8 trimmers for tidying, blending and finishing touches

The best horse trimmers are ideal for getting to the bits that even the best horse clippers can’t – they’re just what you need for finishing touches and quick tidy ups. Trimmers are all lightweight and easy to hold, which makes them great for manoeuvring into the trickier places. They’re also low noise and low vibration, which is really handy if you have a nervous horse or a horse that doesn’t like to be clipped, but also helps when you’re working around the head and ears.

Most of the best horse trimmers are battery powered, but there is a lot of variation between running and charging times. Some have a battery level or charge indicator, which is a handy feature to have. Most trimmers also offer a variety of cut length options and easy-to-change blades, but this is definitely worth checking before you make your final decision. Typically, the more features the handset has, the higher the price point.

Best trimmers: H&H’s quick guide

Best trimmers for blending: Wahl Admire

Best battery run time: Liveryman Nova

Best light weight trimmers: Clipperman Jewel

Best horse trimmers

It is quiet with low vibration and has a long run time that allows for multiple uses between charging. Comes with a disposable blade, four add-on comb attachments (3, 6, 9 and 12mm), charging lead, brush and oil.

Pocket Sized Trimmers 

If you are looking for a compact, pocket-sized trimmer for trimming awkward areas, especially round your horses head and ears and those fiddly finishing touches to details – or you just want to keep your horse neat and tidy between his clips – I’ve got a couple of ideal tools for the job.

These Liveryman Robin trimmers are a compact, pocket-sized, waterproof trimmer for precision and convenience. Perfect for use at home or shows, they fit comfortably in your hand, making it ideal for trimming delicate or awkward areas such as around the head and ears and even the heels of fine-coated horses. Its quiet operation with low vibrations makes it a reliable choice for nervous horses.

This is the lightest of the two pocket-sized trimmers I’ve featured in this guide. It is designed for precision and ease of use, particularly in hard-to-reach areas such as bridlepaths, above the eyes and under the horses jaw. Its compact, ergonomic design and soft-touch grip offer excellent control, while its small size makes it easy to conceal for nervous horses.

What is the difference between clippers and trimmers?

Horse clippers are powerful tools designed to run for longer periods of time effortlessly and remove the bulk of your horse’s body hair, while trimmers are much lighter and smaller than clippers, and are designed for precision work/tidying up delicate areas, such as the face, ears or jawline.

Trimmers are not designed for prolonged use but can be handy for blending or tidying up your lines for a show-ready finish.

When choosing between the two you need to consider your needs. For full or partial clips opt for a clipper, but for precision and detailed work a trimmer will work best. For nervous horses or if you’re regularly clipping feather, opt for a compact clipper like the Heiniger Opal Horse.

For many horse owners, they find the best combination is to have both a clipper and trimmer. By using both, they compliment each other and make the process more comfortable for both horse and owner.

Can you clip a horse with trimmers?

While some trimmers may be able to cope with tidying up a very fine coat, they are not designed to cope with a full clip and you will be much more successful with a set of clippers. Trimmers are best saved for trickier areas, such as bridle paths, blending around the face or tidying up feathers.

You might also like:

Best horse clippers for taming every type of winter coat

How to pull a horse’s mane: your complete guide

How to clip a horse: a video masterclass

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