If you have a horse with a long and thick mane or tail...?

Question

... what do you do with it? Do you keep it braided? Do you leave it down and just pick out the tangles?

My mare's mane and tail are long and thick, but it seems like a lot of hairs break when I keep them braided - even when I do them really loosely and redo them daily. So that makes me not want to keep them braided... But when I leave them down, they get dirty and tangled (even when I pick them out daily) and that also breaks hairs. So I can't decide which is worse. I'm more worried about the thickness than the length.

What do you guys do with your horse's mane and tail and how do you think it has affected them?

Answer 1

I generally leave them, wash them on rare occasion, and finger pick the tangles (no brushes). Stay away from the silicone products or anything that is going to coat the hair (like Pantene --makes it tangle less but keeps the moisture out). I did have one horse that I would braid (make sure you aren't doing excessively tight braids) and use a tail bag with MTG... as for the breakage though, are you sure it's not the normal breakage that you just happen to notice when undoing the braids? Horses (as do we) lose a few hundred hairs a day; if you've ever braided your hair and left it for a few days, you would find quite the collection of broken strands when you undid the braids, but it's actually no more or less than what you would normally lose.



By doing the above I was able to keep a nice, thick tail on all of my horses, and respectable manes. Best of luck with yours...

Answer 2

Basically, I just leave em be, don't even comb it out but once a week. When you comb it out too much it can damage the hair, actually contributing to those frizzy looking tails. The day before the show I have the tail french braided up, then about an hour before I go into the show ring, I lightly spray it with some show sheen, let it dry and then take it out. The effect is a beutiful, thick, wavy tail that has gotten me compliments on more than one occasion. This same technique works on horses who do not have thick tails, making their tails look thicker and fuller than they really are.

Answer 3

My horse used to have long and thick mane before I sucked it up and pulled it. I would usually have it loosely braided. His never seemed to break - what kind of bands are you using? I just got cheapy ones from the dollar store (in rainbow colors!), but they worked great.



His tail got picked daily and his mane got brushed whenever I couldn't braid it anymore because it was too poofy.



Maybe your mare has thin hairs, just a lot of them? THis would make them more susceptible to breakage.



Have you tried a continental braid? That one shouldn't cause much breakage and is easier/quicker than regular braids.



http://www.raspberryridge.com/continentalbraiding.jpg

Answer 4

You are correct that leaving in braids can cause a lot of breakage. I leave the mane and tail loose. I use ShowSheen once a week or so which keeps the hair from getting tangles. The comb just glides right through it too so it actually causes much less breakage.

Answer 5

Both my mares have really nice manes and tails... and i don't do anything with them. I mean, I just leave em long and straight. I do trim the ends up to keep them from looking stringy, but they both are just a few inches above the ground. Whenever I do brush them their manes or tails or pick the stuff out I douse it with cowboy magic or showsheen and it really helps the burrs or tangles to slip out with out breaking hairs. But I don't even brush their manes and tails much at all either. I don't know if that helps you much, but that's what I do :)

Answer 6

Use Cowboy Magic Detangler for the tangles. If you want something cheaper then use WD-40. It won't hurt the horse. Just be sure not to get it in your mare's eyes. The best way to use the WD-40 is to spray it on the brush or comb and brush away, the best way to use the Cowboy Magic is to put some on your hands, work it into the hair, and then brush away. Both work miracles!!!

Answer 7

My paint mare has a super long and thick mane and tail and honestly I usually just keep them trimmed short heh. There's just no way I can keep up with all the mats.

Answer 8

I don't braid them. I buy cowboy magic mane detangler and mane and tale conditioner for baths (lol kind of ironic since I ride mostly English) . You put it in, comb it, then there are no more tangles!

Answer 9

I have Friesians and i just let the hair flow normally or a loose braid and i use yarn...Good idea with the elect tape im going to try that LOL

Answer 10

purchase Mega-Tek! Mega-Tek is a product which you put in horses manes and tails to lead them to thick and mushy. additionally, purchase detanglar and use that lots. be sure you sweep the mane and tail out in many situations! in case you place those products of their manes and tails in many situations, then it might improve out very rapidly! additionally, use Cowboy Magic shine and detangler to lead them to mushy and sleek :) desire this helps!

Answer 11

i braid the long mains and tie them as far back and up as i can (it ends up looking a bit weird but at least it works with keeping them off the dirt and mud unless the roll). i also braid the tail in 3 sections and braid those together double it up and tie a cloth bag on it. works well i think.

Answer 12

I put Olive Oil or Viniger Oil in there hay or grain( cant remember which one) but, they both work, its keeps the tail from breaking and keeps it shiny and thick!....It really works, and also show sheen and stuff like that works to, and dont braid the tail on ly in shows....! Hope I helped!

Answer 13

Hay why don't you just get a thinning comb and thin her tail?! =)

Answer 14

Sounds to me like you have your horse on too much grain and not enough hay, harden the stool a bit, won't be as messy.