What sort of clippers should I buy?

This will depend on a number of things:

1. How many horses you will clip on a regular basis, and how often.

2. Who will be using them? It is worth bearing in mind that smaller people will find a slimmer clipper easier to manage.

3. Do you have access to mains electricity? If not, a battery operated clipper is the answer.

4. Do you have young or nervous horses to clip?
If this is the case opt for a cable-free, Machine. The 12 volt Lister Showman operated from a battery on a waist belt, or from a lead attached to a car battery is a good option. Although for the really nervous horse, who cannot tolerate the noise of a large clipper, try one of the small trimmers first, available in mains or battery, and then progress to a larger machine when the horse is comfortable. The range of clippers available is extensive, but basically breaks down into four divisions. Small trimmers, large trimmers, full size machines and re-chargeables.

1. Small Trimmers

Mains or cordless for trimming small areas, e.g. face, ears, fine leg hair or any awkward places. A good introduction to clipping for young or nervous horses. We have used for many years the Moser Rex which is a mains trimmer, it has a lever on the side which gives blade adjustment, particularly useful for merging in the clip when used for clipping heads. The Lister Meteor is another very good trimmer, this is cordless, but with an attachment to work from the mains if necessary. Lister offer the choice of fine, medium and coarse blades with this trimmer.

2. Large Trimmers

These midway machines, have been designed for light use on fine coated ponies and horses where part clips and trimming are needed. Wahl have produced a very good little machine called the Stable Pro which has been on the market for several years, and now Moser have also produced a machine called the Max 45 which alongside the Stable Pro has been developed for the one/two horse or pony owner. They take a little longer to clip with, as the blades are not as wide as a full size machine. However, they are quiet and light to hold, need no tensioning and again, good as an introduction for young or nervous animals.

Both machines allow the blades to be changed for a narrower one, which then means it can be used in the same way as a small trimmer, to get in the difficult areas. They are both available as mains clippers.

3. Full Size Machines

There are a good range of both mains, 12 volt and rechargeable, to cater for all requirements.

Mains clippers are divided into two groups.

(i) Light to medium usage
This gives a good choice of clippers in this category. All made by well known manufacturers and include the Lister Neon, this is a new generation of clipper using less power, creating less noise, but producing more torque. Very user friendly with a slightly narrower and lighter body than its predecessor, the Lister Stablemate.

Liveryman offer the Liveryman Arena, this is a tried and tested machine, and was the original machine that they launched the company with, and promoted by the showjumper, John Whittaker.

It is a powerful 90 watt machine and is a very robust, useful allround clipper. They have also, more recently brought out the Liveryman Stallion. This again, is a 90 watt machine, but has a new design to the hear which makes it a lot quieter than the Arena, but still just as powerful. This takes Heineger type blades.

Wolseley, who have been in the clipper business for many years offer the Wolseley Swift. Again, a good all round, workmanlike clipper. Similar to the Liveryman Arena, and takes the same blade system.

Trimming ears - again be careful - this 4yr old has taken it all in his stride. Others are not always so easy.

(ii) Commercial/heavy usage
These clippers, have been designed with larger, more powerful motors to cope with this kind of usage and as such, are slightly heavier to hold and can be a bit noisy. Mainly used by large yards and contract clippers, the range includes the Lister Laser, a 170 watt mains machine which can also be adapted for use on sheep and cattle. Liveryman Mustang, a 300 watt mains machine, which, like the Laser can be adapted for sheep and cattle, and the Hauptner 2000. This is a German built clipper, and out of the three mentioned, would be the slightly smaller and lighter one to use. It has a powerful motor and there are sheep blades available to allow for versatility. It would also be the quietest of the three to operate.

4. Re-chargeables

At the time of writing, there are two good quality, tried and tested machines on the market, namely the Lister Showman and Laube Lazor. The Lister Showman, manufactured in England by Lister Shearing, is undoubtedly the best re-chargeable full size machine on the market. Operated either from a battery pack around the waist, or from leads off a car battery, it allows you approximately 3 hours clipping time and is a heavy duty machine. Very economical to maintain, as there really is very little servicing involved. The Laube Lazor, manufactured by an American company, has very quickly made a name for itself over here. We have stocked it for two seasons, and have been very impressed with its capability and versatility.

For the first timer or young person, it really is invaluable, no tensioning is required, easy to hold and use, and brilliant for nervous or young horses. It is probably the quietest clipper on the market and has two speeds. It comes with a wide, body blade, and this can be changed for a narrower blade, for trimming any awkward places. You do, however, have to allow a little longer on clipping time, as the blade is not quite as wide as the Lister Showman.

It is also worth remembering, that if you a replacing a set of existing clippers, providing you have been happy with the make, replace with the same make, as your existing blades will fit on to your new machine. If you change systems, you will have to change blades too. However, as already mentioned, the Liveryman and Wolseley machines do use the same blade system.

TIP - Trimming around the cornet band makes a nice finish when clipping legs.

For Further information: on clipping, buying a set of clippers and clipper maintenance, visit www.clippersharp.com or contact
Clipper Sharp Clipper Services, Southwoods Farm, Culmstock, Collumpton, Devon, EX15 3JX.
Tel: 01823 681076,
Fax: 01823 681076 or email: richard@clippersharp.com

Article kindly provided by Clipper Sharp