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Understanding the Difference: Trimmers vs. Clippers for Horses

The green hunter horse clipper clipping a grey horse

Lauren Dorey |

When it comes to clipping horses and ponies, having the right tools for the job is essential. However, many people are unsure about the differences between a trimmer and a clipper and which to use for specific tasks. In this blog we break down the features of both models to help you decide which type of handset would be best for your horse and your unique needs.

The red hunter horse clipper and showmate horse trimmer side by side in the carry case
The heavy duty Hunter Clipper and Showmate II trimmer

What is a Clipper?

Clippers are powerful tools designed for effortlessly removing the bulk of the hair for more heavy-duty grooming tasks. They’re perfect for clipping large areas of your horse’s body, such as for partial clips like a trace clip or full body clipping. There are two types of clipper that can be used for horse clipping: medium duty clippers and heavy duty clippers and both have their own distinct advantages.

A chart displaying the range of Masterclip horse clippers and trimmers and their unique features

Heavy Duty Clippers

Equipped with high-torque motors and robust steel blades, heavy duty clippers can handle dense coats and thick hair effortlessly, making these handsets ideal for tackling even the most challenging winter coats.


Key Features of Heavy Duty Clippers:

  • Purpose: Designed for efficient body clipping to easily remove the bulk of the hair. Can be used for hogging and clipping the heaviest of feathers. Suitable for all types of coat from fine coated thoroughbreds to those with the thickest coats such as cobs and Shetlands.
  • Power: Powerful motors and fast cutting speeds allow for extended use and cope with all different types of horse breeds and coat types. Heavy duty models often feature an air filter to allow air into the motor to keep it running cool. We have a range of powerful mains powered or cordless models to choose from, whether you have just one horse to clip or a yard full!
  • Blade Options: Heavy duty clippers use large blades to remove wide paths of hair with each sweep to maximise efficiency. Our heavy duty A2 horse clippers are compatible with a wide range of premium clipper blades to offer you a choice of clips to suit coat type, colour and workload for a flawless finish. Choose from superfine cut blades for horses in high work intensity, through to fine and medium blades to suit most horses, and coarse blades that leave a longer finish for tricky coats and show clips. Our A2 heavy-duty horse clippers can also be used with a livestock blade to shear and dag a small number of sheep,  llamas and alpacas and clip cattle. The Ideal multipurpose clipper for small holders and farmers.
  • Features: Heavy duty handsets usually have a manual tensioning system to apply the right pressure to the clipper blades in order for them to cut the hair. However this doesn't mean this is tricky to do! Our A2 clippers are easy to use making blade changes and finding the right tension simple whether you’re a novice or experienced professional groom. Watch our YouTube video guide here. 

Medium Duty Clippers

When you need something in-between a heavy-duty clipper and a trimmer, medium duty clippers offer the perfect solution!


Medium duty clipper models are usually A5 clippers that can be used with snap on/snap off A5 steel clipper blades, offering a big range of cutting depths and finishes. These clippers are smaller and quieter than a standard heavy-duty clipper but offer more power than a trimmer, making them the ideal choice for clipping sensitive legs, partial clips, show clipping and for trimming coarser hair such as cobs. They are also ideal for horse owners who struggle to manage heavier clippers. 

Before and after images of a cob with clipped feathers
Feathers clipped using the MD Roamer clippers with 7FW blade by @CBS Equine

Key Features of Medium Duty Clippers:

  • Purpose: A5 clippers are ideal for single horse owners that only wish to carry out partial clips on a light to medium density coat. They're also a great choice for cob owners who want to keep on top of clipped feathers and hogged manes. Whether you want a seemless leg blend, a longer clip for showing or smart delicate trimming for coarse hair, there are A5 blade options available for a multitude of grooming tasks.
  • Power: With motors in the range of 35-80w these clippers are smaller and quieter than their heavy-duty counterparts, meaning they are more suited to clipping very nervous horses and are easier to manoeuvre around the trickier contours of the horse. They offer the best of both worlds for owners looking for enough power to deal with feathers, whilst providing the least amount of vibration to manage sensitive skin conditions such as feather mites and CPL. For owners of more than one horse, or for full clipping horses with thick coats, heavy duty models are much better suited and will save time during larger clipping jobs.
  • Blade Options: A5 clippers are very easy to use, featuring snap on/snap off blades that are pre-tensioned so there is no need to manually adjust the tension to ensure the correct cut. With wide and standard 5cm blades to choose from in a degree of different cutting depths, they offer the greatest range of finishes for body clipping and trimming.
  • Features: A5 clippers couldn’t be simpler to use! With no tensioning required, the blades snap onto the handset in seconds and you’re ready to clip. With cordless and mains powered options to choose from, medium duty A5 clippers are a great choice for novice users or if you also have a dog to groom too! These models are used by professional dog groomers and veterinarians to clip a range of breeds with the various A5 clipper blades and comb attachments available. Find out more here.
A beautifully clipped chestnut horse by CBS Equine Services
A horse with a fine coat, clipped using the MD Roamer clippers by @CBS Equine Services

What is a Trimmer?

Trimmers are much smaller than clippers and very lightweight. They’re designed for precision work and are best for general tidying up of the delicate areas like the face, ears and heels, Trimmers are not designed for prolonged use to clip the body, or for partial clips, but can be used for multiple tasks such as blending work or creating straight lines to neaten up a clip for a smart show-ready finish, making them the perfect accompaniment to a larger clipper. Our Showmate II cordless trimmer is ultra-quiet and ideal for trimming the most sensitive of horses. With adjustable blades and guide combs, it offers versatility for trimming light to medium-density coats.

Key Features of Trimmers:

  • Purpose: Perfect for providing the finishing touches to a clip and for detailed work. These handy trimmers are also suitable for grooming pets such as dogs, cats and rabbits. They have narrow blades for precision trimming, suited for small delicate tasks. 
  • Design: Compact and ergonomic for ease of handling. Our Showmate cordless trimmers weigh just 260g and offer excellent manoeuvrability. Trimmers are the perfect solution for clipping delicate parts of the horse and for getting into tricky to reach areas such as trimming the armpits and heels.
  • Cut Options: Trimmers are very easy to use with come with simple snap on blades that may be reharpened or replaceable. Our Showmate II trimmer features resharpenable steel blades that have an adjustable cutting depth for very detailed trimming and a selection of comb attachments to provide a longer trim.
  • Suitability: Ideal for light-duty tasks and sensitive areas such as clipping the face, ears, jawlines, trimming around ergots, heels, tidying up cat hairs, trimming sleek tails and more! However, they are not powerful enough for body clipping, removing heavy feathers or hogging a thick coarse mane. 

How to Choose Between Clippers or Trimmers?

The choice between a trimmer and a clipper ultimately depends on your grooming needs:

For full or partial clips: Opt for a heavy duty clipper like the V-Series, Hunter or HD Roamer to handle large areas efficiently.

For precision and detailed work: A trimmer like the Showmate II will give you the control needed for a polished finish and stand out in the showing. 

For very nervous horses or regularly clipping feathers: A medium duty clipper will be your best choice in this situation. Medium clippers may take longer to clip with but have the advantage being more within the comfort zones for your horse. 

For a many owners, the best combination is to have both a clipper and a trimmer. By using both tools in your grooming routine, the benefits of each type of handset complement each other for clipping the different areas of the body to ensure your horse looks immaculate while staying comfortable during the process. Take a look at our range of horse clippers and clipping combos or contact us if you need any assistance to help find your perfect match. 

Lauren Dorey