Clipping your horse can be an essential part of maintaining their health, comfort and performance, especially during the colder months when they grow thick coats, or in older horses who don't lose their coat in the warmer months. It helps to regulate their body temperature during exercise, reduces sweat build-up, ensuring that they remain comfortable. This blog looks at the basics of horse clipping, why it's important, different types of clips and some of the best clippers available to make clipping as easy as possible.
Why Clip your Horse?
Clipping is particularly useful in the cooler months when horses tend to grow their winter coats. A long, thick coat can lead to excess sweating during exercise, which takes longer to dry after a workout, increasing the risk of chills and skin infections. Clipping also helps to:
- Regulate Temperature - prevents overheating during intense exercise
- Speeds up grooming - makes brushing easier and reduces the likelihood of skin issues caused by sweat and dirt build up
- Improves performance - horses that are clipped are able to perform better as they are more comfortable and not weighed down by a thick, sweaty coat
Types of Clips
Depending on your horses workload, the climate and weather they are stabled or turned out, you can choose from several clipping styles:
- Full Clip - the entire body, including the legs and face are clipped. This is ideal for horses in heavy work throughout winter and are stabled.
- Hunter Clip - leaves the legs and saddle area unclipped, while the rest of the body is clipped. This helps to maintain warmth where it's needed most, but prevents sweat build up during training. It's suitable for horses who are turned out and rugged.
- Blanket Clip - similar to a hunter clip, but more of the neck and back remain unclipped, resembling a blanket. This is the perfect clip for horses who are in light work over the winter months, but still spend a lot of time turned out.
- Trace Clip - only the areas that sweat the most, like the underside of the neck, chest and belly are clipped. This is the perfect clip for horses in light work over winter and are turned out.
- Bib Clip - only the neck and chest are clipped, offering minimal exposure while preventing overheating during light work. An ideal clip for horses who are occasionally lightly ridden over winter, but spend a lot of time outside.
Essential Clipping Equipment
To achieve a clean and effective clip, you need the right tools. Below are some of the top clippers that we have tried and tested to make the job of clipping easier and more efficient.
1. Heiniger Saphir Cordless Clippers
The Heiniger Saphir Cordless Clippers are perfect for those who want flexibility and ease during the clipping season. Lightweight and cordless, these clippers are ideal for sensitive horses who may not stand still for long periods. The battery life allows for over two hours of use, making it convenient for completing the job in one go. Due to their size they are also suitable for easily clipping the face and legs.
Key Features:
- Cordless for ease of movement
- Lightweight design - comfortable and easy to use
- Long battery life, with over two hours of usage per charge
2. Heiniger Xperience Horse Clippers
The ultimate horse clipper machine! The Heiniger Xperience are known for their high performance and durability. Perfect for both professional and amateur stables, the clippers are quiet which helps to reduce stress for your horse. Powerful clipping ensures that the process doesn't take too long, whilst the lightweight design makes them easy to handle.
Key Features:
- Powerful clippers for full body clips
- Quiet operation, reducing stress for sensitive horses
- Lightweight and easy to maneuver
- Ideal for thick and heavy coats
- Perfect for stables who need to clip a lot of horses each season
3. Wahl KM Supera Clippers
The Wahl KM Supera clippers are designed for professional use, providing a powerful, high-torque motor that can handle thick coats with ease. Their ergonomic design ensures comfortable handling, even during longer clipping sessions, while the two speed control allows for precise cutting. This clipper is perfect for both full-body clips and more detailed work, making it a versatile choice for any horse owner.
Main Features:
- High-torque motor for thick coats
- Two-speed control for greater versatility
- Ergonomic design for comfortable clipping
- Ideal for full body clips
- Cordless for complete freedom when clipping
4. Wahl Admire Cordless Clippers
The Wahl Admire cordless clippers offer the convenience of cord-free operation while maintaining powerful cutting performance at a budget friendly price. Their compact and lightweight design make them easy to maneuver around the sensitive areas such as the face and legs. With a long lasting battery and low noise level, they are ideal for horses who are sensitive to being clipped.
Key Features:
- Cordless for maximum flexibility
- Lightweight and compact, perfect for sensitive areas
- Quiet operation, reducing stress for horses
Clipping Tips
- Prepare your horse - before you start clipping, ensure your horse is clean and dry. Dirt and sweat can full the clipper blades and cause uneven clipping.
- Keep your blades sharp - dull blades can pull on the horses coat and cause discomfort. Make sure your clipper blades are well maintained and sharpened regularly.
- Start slow - if your horse is new to clipping, introduce the clippers slowly to avoid stress. Start by letting them feel the vibration before you begin clipping. If they become too stressed, try another day or ask your vet for a mild sedative.
- Check for heat - frequently check the clipper blades for heat during the clipping process. Overheated blades can cause discomfort or even cause discomfort or even burns to your horse.
- Clean and oil the clippers - throughout the clipping process, be sure to brush away built up hair from the clipper and apply clipping oil regularly to keep the blades cutting smoothly.
Horse clipping is a valuable grooming practice that benefits both the horses comfort and their performance. With the right clippers and a good understanding of the clipping process you can maintain a sleek, healthy coat for your horse throughout the year.
You'll find more clippers and accessories here!
