Make clipping your horse this season quick, easy and safe with the right tool for the job - whether that’s a cordless clipper for convenience and flexibility, or a mains-powered model for uninterrupted performance. At Masterclip, we offer a selection of horse clippers to suit every coat type and clipping scenario. Whether you own a fine-coated Thoroughbred, a traditional cob, or a horse with a challenging coat due to a condition like Cushing’s, we’ve got you covered.
In this blog, we explore the pros and cons of cordless vs mains-powered clippers, and also how to use a mains-powered clipper on a yard without electric supply by pairing it with a battery pack.
The Rise Of Cordless Horse Clippers
Cordless horse clippers are an increasingly popular choice among horse owners – and for good reason. With newer, powerful models like the Masterclip HD Roamer, concerns about performance are a thing of the past. These heavy-duty cordless horse clippers deliver impressive power and easy handling for clipping every of horse breed and coat type. And yes that means they're even capable of tackling the thickest and most challenging of horse hair including heavy feathers and long Cushing's coats.
Advantages of Cordless Clippers:
- Freedom to move: No trailing cables means zero risk of tangling up your horse or for them to tread on and cause damage to the lead. Ideal for clipping nervous of fidgety horses.
- Ideal for nervous horses: Some horses can be suspicious of dangling cables. Without the movement and drag of the lead, clipping can less worrisome and much more relaxed for certain equines.
- Great for remote yards : No power? No problem. Cordless clippers work wherever you are!
Considerations:
- Battery life limits: Most cordless clippers offer up to 2 hours per battery which is plenty for a full clip. If you have a few horses to clip, you’ll need to plan the clips carefully and keep spare batteries on charge.
- Elongated handset: Heavy duty cordless models require the battery to be attached to the back of the handset making them longer in the body. This bulkier handset can make manoeuvrability around some of the tighter contours of the legs and delicate areas more tricky.
- Weight: The size and additional weight of the batteries mean cordless handsets are often heavier than their mains powered counterparts. This may be an issue for users that need a lighter or more ergonomic handset.
Why Choose Mains-Powered Clippers?
Mains-powered clippers remain a reliable option for both novices, professional grooms and those with multiple horses.
Advantages of Mains Clippers:
- Unlimited Run Time: No need to recharge or change batteries, perfect for pro grooms or back top back clipping with no downtime required to charge batteries. Simply plug in and go.
- Ergonomic handset: Without the need to hold bulky batteries in place, the grip on mains powered models is usually more refined and better suited to smaller hands. The length of the clipper is shorter too, making them more adept for moving around the contours of the horse's body.
- Lightweight: Often significantly lighter than cordless models reducing fatigue for the user.
- Cost-effective: Generally cheaper than cordless equivalents and there's no need to replace batteries, which can degrade over time.
Considerations:
- Restricted Movement: You’re tethered to a power socket, which could limit the flexibility and the ease of use.
- Limited portability: You will always need to be near a plug socket, not ideal for use in remote areas unless you have access to a generator. An extension lead may be required to allow the use of the clippers in the stabling area. (See options for battery packs below.)
- Risk of Cable Damage: Wires can get tangled, chewed, trodden on and damaged if not handled carefully.
- Fear of the Clipper Cable: Trailing wires can become a hazard, especially for nervous horses or in confined clipping spaces.
- Electrical Safety: There is also a risk of an electrical shock should the clipper come into contact with water or the wires inside the cable become exposed. For added safety, mains powered clippers should always be plugged into an RCD circuit breaker to protect you and your horse during use.
Spotlight: The Masterclip HD Roamer Cordless Horse Clipper
Our best selling Masterclip HD Roamer is a robust cordless clipper suitable for all coat types, tried, tested and loved by many professionals including Emma Hyslop Eventing, Jackie Potts of the Fox-Pitt Eventing Team, Fiona Davison Eventing and Groom of the Year winner CBS Equine Services to name just a few!
"I have to say, they have revolutionalized clipping. It's now so much easier with them….I think, on the whole these are the best clippers I've ever used."
The HD Roamer cordless horse clipper comes with:
- One set of premium A2 clipper blades
- Two rechargeable batteries
- Charging unit
- Clipper oil
- Cleaning bush
- Smart storage case
Each battery offers approximately 90–120 minutes of run time, and with both batteries fully charged, you can expect up to four hours of clipping time (depending on coat type and cleanliness). At just 1.2kg with battery and blades fitted, the HD Roamer is easy to handle and a great option for use on young or anxious horses.
Make clipping your horse this season quick, easy and safe with a set of cordless clippers from Masterclip.
Perfect Partner: The Masterclip Showmate Cordless Horse Trimmer
To complement your heavy duty clipper, a smaller trimmer is the perfect solution for the finishing touches for clipping the fiddly areas around the face, legs, and fetlocks. The Masterclip Showmate trimmer is also cordless, quiet and ideal for clipping the more sensitive areas and those last-minute tidy-ups. Available in a choice of colours and priced at just £79.99, you’ll also receive a £10 discount when you purchase it alongside the HD Roamer clippers.
How to use Mains Clippers with No Access to Power
If you’ve moved to a yard without electricity, there’s no need to part with your mains-powered clipper. With a portable battery pack - such as this battery unit from Lite My Ride below, you can power your clipper easily. This pack can also be used to run other equine essentials like stable lights or electric fencing.
While this setup isn’t completely cordless, it does offer greater flexibility and allows you to keep using your existing equipment in off-grid settings.
Summary: Choosing the Right Clipper for You
Here’s a quick overview of cordless horse clippers and mains powered clippers to help guide your choice:
Whether you opt for the flexibility of cordless or the reliable performance of mains, Masterclip offers professional quality clippers designed to make clipping your horse safer, faster and easier.
Tried, tested and Approved: Every Masterclip clipper comes with a full two-year warranty and we stock a full range of spare parts for all our machines. If anything goes wrong, we offer a quick and efficient repair service, even once your warranty has expired.
Need some assistance to find your prefect horse clipper? Contact our team today for free, tailored advice to find your ideal match best suited to you and your horse's needs.
