cordless or mains-powered. The Lister Star is a good example of this.
- Medium-duty clippers are useful if you have up to five horses. They can handle feathers and most jobs well and are more powerful and durable than light-duty clippers. They are usually slightly larger, but still fairly quiet and easy to manage. You can also get cordless or mains clippers in this category. The Lister Legend is a medium-duty clipper.
- Heavy-duty clippers are best if you have lots of horses to clip or have horses with particularly coarse or difficult hair. They are typically larger and louder, with more vibration, but are also very tough. These clippers are more likely run from the mains – although not all, as is the case with the cordless Masterclip HD Roamer – and are usually chosen by professionals.
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 workload, what rugs he has, and whether he’s stabled at all will determine the best clip for him.
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