Horse clip type and blade picker
This tool gives an editorial shortlist to discuss with an experienced clipper. It does not assess your horse or prescribe a clip. Workload, weather, shelter, coat and the horse’s response all matter. Leaving the coat intact can also be a sensible choice.
Enable JavaScript to personalise the options. The explanation, example and linked guides below work without it.
How the suggestions work
Light work starts with smaller bib, Irish or trace options; regular work starts with trace, chaser or blanket. Hard work can include hunter and full options, but the tool removes those when a horse lives out. These are cautious editorial rules informed by the linked descriptions, rather than a validated formula. Competition alone does not establish workload.
Blade names are not universal. The tool uses Lister’s stated lengths and excludes surgical blades from suggestions. It cannot verify that a blade fits your handset. For faces and ears it recommends professional help rather than selecting a blade. Finer blades leave less coat.
Worked example: light work, living out
A normal-coated horse in light work with moderate sweating, living out, produces Bib clip, Irish clip, Low or high trace clip as options to discuss. Blade options are A2 (2.5 mm) and Covercote (5 mm).
Read the full sourced blade table and plan aftercare before deciding.
Sources & further reading
- Lister blade guide · Checked 2026-10-25
- FEI clipping guide · Checked 2026-10-25
- BHS winter care · Checked 2026-10-25