Andis HC (Horse & Cattle) Clippers - Product Review

by Robby Johnson

OK, so I did it. I clipped Rhodey last night with my new Andis HC heavy-duty clippers.

Just for clarity, my horse is going to his first competition of the season this weekend where the temps are expected to be in the mild mid-70's (oooooh I hope this remains the forecast!). He was clipped twice in October and once in January, and didn't have much hair to clip this time. Mostly what I like to call "buffalo" hair on his sides and "fuselage" but he'd gotten more coat on his shoulders and neck and hindquarters.

Note to file - this is a TB who grows long hair, period. I waited last year to see if he'd shed out, didn't clip for this same event and wished I would've, and he never did. So I clipped him mid-May and he was good for the summer.

Point of story - not much hair to clip, but enough to make a difference.

So I groom Le Rhodes within an inch of his, of course, dried muddy life, and thus began the clipping.

I was pleased with the weight and balance of the clippers - much lighter than my Oster Clipmasters - and when I'd gotten his shoulder and neck done in, oh, about 2 minutes, I was even more pleased.

I love wide blades because they get more work done, and I love any clipper that my big prickly diva will tolerate!

We made short work of his body and cheeks, and it probably took about 30 minutes tops. Admittedly, there wasn't so much to clip, but he looks "fresher" and certainly isn't hanging onto any extra sweat-zone (for Rhodey, any part of his epidermis, even his ear tips, is a sweat zone) hair.

I had decided to clip his front legs, but to leave his lower back legs unclipped, true to the hunter clip I'd done in January.

These clippers were much easier to use on the legs than the big Clipmasters, but of course not as deft as my Double-K's. Still, I liked them and while I left the barn true to my goal, I have decided I will probably clip his back legs tonight to finish him off and because I saw some crud formulating on his cannon bones.

The clippers never got hot, and actually about 20 minutes into using them I think they "broke in" and started working in a rhythm. I oiled and blade washed them frequently and cleaned them well before putting them up.

A truer test will occur next October (thank God!) when I clip a horse with more coat, but my initial experience was VERY positive and I'm glad I added the clippers to my arsenal of clipping tools.

Oh, I do love the little cord hand-loop for added security, though I never realized how much I switch hands while clipping! Also, the Andis packaging for the clippers is superb. Everything fits into a lovely and space-saving black hard plastic attache, and they send clipper oil, cleaning brush and screwdriver with the clippers!

Two thumbs up!

Robby

P.S. ... moment of genious though I'm sure everyone else already does this ... in my tack trunk I have a big package of disposable styrofoam bowls. I bought them for mixing up sugar/iodine soaks for bruised soles. In my big clipper rolling trunk case I keep a Gladware container for my Bladewash. I didn't have this container so I rummaged for an extra Gladware in my tack trunk and then saw the styrofoam. Fabulous solution because I just throw away the bowl when I'm finished. No more messy Bladewash disposal/clean-up!