I think when it comes to thinning shears you need to buy a serious pair of salon quality shears and then probably expect to sharpen them regularly.
PNW, I think Billy could have a career as a fjord mane stunt double!
I actually start as if I am pulling my boys mane, but use scissors and cut at an angle so that I don’t thin it much so his stays thick. Also creates a pulls straight line.
This is my boys mane, but I am going to let it grow a bit more since he has a neck to compliment a longer mane…but it was done with the process above. It is done by Anne Kursinski.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=718876703661&l=a20304c21c
Anne Kursinskis way allows you to thin the thicker part of the mane without going too think on the areas. She explains that for most horses the thickest part is the center getting thinner at the withers and poll. Pulling a mane can at times thin the thick part but also over thin the thinner areas. I found this technique work great to keep an even mane and flat.
Her video here…
https://www.facebook.com/AnneKursinski/videos/962288450487668/
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Here’s a variation on Jason McQueen’s technique by Hoffy. I’ve started using it on my thin and thick maned guys. I am too lazy to pull. I only pull if braiding the thick maned guy and that’s pretty rare so trims it is!
http://horsenetwork.com/2016/03/cut-thin-mane-without-looking-like-cut/
Thanks for all the tips. He does have a thick mane. Not like Thelwell pony but thicker than a lot of TBs. it does lay nicely, though. It’s just way too long and needs to be put back under control!
In lieu of thinning shears, I’ve found that a semi-dull pocket knife works pretty well. I back comb as though I was going to pull, and kind of drag the blade along the underside. It doesn’t give a blunt end to the hairs, so they don’t look chopped, and it looks identical to a proper pulled mane when it grows back. I’ve had several horses who just couldn’t with the whole pulling thing, and they didn’t mind this method in the least.
Also, you can make an inexpensive tool that will do the same thing if you’re not cool with brandishing a knife around your horse’s neck:
Take an old slightly dull clipper blade (the stationary one with the hole(s)), attach to whatever length of 1x2 wood feels comfortable, and voila! A redneck version of the Shed-Ender :).
So, if I cut my horse’s mane, which isn’t that thick, am I going to get murdered by a braider later if we actually do something huntery? Because I’m highly considering it, I suck at pulling manes, and I’d rather go for some minimal effort right now.
^^^ in my experience, the braiders hate the blunter ends of a non pulled mane.
Well, I used to do all the braiding for my A show barn, I am a darn good braider and I don’t care as long as it is uniform and thin enough, but there aren’t a ton of horses who have thin uniform manes naturally. They almost all need some thinning in the middle. I have had a few quarter horses that can go with just a cut and braid but no TBs or WBs. I have seen some Arabs that would qualify but they go natural maned usually.
You can always pull it later, though. Even if it is the same length you can pull down the thickness if you decide to braid. Just be sure to pull hairs from everywhere and not all out the bottom, so it doesn’t grow back as a half Mohawk when it starts to regrow. Did that once on my first pony! He was a sight for a while! :lol: that is how barn rats learn…
I tried the Anne Kursinski method on my horse’s impossible mane. Had to stop midway because it was getting windy and rainy, but I think it’s definitely an improvement. The video explains it well. I think I’m going to be very happy when it’s all done.
