Are Livestock Clippers for Horses a Good Idea?

Livestock Clipper Options

• Livestock clippers come in two main styles: shears and clippers, just like their horse clipper cousins.

Shears for horses and livestock

• For shears, the Lister Star and Lister Eclipse models work well on cows and horses. The larger blade design of these shearing clippers makes it easy to clip the thickest hair. And many blade options leave a little or a lot of hair.

• This clipper style uses blades that come in two pieces: the cutter and the comb. You assemble them and screw them to the clipper body, and they do come in a few variations.

• The fine or medium blades of the shears are perfect for body clipping a horse in the winter. The covercote blades leave 5 mm of hair and work well for cattle, alpacas, and other livestock. You can use the covercote on horses if you want more hair to remain.

Clippers for cows and horses

• Cow and horse clippers that use detachable blades and a hinge system are similar. Different colors, styles, and power exist between livestock and equine models, but all use detachable blades.

• The primary difference between the blades is the shape and the type of hair they match best. Horse body clippers are about as wide as the clipper body, with reasonably short teeth. Cattle blades have fan-shaped blades with very long teeth.

Blade Differences: Livestock vs. Horse Clippers and Trimmers

• For horses, you would use a #7F or a #10 blade for body clipping. The #7F leaves about 4 mm of hair, and the #10 leaves about 1.8 mm of hair on your horse. These shorter-toothed blades glide under the coat to cut smoothly beneath the hair’s surface.

• The blocking and blending blades work differently and on a much different hair texture.

The blocking blade

• The blocking blade is wide, sharp, and powerful. Use one of these on livestock when you need to clip freehand. Sometimes, this blade works best hovering over the hair after it’s blown (yes, like with a blower) to stand up. It can shape and sculpt a cow’s coat.

• When used on horses, it can leave your horse practically bald with tiny streaks of hair remaining. It’s not so pretty or functional!

• It’s best to stick with blades like the #7F or #10 for equine use, as they’re more suited to a horse’s thinner, finer coat.

The blending blade

• Another blade option for livestock is the blending blade. This blade leaves about 3/16″ of hair, creating a smoother finish on livestock’s tail, neck, and back. It’s part of the sculpting and shaping process.

• It does remove less hair than the blocking blade, but it’s still not great for horses. The long teeth create lines on a horse’s sleek coat.

Using Livestock Clippers on Horses

• There is one key advantage to using a large animal clipper on a horse – and that’s power without added vibration. The detachable blade system gives you the power of the clipper motor with a horse blade attached. Win, win.

• Even though the livestock clippers are as lightweight (or lighter) as their equine counterparts, they are still on heavy duty and can work with thick coats, even in sensitive areas.

• Pop the blocking or blending blade off and replace it with your equine blade of choice. If you like to use accessories like combs with your blades, you can still do that. Combs, sometimes called guards, are attachments to the blade, not the clipper body.

Switch to a #10 or #7F for horses

What features of livestock clippers work best for horses?

• Adjustable speeds, noise reduction, and minimal vibrations are great qualities for your horse. An ergonomic design, a comfortable grip, and a safe cord are important for you. As styles may vary, look for a detachable hinge to make using your #10 equine blade easy.

• Always start with a thorough grooming or bath before body clipping, and add clipper oil as you work. Stop every few minutes, use a blade brush or old toothbrush to flick out the hair, and add some oil. Clean the blades and clipper body thoroughly before storing them in your carrying case or cabinet.

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