TAKEKIT Horse Clippers Review: 600W and Six Speeds for $90

The tool that solves a Cushing's coat, and the decision that commits you to rugs for the rest of the winter.

The verdict: A 600W full copper motor running at 2800rpm with six speeds and detachable steel blades, which is enough clipper for a full body clip on a horse rather than a tidy-up. Buy it if you body clip a heavy-coated or PPID senior yourself. Understand before you start that clipping a horse removes its own insulation, and from that moment its warmth is your responsibility, in every weather, for the rest of the winter.

Specifications

Specifications above come from TAKEKIT's published specifications. Treat pricing as approximate, since Amazon pricing moves.

What it does well

• 600W is genuinely body-clip power rather than trimmer power, which matters because an underpowered clipper on a thick coat drags, pulls hair and takes twice as long.
• Six speeds is more useful than it sounds: low speeds run cooler and quieter for legs, head and a nervous horse, and high speeds get through a body coat.
• Detachable blades mean you can sharpen or replace them, which is the ongoing cost of clipping and the main reason cheap clippers get thrown away.
• It works on cattle and goats too, which matters on a smallholding.
• At this price it is realistic to own your own rather than pay for a professional clip every winter, and a PPID horse may need clipping more than once.

Where it falls short

• Clipping is a commitment. A clipped horse cannot regulate its own temperature and now depends on you for rugs, on the right weights, changed as the weather changes. If you cannot check the horse twice a day, do not clip it.
• Clippers get hot, and hot blades burn skin. Stop regularly, oil the blades, let them cool, and check blade temperature against your own wrist rather than guessing.
• A dirty coat blunts blades quickly. Clipping a filthy horse is slow, gives a poor finish and costs you blades, which is one reason grooming and clipping go together.
• Noise and vibration frighten horses who have not been introduced properly. A nervous or arthritic senior needs several short sessions before you attempt a full clip, and sedation from a vet is a legitimate option worth discussing.
• Clipping does not treat PPID. A horse growing a long curly coat that will not shed needs a veterinary diagnosis and, usually, medication.

What owners report

Owner reports on this class of clipper are consistently positive on power for the money and consistently mention heat management. Everyone who body clips says the same thing: stop often, oil often, and have a second set of blades. That is the difference between a good clip and a burnt horse.

The other recurring note is noise. Reports describe these as louder than premium brands, which matters for a nervous horse and matters not at all for one that is used to being clipped.

Who it suits

• Owners of PPID and Cushing's horses whose coats do not shed.
• Anyone whose horse sweats heavily in work through winter.
• Smallholders clipping more than one animal a year, where the clipper pays for itself quickly.

Who should skip it

• Anyone who cannot commit to managing rugs through the whole winter. Our clipping versus blanketing comparison sets out what each choice commits you to.
• First-time clippers with a nervous horse, who should get help the first time rather than learning on a frightened animal.
• Owners looking for a light trimmer for legs and whiskers, where a small quiet trimmer is the right tool.

Alternatives worth considering

Keep reading

• Clipping vs blanketing a Cushing's horse
• Blanket weight and fill guide
• Best Cushing's and PPID supplements
• MetroVac Vac N Blo review

This review draws on published specifications, manufacturer figures and the consensus of verified owner reviews. We have not tested this product ourselves, and we say so rather than implying otherwise. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.