Best Mane Growing Tips or Products

[TequilaMockingbird]

I’m going to be showing my mare at a recognized dressage show at the end of May. Since she’s half Andalusian, I’ve opted to keep her mane natural and do a running braid. Unfortunately the top part of her mane is just short enough that the beginning of the running braid will come undone within 20-30 minutes. And of course if the top part comes undone, the whole braid slowly unravels.

I’ve had her for 4 years and her mane has barely grown in that time, maybe half an inch overall. I brush it regularly but I always try to be conscientious about working the knots out at the ends first, working my way up to the root, so as to do as little damage as possible.

I’ve started using Canter Mane & Tail 3-4 times a week to keep it completely detangled. I think it may be helping but hard to tell for sure after only using it for six weeks.

Do you guys have any other recommendations? Braiding just makes her lose more hair overall than brushing it.

[beau159]

@TequilaMockingbird

I brush it regularly but I always try to be conscientious about working the knots out at the ends first, working my way up to the root, so as to do as little damage as possible.

Don’t.

Just detangle any tangles daily with your fingers. Only brush it when you need to show. Even if you are super careful, you’ll still cause hairs to break off.

I agree no braids – I also find it tends to damage the hair even more, IMO.

[Magicboy]

I show PRE horses and many have areas of thin or shorter mane. I find the incorporating some yarn into the braid–matching color, of course, can help to continue the running braid through the thinner, short areas. I just tie yarn into the braid as I make the running braid. Doesn’t show at all .

[atlatl]

EQYSS Mega Tek Rebuilder. I haven’t used it for mane or tail growth, but I’ve had great success using it get regrow hair from rubs etc.

[rememberthenight]

I find mane and tail growth starts with a good feeding programs and coat supplement(fat and BIOTIN). Make such min/vitamins are balanced and plenty of protein. I have been very happy with glanzen3 for my andys and friesians, but started using Black. Will see what my coats look like this spring(but have to discontinue it 10 days before testing shows).

NEVER BRUSH. FINGER PICK only. Every time you brush, you pull hairs that you have been taking YEARS to create. I do like to braid and bag to protect hair, but not everyone does. I don’t braid tight by the crest and I do small, short running braids to prevent hairs pulling out of the mane.

I like megatek rebuilder and healthy horse moisturizer.

Condition condition condition.

[luvmyhackney]

Quit brushing the mane. Hand pick it out or use a damp rice root brush. Your ethnic section at the store has a product called Pink that works really well on hair growth. Make sure you are feeding quality feed and I like to add a fat supplement for hair growth. Keeps it from breaking off and brittle.

[Jarpur]

My horses have some serious hair-growing genetics going on, admittedly, but I found that adding Renew Gold to my feed program took their manes to the next level (not that I began feeding it for that reason).

[Dazzle.the.great]

I agree with the rest of the posts. Only brush your horses manes on the odd day that you braid it or whatever you decide on doing.

I don’t feed any supplements to my horse but if you can find MTG (mane tail groom) in your area, it works like magic. Smells horrible but it’s so good that it’s worth it. I almost want to try and use it on myself and see if it works!
It’s a tad bit in the expensive side but it’s not unreasonable. I got a good sized bottle, around the same size of a fly spray bottle, for around 15 dollars.
Love it, love it, love it! It’s awesome and I will never stop using it.
Hope I helped in some way!

[luvmyhackney]

@Dazzle.the.great.

I agree with the rest of the posts. Only brush your horses manes on the odd day that you braid it or whatever you decide on doing.

I don’t feed any supplements to my horse but if you can find MTG (mane tail groom) in your area, it works like magic. Smells horrible but it’s so good that it’s worth it. I almost want to try and use it on myself and see if it works!
It’s a tad bit in the expensive side but it’s not unreasonable. I got a good sized bottle, around the same size of a fly spray bottle, for around 15 dollars.
Love it, love it, love it! It’s awesome and I will never stop using it.
Hope I helped in some way!

Just FYI, if the smell of bacon grease and bbq doesn’t do it for you, they have a human version called SULU Max Gro that doesn’t smell as bad. Its more expensive than MTG , but has the same active ingredients without the smell.

Yes it does work on humans.

[horsepoor]

Be careful with MTG as some horses will react to it. Try a test spot first. I did not know this the first time I used it on one of mine (who is not a particularly “sensitive” guy) and his crest swelled up and was lumpy and sore within hours. I have read here on COTH that others have encountered this same thing.

[Montanas_Girl]

@horsepoor

Be careful with MTG as some horses will react to it. Try a test spot first. I did not know this the first time I used it on one of mine (who is not a particularly “sensitive” guy) and his crest swelled up and was lumpy and sore within hours. I have read here on COTH that others have encountered this same thing.

Yes. Lots of horses react to MTG. You can also sunburn a horse (or cause fading in the mane and/or tail) by leaving MTG on during turnout.

[Cowgirl]

This year I am trying a leave in conditioning product designed for african americans as their hair tends to be dry and fragile. I buy it from Walmart called Cantu and it comes in a jar and has coconut oil and shea butter in it and no silicone or harsh products. It is not greasy and seems to have stopped the breakage. Costs about $6 a jar.

[supaflyskye]

Shapely’s Mane & Tail Groom (good ol’ MTG) has always worked fantastically for me in promoting growth.
I think it’s pretty important that you stop brushing it though! At least not so often. If you want the mane to really grow, you should avoid brushing it as much as you possibly can. Brushing may get out the tangles, but it will also pull out & break a lot of hair. It’s best to just gently work out the tangles w/ your fingers if at all possible.

[andhourspass]

I have used Healthy Hair Care Horse Hair Moisturizer religiously for years but recently have been using Mane-ly. Neither have silicones. The hype is real!!! It’s incredible. I use the conditioner - 1 part conditioner to 10 parts water, in a spray bottle, and then finish with the polisher. You can get it on Amazon or their website, but the company website seems like a bad informercial to me so I just use Amazon. It lasts for quite a while. You can use the polisher wet or dry, clean or dirty, anywhere on the horse. IT. IS. AMAZING! You have to see it to believe it, truly. And the best part is it literally has no scent!