And if so, does anyone use them? I have a very large horse with a thin, sad tail. It honestly makes him look less balanced overall and think some enhancement might help. Is this even allowed in dressage?
Yes, but the tail can’t have any metal in it. (USEF rule DR121.7)
A friend used one for her mare after her foal ate her tail.
USEF: yes. FEI (CDI’s): with vet documentation and approval.
I’ve used tails regularly. My opinion is, if its legal and it makes you feel good about how your horse looks, then do it. Plus, a well put in tell is not obvious to others, so it doesn’t really matter what they think.
Coming from hunterland here ---- How can you put a fake tail into an unbraided tail and make it invisible?
Not a fan,
Even a “sad” tail s/b left As Is, IMHO.
Back when dinosaurs roamed, I showed H/J against an App with a near-bald stick of a tail & that mare cleaned up!
Is a dressage judge, or for that matter Hunter really judging tail fullness?
Lord H:
Go over to Western Pleasureland for your answer.
Just don’t make the County Fair Oops I saw one year:
Flaxen fake braided into black tail, NOT on a paint.
if you do go with the tail make sure you use it at home so the mare gets use to it
Yes and I find fake tails no more of an anathema than any other cosmetic improvement we do on our horses. One of our horses wears a 1/4 lb tail that is a perfect match for his own tail. He shows unbraided. To all the nay-sayers (neigh-sayers?) who abhor fake tails, I guess I need an education as to how they differ from every other cosmetic improvement --bling on brow bands? White tape on braids? Clipping? Pulling hairs on manes and docks? Washing with color enhancing shampoo or whitening shampoo? We do not pull or clip our docks, just smooth with a little Quick Braid and personally, I find the “scalped dock” a strange look, but if you like it, it’s fine with me. Are any of these cosmetic improvements required? To my mind, if you do something that makes your horse look better to you, then it’s a good thing --as long as it’s cosmetic --(I could never support tail surgery as done by old time Saddlebred folks).
Two of our horses have brands --we use a chalk stick to make them whiter against the dark coats --does it improve the dressage score? Of course not, but we think it looks sharp. A 1/4 lb of hair (4 oz) hanging off the horse’s tail isn’t going to change a score --but if the rider thinks it looks better --then what’s the harm?
As others said, make sure it’s a good match, use it at home, and remember to take it out after the show.
Foxglove
[QUOTE=Lord Helpus;8410668]
Coming from hunterland here ---- How can you put a fake tail into an unbraided tail and make it invisible?[/QUOTE]
LOL that was going to be my next question!
I saw one come off once , lay in a puddle in the arena and next time around that side, the horse spooked.
[QUOTE=Foxglove;8410709]
Yes and I find fake tails no more of an anathema than any other cosmetic improvement we do on our horses. One of our horses wears a 1/4 lb tail that is a perfect match for his own tail. He shows unbraided. To all the nay-sayers (neigh-sayers?) who abhor fake tails, I guess I need an education as to how they differ from every other cosmetic improvement --bling on brow bands? White tape on braids? Clipping? Pulling hairs on manes and docks? Washing with color enhancing shampoo or whitening shampoo? We do not pull or clip our docks, just smooth with a little Quick Braid and personally, I find the “scalped dock” a strange look, but if you like it, it’s fine with me. Are any of these cosmetic improvements required? To my mind, if you do something that makes your horse look better to you, then it’s a good thing --as long as it’s cosmetic --(I could never support tail surgery as done by old time Saddlebred folks).
Two of our horses have brands --we use a chalk stick to make them whiter against the dark coats --does it improve the dressage score? Of course not, but we think it looks sharp. A 1/4 lb of hair (4 oz) hanging off the horse’s tail isn’t going to change a score --but if the rider thinks it looks better --then what’s the harm?
As others said, make sure it’s a good match, use it at home, and remember to take it out after the show.
Foxglove[/QUOTE]
I agree with everything you said…
But isn’t the white chalk strictly verboten?
White chalk verboten? Let me know if I’ve missed something --I’ve used it forever on white socks (pat on, brush out) --only in the past few years on brands . . . let me know --that would be dreadful to be DQ because Rocking Lazy 3 was too white on the shoulder.
Foxglove (who apparently does need educating!! 
