Blanket Clip:
This clip removes hair in a pattern that leaves the horse looking like it is wearing an exercise rug made of his own hair. Hair is clipped from the head, neck and flanks but is left intact on the back, hind end and legs. You may want to use this clip if your horse gets regular, heavy work in winter. A horse will most likely need to wear a blanket with this clip.

Hunter Clip:
The hunter clip takes its name from its popular use on field hunters and is appropriate for horses in hard work. This clip leaves only a patch of hair on the horse’s back in the shape of a saddle (to provide some protection from friction of the saddle). Hair is left on the legs for both warmth and protection for riding cross country. Because so much hair is removed, this clip necessitates that the horse be blanketed.

Full Body Clip:
The entire horse is clipped, including legs and face. The ears should be excluded from winter clips as the hair is protection from frostbite. The full body clip is popular for horses used in shows or competitions. Because this type of clip removes a horse’s entire coat, it necessitates blanketing and may necessitate the use of a neck cover or hood as well.
What kind of clippers to use?
For horse body clipping, you’ll want to select a clipper model intended to run for long periods of time, that can use wide blades and clip large swaths of hair. The array of body clippers on the market today is so extensive, making it easy to find one to meet both your needs and budget. Many body clippers are larger and heavier than clippers used for trimming facial and leg hair. However, some models are lightweight and ergonomically designed for comfort.
Note: Don’t use a clipper designed for touch-ups or trims to body clip your horse. Your task would last hours longer than needed and it could be very detrimental to the motor, which was not designed for clipping large areas.
What number blade should be used for clipping?
The size number on the blade pertains to the length of the hair left after the cut. The higher the number on the blade, the shorter the hair will be. Your choice of blade will depend on what you want to accomplish with your horse clipping job. Sizes are fairly standard across all manufacturers.
#10 - Course Cut: This size blade leaves hair the longest. Many people use this size for body clipping, and many clippers provide a free #10 blade with the original purchase. It is a wise choice of blade to use on the horse’s legs, as it leaves a long enough length of hair to provide some protection. It’s also a great choice if you’re new to horse clipping techniques. Finishing mistakes are easier to correct with this blade as you have more length of hair left to work with.
Note: #10 blades are available in regular and wide sizes, with the wider size most appropriate for body clipping, since it removes more hair per swipe.
#15 - Medium Cut: This size blade cuts the hair a bit shorter than the #10 blade, making it the choice for many people when clipping hair on a horse’s head.
#30 - Medium or Fine Cut: This size blade is finer still than the #15 blade. For showing disciplines where the standard is to remove hair from the horse’s face, insides of horses’ ears, around the eyes and nose, the #30 is often used.
#40 - Fine or Surgical Cut: This blade cuts the hair extremely close to the skin. The cut is so close that if the skin is looked at under a magnifying glass, you can see tiny nicks in the skin.
For more assistance or to request a catalog call 1-800-406-8204. Or, stop by any of our retail stores to speak with a Dover Saddlery product adviser. Visit www.DoverSaddlery.com for a complete store listing and the full product offering.