| If you own horses and pay for a professional | | | | doing whole body clipping. If you are going to do 1 |
| groomer for part or all of your horse grooming | | | | horse intermittently, the n we suggest buying a |
| needs, you know how expensive it can get. A | | | | lower cost single speed clipper that operates |
| viable option is to purchase your own clippers and | | | | above 2,500 spm. |
| do it yourself. There are training guides and videos | | | | 4. Cord vs. Cordless - There are clippers with |
| available that will have going quickly and saving | | | | cords convertible to a power pack that they can |
| money. If you decide to purchase your own | | | | operate as cordless and clippers that are totally |
| horse clippers the following suggestions will help | | | | cordless. The positive with cordless is that the |
| you: | | | | cord is not getting in the way while working and |
| Establish your horse grooming goals - The type of | | | | you do not need long extension cords for remote |
| horse clippers you buy will be determined by your | | | | clipping jobs. The negative with cordless is that |
| grooming goals. Your goal should be based on | | | | they generally operate at slower speeds and you |
| whether you plan to do trimming only (around | | | | have a set time of operation before they need to |
| ears, bridle path and hooves), trimming and some | | | | be recharged. |
| whole body grooming (you may decide to do all | | | | 5. Professional - Professional grade clippers |
| the trimming and have a professional groomer do | | | | typically have a more heavy duty design and |
| every other grooming) or do all of the trimming | | | | power draw to withstand long periods of |
| and grooming for 1 or more horses. | | | | operation without heating up or breaking down. |
| Select clippers based on standard set of criteria - | | | | Ergonomics is a prime consideration in the design |
| All clippers and trimmers are measured on a fairly | | | | and assembly of professional grade clippers |
| standard set of design and usage criteria including: | | | | because of the long periods of expected |
| 1. Speed - Clipper speed is measured by strokes | | | | continuous use. |
| per minute (spm) while operating. The rule of | | | | OK, with our goal established and selection criteria |
| thumb is higher speed for thicker hair like manes, | | | | determined we can decide on which clippers are |
| tails and some longer hair breeds like Shetlands or | | | | best suited for you. |
| Welsh. There are single speed, variable speed and | | | | - Trimming only on an intermittent basis - buy low |
| 2 or 3 speed clippers depending on your goals. | | | | cost corded or cordless trimmers. All the major |
| 2. Just Trimming - If you are only trimming | | | | brands offer them. |
| around the ears, eyes, bridle path and hooves | | | | - Trimming continuously with whole body |
| then look at purchasing small inexpensive | | | | grooming intermittently - Buy medium priced single |
| trimmers. Each of the major lines of horse | | | | speed or variable speed clipper either corded or |
| clippers offers them. They are ideal for trimming | | | | cordless. |
| between visits from your professional groomer. | | | | - Do all the grooming for 1 or more horses - For |
| 3. Overall Grooming - If you are going to do full | | | | one horse a good variable speed clipper, corded |
| body grooming in thicker hair like the manes, you | | | | or cordless will work fine. For cutting and trimming |
| should look at the higher speed clippers. If you are | | | | multiple horses consider the higher end |
| going to do 1 or more horses consistently, then | | | | professional grade clippers built for continuous |
| you should consider a variable speed clipper that | | | | operations and ergonomic benefits. |
| will adjust to your needs whether trimming or | | | | |