I partially derailed-- I am just so excited about finally having a technique that works for thinning.
When I need to shorten but not thin… I use scissors but instead of holding them perpendicular to the hair growth, I hold them almost parallel and cut up, fringing the ends by fanning out the mane as I go. Looks pretty natural.
I use the scissors cutting up on a slight angle method. When I used to groom, I’d have people walk in and be shocked that I cut rather than pulled because the manes of the horses whose manes were cut looked pulled unless you witnessed the cutting happening.
Just try to aim more for the hairs closest to the neck when you’re cutting so that it still leaves the mane with the shorter hairs behind as you would get from pulling.
I used a regular pair of scissors, pointed them up toward the time of the mane and cut sd as if “thinning” my mare absolutely hated man pulling; guess she’d never heard it was supposed :winkgrin:to be painless:no: the "random 'snipping plus brushing down with a "water brush"had it lying nicely almost the same length as braids:)
[QUOTE=vxf111;7680167]
When I need to shorten but not thin… I use scissors but instead of holding them perpendicular to the hair growth, I hold them almost parallel and cut up, fringing the ends by fanning out the mane as I go. Looks pretty natural.[/QUOTE]
Yeah, that’s what I did with my horse’s wispy mane.
[QUOTE=bornfreenowexpensive;7680119]
Eventers and dressage often “pull” or clip the top of tails. It isn’t really thinning…as much as shaping. This is done instead of braiding tails. I know how to pull a tail…but never do. I get the same look by clipping. You can really butcher it if you don’t know what you are doing.
I don’t do it on green horses that could be sold into the show world.[/QUOTE]
Oh, I understand about pulling a tail (or clipping as the case may be). I also understand the ugly aftermath of letting a pulled tail grow out.
I don’t understand wanting to thin a tail…which is what the poster I quoted said. 'Course, I come from a discipline that thinks the majority of horses need fake tails…but even aside from that, there is also a long history of praising thick tails and hating thin ones (darn wonderful appaloosas that taught me. :D)
I have a group of retired horses but I still want the manes to look good. Most don’t love to have their manes pulled so I cut them.
They look really good. It just takes practice…I keep combing as I cut so it doesn’t look chopped.
You can also use the little clippers as well. I use a large comb as a guide and clip across so it’s even.
[QUOTE=RugBug;7680290]
Oh, I understand about pulling a tail (or clipping as the case may be). I also understand the ugly aftermath of letting a pulled tail grow out.
I don’t understand wanting to thin a tail…which is what the poster I quoted said. 'Course, I come from a discipline that thinks the majority of horses need fake tails…but even aside from that, there is also a long history of praising thick tails and hating thin ones (darn wonderful appaloosas that taught me. :D)[/QUOTE]
I meant pulling, which is basically thinning the top sides. No need to get in a tizzy. It’s common for Dressage, Eventing and Hunt horses. The comb I posted does a fine job at shortening… just don’t go all the way to the base while combing down. Stay to the last inch and it will cut at vary lengths as you draw it down leaving a nice tapered end. Sometimes it will leave a scattering of longer hairs that can be trimmed with scissors but there are so few it doesn’t leave a blunt looking line.
I, too, use a clipper blade on my horse… leaves everything nicely tapered at the ends and it falls nicely.
[QUOTE=gypsymare;7680678]
I meant pulling, which is basically thinning the top sides. No need to get in a tizzy. It’s common for Dressage, Eventing and Hunt horses. The comb I posted does a fine job at shortening… just don’t go all the way to the base while combing down. Stay to the last inch and it will cut at vary lengths as you draw it down leaving a nice tapered end. Sometimes it will leave a scattering of longer hairs that can be trimmed with scissors but there are so few it doesn’t leave a blunt looking line.[/QUOTE]
Not in a tizzy. Just staying on topic. 
Oh…and thank god my hunt horse didn’t come with a pulled tail. I would be S-A-D, S-A-D, S-A-D. It’s the ugliest look ever. If you want the top of the tail neat and tidy…braid it. 
[QUOTE=RugBug;7680712]
Not in a tizzy. Just staying on topic.
Oh…and thank god my hunt horse didn’t come with a pulled tail. I would be S-A-D, S-A-D, S-A-D. It’s the ugliest look every. If you want the top of the tail neat and tidy…braid it. :D[/QUOTE]
LOL that is totally a matter of opinion. I hate braided tails–always thought they looked strange…but like a nicely pulled/clipped one. Granted…I hate braided manes too…
Question along the same lines, but the opposite… My gelding’s mane is quite thick and getting a little too long. He’s usually alright for about 5 pulls, but gets worse and worse after that, plus it makes him twitchy whenever I try to braid or put training braids.
It’s difficult to cut as well, just because of the layers… any advice on how to get a nice even line? I’ll try the thinning shears for sure.
[QUOTE=ybiaw;7680292]
YES!!! Read this 5 Minute Clinic from Get My Fix.[/QUOTE]
This is what I do (the 45 degree trim), when I’m too lazy to fully pull the mane. It’s great.
Without reading the other posts…
I do what I call styling. I too have a fragile flower who hates pulling.
