What are Two-Speed Clippers for Horses?

Clipping your horse can be an easy task. With the right prep to ensure a clean horse and choosing the best tools, the art of the body clip or trace clip is fast and straightforward with two speed clippers.

When choosing the best hair clipper, consider two speed clippers for more flexibility when working on different coat types. Two-speed clippers – with a low speed and a high speed – customize the horse clipping and grooming experience and help you keep your horse comfortable. But how do you decide the best speed for your horse?

 

This slide adjustment turns the clippers to low, high, and off.  

 

How Clipper Speed is Measured

 

• The revolutions per minute (RPM) or the strokes per minute (SPM) indicate the power and speed of two-speed clippers. This goes for pet clippers and horse clippers alike. But that’s not the only thing to consider.  

• The teeth of the blade you choose can either let a lot or a little bit of hair into the blade for cutting. If there is a large gap between the teeth, as you would find on shear blades, the faster the clippers will cut. That large gap allows more hair to be fed and chopped.  

• How clean your horse and clipper blades are also contributes to speed. Dirty horses, rusty or dull blades, and infrequent cleaning, cooling, and oiling during clipping all make the clippers slow down and tug your horse’s hair. This also stresses the clipper’s motor and creates a lot of heat.

Here you can compare trimmers to body clippers to shears.  

 

Trimmers vs. clippers

 

• Generally speaking, body clippers will be two speed with larger detachable blades and able to body clip and trim a horse. Trimmers have a 5-in-1 blade system suited for thin hair, bridle paths, wispy parts that need trimming, and low power needs clipping.

When To Use The Slow Speed

 

• The first speed setting is the slowest one, and is very quiet. This slower option is excellent for sound-sensitive horses or those that may not yet be 100% comfortable with clipping.  

• You should also use a slower setting when working in delicate areas, like around the ears, udders, sheath, face, or any other spot your horse is sensitive.  

• The slow speed option also suits outlining borders on trace clips or specialty designs on your horse. Holding your clippers or trimmers like a pencil allows you to create those borders.  

• While clipping an area like the elbows or jowls, a trimmer has a slightly smaller blade to maneuver in the smaller places if needed. Trimmers are also quiet for horses that are skittish around the sound.

These body clippers on the fast option can power through a thick mane. 

 

When To Use The Fast Speed on Your Horse Clippers

 

• Body clipping is time-consuming, from the initial bath and drying to outlining trace clips. When tackling large areas, switching to the fast setting can speed up your clipping.

• Ensure your horse is thoroughly cleaned and dried before clipping, which helps the blades glide through your horse’s coat.

• Breeds with denser coats, such as Fjords, Friesians, or Icelandics, often require the higher option setting. This also applies to horses with unusually thick hair due to conditions like Cushing’s disease or other coat abnormalities.

• The faster setting is also more effective for tangled or matted hair. Exercise caution when working on matted areas to avoid pulling the skin excessively.

Is There a Downside to the High Speed?

 

• Operating at maximum capacity means your clipper blades may heat up faster on the fast setting than on the slower option.

• Fortunately, this increased heat is easily prevented with proper maintenance and cleaning as you go. Pause every five to ten minutes to clear hair from the blades, apply coolant, and reapply oil.

• More frequent blade cleaning may be necessary for horses with dirty or exceptionally thick coats. If frequent cleaning is insufficient, use a new, sharp set of replacement blades.

Clean the blades and reapply clipper oil often!

 

Listen to Your Horse While Body Clipping and Grooming

 

• You might prefer the speed setting to use, and if your horse is comfortable with it, proceed accordingly. However, your horse may also have a preference, so pay attention to their reactions and adjust your setting and technique.

• Signs of discomfort such as tail swishing, restlessness, moving away from the clippers, or a yucky expression indicate your horse needs an adjustment. They may require a short break, have an itchy spot that needs brushing, or prefer a different setting on your two-speed clippers.

• Body clipping is a blend of artistry, experience, and utilizing the right tools and preparation. Most importantly, this process relies on listening to your horse and ensuring you can tend to their comfort needs.

Tips for using Two Speed Clippers for Horses

 

• It’s easy to use two-speed clippers. Some tips:

• Start clipping on large muscles to acclimate your horse to the sound and feel of your clippers. If your horse is spotless, try the slow and fast options to find the best one for those areas.

• Try the slower setting first when you move to sensitive areas, wispier hair, or areas requiring more detailed work. This may be enough. You can always try the fast option, too.

• Use accessories like guards, sometimes called combs, to add distance between the blade and your horse. These easy attachments give you more flexibility regarding how much hair is removed.

This KMC+ is set on 1 right now, the slow option. 

 

What are the advantages of using two-speed clippers?

 

Two-speed clippers offer flexibility in grooming by allowing adjustments for different body areas. The lower option is suitable for delicate regions like the face, while the higher speed efficiently handles thicker coats on the body and legs.

 

How does the speed setting affect the cutting performance of two-speed clippers?

 

The setting on two-speed clippers influences cutting performance by altering blade velocity. Higher speeds are perfect for larger areas or thicker hair, while lower speeds are ideal for sensitive areas or finer coats, providing adaptability in various grooming scenarios.

 

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