[QUOTE=Foxglove;8410905]
White chalk verboten? Let me know if I’ve missed something --I’ve used it forever on white socks (pat on, brush out) --only in the past few years on brands . . . let me know --that would be dreadful to be DQ because Rocking Lazy 3 was too white on the shoulder.
Foxglove (who apparently does need educating!! :-)[/QUOTE]
IIRC, in the USEF/FEI rulebook, you are not allowed to apply dye, coloring, paint, etc to a horse competing. Including enhancing blazes, strips, other markings.
However, we used to pat socks with some cornstarch to really bring out the whiteness.
[QUOTE=Foxglove;8410709]
Yes and I find fake tails no more of an anathema than any other cosmetic improvement we do on our horses. One of our horses wears a 1/4 lb tail that is a perfect match for his own tail. He shows unbraided. To all the nay-sayers (neigh-sayers?) who abhor fake tails, I guess I need an education as to how they differ from every other cosmetic improvement --bling on brow bands? White tape on braids? Clipping? Pulling hairs on manes and docks? Washing with color enhancing shampoo or whitening shampoo? We do not pull or clip our docks, just smooth with a little Quick Braid and personally, I find the “scalped dock” a strange look, but if you like it, it’s fine with me. Are any of these cosmetic improvements required? To my mind, if you do something that makes your horse look better to you, then it’s a good thing --as long as it’s cosmetic --(I could never support tail surgery as done by old time Saddlebred folks).
Two of our horses have brands --we use a chalk stick to make them whiter against the dark coats --does it improve the dressage score? Of course not, but we think it looks sharp. A 1/4 lb of hair (4 oz) hanging off the horse’s tail isn’t going to change a score --but if the rider thinks it looks better --then what’s the harm?
As others said, make sure it’s a good match, use it at home, and remember to take it out after the show.
Foxglove[/QUOTE]
Fake tails can weigh the natural tail down so the horse is less likely/able to crank his tail if he is so inclined. A 1/4 pound tail will have little effect, but a 1 pound tail, when only worn in competition, really is a heavy thing for a horse to lift up.
Rather than draw a line in the sand, prohibiting all tails over X weight, but allowing fake tails under X is not realistic. Better to ban fake tails and not have to argue over the number of ounces involved.
All of the other enhancements you mentioned do not affect performance.
[QUOTE=Lord Helpus;8410668]
Coming from hunterland here ---- How can you put a fake tail into an unbraided tail and make it invisible?[/QUOTE]
No clue but it must be possible because reiners and other western horses use them all the time. I always considered getting one for my Hanoverian gelding who had some sort of tail injury as a youngster. It left him with half a tail bone and the saddest little tail. I just never could justify the expense of it though, since it’s not something we’re actually judged on.
[QUOTE=Lord Helpus;8410668]
Coming from hunterland here ---- How can you put a fake tail into an unbraided tail and make it invisible?[/QUOTE]
There are many different types of tail attachments but most of them involve braiding and loops or grommets of some kind.
http://www.horsechannel.com/horse-exclusives/horse-tail-extensions.aspx
[QUOTE=Lord Helpus;8410668]
Coming from hunterland here ---- How can you put a fake tail into an unbraided tail and make it invisible?[/QUOTE]
Not hard at all. I had a working hunter, back in the day, that we didn’t braid the tail on, and no one was the wiser that about 2/3 of his tail wasn’t his. Also, a DWB dressage horse with no tail, other than some feathers, who ended up using the same tail, 15 years later. He was FEI, and, once again, no one knew a thing.
It is extremely important to learn how to put a tail in and on correctly. Bad things can happen when they are not done right.
GR802 Artificial Markings and Appliances1. Any change of color or markings other than mane, tail or hoof is prohibited. (Exception:Arabian and Half/Anglo Arabian halter, see AR106; Reining Division; FriesianDivision; Paso Fino, see PF101.5-.6). Only clear grooming materials are allowed on thehide and hair. Materials may be used to remove stains.
it is buried in the rules but it is there
I also would wonder why do it. That is not what the horse is being judged upon. It is not a beauty contest.
You could always say you were just following American Pharoah’s lead in the short tail department!
hoopoe --if I’m reading that correctly, then all the “color enhancing” shampoos are out – but “change of color or markings” might not apply to my “chalking in” the brands since they are white and I’m not changing them --but then chalk isn’t a “clear grooming product” so I guess I better stop using it. Thank you for the clarification.
Foxglove