I take small part of the mane and comb it back with a comb while holding the longest bits, the same as if you were going to pull. Then I cut the section as short as I think it should be, remembering you are holding it fairly snugly and stretched. Repeat until the section is as short as needed, being careful to hold only the few longest hairs per section.
This works because you aren’t likely to cut each time the exact same length as the previous one, but close enough it ends up even.
I’ve done this same thing, but rather than sacrificing a kitchen knife (my husband would be HORRIFIED!), I use a mane thinning knife like this: http://www.doversaddlery.com/grooming-%26-thinning-knife/p/X1-1008/?eid=X18A00U1000&utm_source=froogle&utm_medium=CSE&utm_campaign=MerchantAdv&zmam=1460880&zmas=1&zmac=114&zmap=0001008000000X1-1008&gclid=Cj0KEQjw3cKeBRDG-KKqqIj4qJgBEiQAOamX_dJqj0z6cDH7ASdveilrzRUcmD8VLZIEz3Tc4YGP94kaAuEd8P8HAQ
Same effect - does take me longer than pulling, but looks great at the end. I have also used small scissors cutting upwards into the mane (think at at 10:00 and 2:00) angle to clean up the stragglers…the only downside with the mane knife is that it is only serrated on one side, so you can only really use it working your way up the mane, with your right hand. Can’t really do much working to the left of your body, because the knife isn’t cut that way…
WOW! Amazing response, people. Thanks!
I’ll assess what tools I have on hand and give this a whirl this weekend using one of these methods. I’ll take before and after photos - as long as no one is disappointed when I foul something up
Thanks!
I never pull manes anymore - I think its just cruel to be honest.
I use regular scissors - I cut the main to the length on want (on the correct side), then flip over and cut again, evenly. When you flip it back over this creates “layers” that basically look like a pulled mane. I then cut up into the mane to thin a bit, and just clean up any stragglers.
That being said - I now have a mare with a SERIOUSLY thick mane, anyone have a video on using clipper blades to thin? Again, I am just not going to pull her mane, I can’t believe so many people still do this in this day and age of $6000 custom saddles and equine massage and $25 bags of grain.
[QUOTE=butiwantedapony;7681201]
I never pull manes anymore - I think its just cruel to be honest.
I use regular scissors - I cut the main to the length on want (on the correct side), then flip over and cut again, evenly. When you flip it back over this creates “layers” that basically look like a pulled mane. I then cut up into the mane to thin a bit, and just clean up any stragglers.
That being said - I now have a mare with a SERIOUSLY thick mane, anyone have a video on using clipper blades to thin? Again, I am just not going to pull her mane, I can’t believe so many people still do this in this day and age of $6000 custom saddles and equine massage and $25 bags of grain.[/QUOTE]
Do you have a braider? I can’t imagine how much a braider would bitch about a mane done this way.
I do the scissor parallel to the mane method, after it is thin enough. His grayness has a pretty thin mane, I only pull about twice a year and then keep it short via the scissors. My very picky braider always complements my excellent manes.
[QUOTE=KingoftheRoad;7681169]
I’ve done this same thing, but rather than sacrificing a kitchen knife (my husband would be HORRIFIED!), I use a mane thinning knife like this: http://www.doversaddlery.com/grooming-%26-thinning-knife/p/X1-1008/?eid=X18A00U1000&utm_source=froogle&utm_medium=CSE&utm_campaign=MerchantAdv&zmam=1460880&zmas=1&zmac=114&zmap=0001008000000X1-1008&gclid=Cj0KEQjw3cKeBRDG-KKqqIj4qJgBEiQAOamX_dJqj0z6cDH7ASdveilrzRUcmD8VLZIEz3Tc4YGP94kaAuEd8P8HAQ
Same effect - does take me longer than pulling, but looks great at the end. I have also used small scissors cutting upwards into the mane (think at at 10:00 and 2:00) angle to clean up the stragglers…the only downside with the mane knife is that it is only serrated on one side, so you can only really use it working your way up the mane, with your right hand. Can’t really do much working to the left of your body, because the knife isn’t cut that way…[/QUOTE]
I’m not ALSO using the knife in the kitchen I bought a couple cheap ones for $1 total at a yard sale 
[QUOTE=butiwantedapony;7681201]
I never pull manes anymore - I think its just cruel to be honest.
I use regular scissors - I cut the main to the length on want (on the correct side), then flip over and cut again, evenly. When you flip it back over this creates “layers” that basically look like a pulled mane. I then cut up into the mane to thin a bit, and just clean up any stragglers.
That being said - I now have a mare with a SERIOUSLY thick mane, anyone have a video on using clipper blades to thin? Again, I am just not going to pull her mane, I can’t believe so many people still do this in this day and age of $6000 custom saddles and equine massage and $25 bags of grain.[/QUOTE]
We still pull manes because nothing braids as well as a pulled mane. And - for most horses - it’s a non issue.
I leased a horse when I was younger from a lovely old lady who hardly ever rode. I planned on taking him to a pretty big show (for us) and we were all really excited - her especially. She was thrilled that her boy was going somewhere cool to horse show. To surprise me, she “thinned” his mane with one of those comb things a few days before we left.
We were horrified. The braider almost killed me. I had to bribe her with coffee and donuts to come back and do it the net day. It was awful.
We very politely asked that the lovely old lady not use that particular grooming tool ever again.
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