The Best Horse Clipper Blades to Replace Your Old Clipper Blades

You chose your clipper, now what about blades? The good news is that your new clipper probably comes with a good general-purpose blade, great for getting started on your horse’s coat. But it is important to understand how blades work, what to expect from different sizes, and how often they will need to be replaced. The difference between a good clipping experience and a bad one is all about how sharp the blades are and how well you maintain them.

Frequently Asked Questions About Horse Clipper Blades

How do clipper blades work?

Clippers are constructed with two blades. The lower blade, called the comb, stays in place while the upper blade, called the cutter, moves back and forth to cut the hair. The comb feeds the hair through the blades, setting it up for the cutter to slice it. The length of the cut is determined by the thickness of the comb. A clean, sharp blade should cut through the coat with little effort, and never pull or tug at their hair.

What are the different types of clipper blades?

There are three types of clipper blades available: adjustable, detachable, and fixed blades.

Adjustable blades provide fingertip control over a range of blade sizes. A lever on the side of the blades moves the cutting blade further or closer to the skin.

Detachable blades snap on and off the clipper head for quick blade changes. allowing you to easily change a dull or worn-out blade.

Fixed blades are screwed in place to the clipper head, so changing them out requires a bit more work. Blades can be removed to be professionally sharpened or replaced.

What size horse clipper blade do I need?

Blades are numbered to indicate what length of hair to leave. The higher the blade number, the shorter the cut. Sizes range from the ultra-short number 40 to a number 3 ¾, which leaves behind a ½” of the coat. Most horse clippers come with a 10-blade attached. This medium blade is designed to leave hair about 1/16 of an inch long—a good choice for body clips. If you live in a colder climate, you might wish to leave a slightly longer coat. For heavily worked horses or warmer conditions, a shorter coat may be more comfortable and easier to maintain. Adjustable blades provide a range of blade sizes, from 9 through 15, for example, to allow you to switch to a slightly longer length for legs or a shorter length for clipping the bridle path or around the muzzle.

How often do you need to sharpen horse clipper blades?

A good set of clipper blades should stay sharp through at least three full body clippings, possibly up to five if you start with a clean coat that’s not too long or heavy. Watch for signs that your blades are getting dull—there’s nothing worse than a blunt blade that pulls the hair rather than cutting it cleanly. And always keep a spare set of blades in your kit so you are prepared in case your blades go dull mid-clip!