Best Clippers for Cobs

Keeping cobs smart and comfortable can be quick and easy on some types and less so on others, especially the hairy ones! We find the best type of horse clipper for cobs is a medium or heavy duty horse clipper, to cope with coarser hair, thicker coats, and substantial manes and tails. All of these are fabulous to look at but do take a lot of management and care to keep in good condition. Here we’ve shortlisted what we find to be the best clippers for cobs.

What to Consider when Choosing Horse Clippers for Cobs?

Medium and Heavy Duty horse clippers will make light work when clipping cobs as they have more powerful motors and this is generally the type of clipper that would be best for most types of cobs. A short handpiece is also recommended when clipping legs and heels on a regular basis as they are easier to use in these areas. Many cob owners become very proficient at clipping, as clipping does become a very regular monthly or even weekly routine!

The Best Clippers for Cobs

Here we've rounded up the clippers that we would reccommend for cobs. Any questions? Contact us today.

Lister Eclipse

The Lister Eclipse is an all new compact cordless clipper. The ultra slim body makes for easy manoeuvrabilityand greater control around the horse's body- Great for clipping cob's feathers. They are available to buy here.

Why Do We Think These Are The Best Horse Clippers For Cobs?

• One of the smallest and lightest medium duty cordless clippers available.
• Medium Duty Clippers are powerful enough for the thicker cob coat
• 130 minute run time with a 130 minute charge time. 
• Access to the Covercote blade that leaves 5mm of hair (unique to Lister) that is ideal for summer clipping

What do you need to consider when buying these clippers?

• These have a higher noise level, so may not be best for nervous cobs and horses.

Hauptner 2000

The Haupter 2000 is ideal for clipping cobs. It is a heavy duty mains clipper, known for its smooth running and German build.

You can purchase the Hauptner 2000 here.

Why do we think these are the best horse clippers for cobs?

• Quietest of the heavy duty clippers
• Cool running means less overheating when running for a long time
• Reliable, smooth running, heavy duty clipper to get the job done

What do you need to consider when buying these clippers?

• The Haupter 2000 is a mains clipper, so they may not be suitable for all yards or remote locations.

Clipster Farmclip AKKU2

Clipster Farmclip AKKU2 Clipper is a fantastic all-round sturdy machine that boasts balance, practicality and great value for money. It is powerful enough for cobs and is very affordable for it's build quality.

You can purchase the Clipster Farmclip here.

Why do we think these are the best horse clippers for cobs?

• Powerful clipper for thick coats and tough conditions
• Budget friendly, workmanlike clippers
• Rechargeable for clipping in locations without mains electricity

What do you need to consider when buying these clippers?

• These clippers have some of the highest noise levels - they wouldn't be suitable for nervous cobs or horses
• They are slightly heavier than other clippers

Top Tips To Choose The Right Clipper And Blades

1. Re-chargeable trimmers and clippers are the safest and most versatile to use. They can be used in any situation and ideal around fidgety animals.
2. A short-bodied clipper is a good choice when clipping around heels and legs and makes it so much easier to manoeuvre near to the ground when clipping and trimming.
3. Blades and grades. Different grades will help with getting a good finish.  Having a variety to choose from will help as the coat density will vary depending on time of year and the finish required and whether the horse has a light/white coat.
4. Coarse blades will get through thick greasy coats but will leave a rough finish.  If clipping regularly, medium blades are preferable and will easily cope with clipping coat, legs and hog.  A medium blade clips to around 2mm and is a good choice for most conditions and is advisable for greys and pink skins.
5. The Lister Covercote blade is designed to skim and is perfect for using on cobs in the summer, to remove the thicker summer coat but still maintain the original colour of the coat.
6. Trimmers with an adjustable blade height are ideal for dealing with varying densities when trimming and are good for blending into areas that have been clipped with a larger blade.

Top Tips When Trimming Your Cob Or Heavy Horse

Keeping legs and heels trimmed can be quick and easy on some types and less so on others, especially the hairy ones. The majority of cobs and heavy horses can be maintained on a monthly basis throughout the year and require minimal upkeep. A good trimmer with a built-in blade adjustment is the best option for getting a smooth, defined finish and will easily cope with this type of hair. A quick run down the back of the leg going with the hair will just trim off the fluffiness in the winter and take any excess hairs off in the summer to keep a good neat profile. Clipping heels is often easier going in an upwards direction from the bulbs of the heels following the curved profile under the pastern and blending into the fetlock area by using less pressure to finish.

Trimming around the coronet band can make all the difference too, removing a few straggly hairs will give a smooth defined line, and in the winter will give back a summer looking finish. This can be done using trimmers and clipping at a slight angle to then blend into the rest of leg hair above the line of the coronet. Attention to detail in getting a sharp look can really add to the quality of the animal if done carefully.

Why Do You Need To Clip Your Cob?

For cobs and heavy horses, the clipping of legs can be a huge relief. The dense leg hair can encourage mites and other skin biting insects, which in turn leads to various skin infections. These are then very hard to treat and heal when there is a thick covering of hair. By keeping these areas clipped back to the skin, this then allows the skin to be treated, with most skin conditions being relieved effectively. When there has been severe itching and soreness, it can be very difficult to clip the legs, and for this we then turn to a light duty clipper or a powerful horse trimmer. A light duty horse clipper has minimal vibration, making it more manageable for the horse and easier for the horse owner. If the hair is dense but fine, a set of horse trimmers may also be possible to use in this area. Most of the trimmers have some flexibility on blade length which makes it possible to get through the thicker hair. Light Duty Horse Clippers take a snap on blade system, widely known as the A5 blade system, and are used widely within the equestrian, dog grooming and veterinary industry due to the many grades of blades that are available. This is particularly useful when you may require two or three grades of blade to clip one horse. For example, clipping the bulk of the body could be done with a medium blade and for clipping the thicker, coarser feathered areas, a coarser blade may be more suitable.

Clipping Cobs for Showing

With traditional and natives, for showing correctness, breed societies relating to these types will stipulate that no clipping and trimming can be carried out to alter their natural appearance. However, some heavier breeds that are going to be shown as show cobs or maxi cobs will be expected to be clipped out, including legs and manes. We have lots of videos and information on clipping for showing in our blog.