I’ve got a newish PRE mare who came to me with a roached mane that has grown into a glorious long one. She is in nearly full time turnout and I am struggling to keep her locks from turning into dreads. She is also a mane rubber (trees in her turnout) so the top is perpetually fuzzy. I have tried individual braids, which take about 45 min, and a much faster running braid. I believe braids need more crown space at the lower neck, but the top half of her running braid tends to fall out within a day or two and individual braids seem to make her rub more vigorously. I do put coat defense powder along the crown, but perhaps not as regularly as I should. The hair itself has seemed quite dry heading into winter. Her very full tail is not as dry or tangle prone. Any tips or products that might be helpful? TIA
Now you know why they roached. Actually traditional PRE breeders roach the mares especially broodmares and keep the show stopper manes for stallions.
My suggestion would be Cowboy Magic and finger combing regularly. Baby oil can be useful for untangling big chunks but drips off the hair. I wouldn’t worry about keeping her show worthy, just keep the tangles at bay.
I agree, braids are itchy. So are tangles.
You might want to check if she has allergies or some skin issue with all the rubbing. That said, roaching is a good alternative, if it keeps her from itching.
My pony lives out 24/7 and his mane is very long and thick. I use Manley Long Hair detangler, which is similar to Cowboy Magic but lasts longer. He’ll get braids if the weather is windy to prevent wind knots; I’ll do a few sections of running braids. They tend to stay intact longer than one long running braid. I’ll also just do 5-6 regular braids. I change it up in hopes of making it comfortable for him.
Are you getting dreads because of mud or is it just tangling? If it’s just tangling, I would wash it once a week, spray in vetrolin shine and brush it out, but leave it otherwise. If it’s mud, I would just try to keep the mud rinsed out as much as possible but not brush it too often. My 3yo has a lovely long mane but I only brush it once or twice a week so far. The mud has just started however (this is her first winter with me), so I might get the mud out more often as the winter goes on.
I have 2 horses with lots of hair. Mine are easy. I just do some maintenance braids if needed but mostly the hair is just natural and requires minimal upkeep or maintenance. Your mare may have sweet itch or something she is reacting too. Even my sweet itch horse has a lovely mane- she just itches her ears.
I don’t use Cowboy magic because it is oil based and my horses have white hair. If they take one roll, it turns their manes black. A good detangler spray is all I use and even that results in sort of a yellowish tinge to the hair.
It does sound like your mare has something she is allergic too with all that itching. In that case, maybe a fly sheet with a neck cover will help protect her hair and minimize rubbing.
I’ve had really good luck with Santa Fe Coat Conditioner for getting tangles out and keeping them out of manes. It’s silicone based so repels some of the dirt rather than attracting it. I also noticed manes and tails getting longer after adding vitamin e supplement.
Yes, she was roached by breeder then sold as a riding horse. My Connemara friends have no problem with the look but somehow it doesn’t seem right on her. The replies here have been great. I did 6 (instead of 14) looser at the top braids 2 days ago and they are holding well. Need to further investigate the itch and experiment with products. Thanks!
I don’t think it’s mud tho we certainly have it - seems to be more wind and rolling in leaves and twigs. I have noticed my own hair getting more tangled this winter too. Lots of great replies here to assist with our experimenting. Thanks!
There are ticks in her field right now. they don’t seem to be biting anywhere near her mane but it could be that’s just the easiest area to itch. I may break out the silver sulfadiazine cream, which has worked for other itchy, flaky bits on her.
I have the Mane-ly Long products, will try them to see if better than simple moisturizer and detangler. I do think it’s mostly wind related, a hood on her rain sheet may help on stormy days I can’t get to her braids. I am going for fewer brains and will also try shorter sections of running braids as you suggest. Thanks!!
Seems to me that some horses type of hair just seems to be prone to getting dreads … and other types don’t. It seems to be how course or fine the hair is.
Loose large braids will still keep the dreads at bay, and not eat up all your time.
I use Cowboy Magic to loosen knots and/or dreads.
I use concentrated Healthy Hair moisturizer daily - great non-sticky moisturizer.
I also like to shampoo and condition about once a week or once every other week (when it’s not winter!). I have used the pyrhana tick shampoo when needed, and that helps deter ticks.
I love the Mane-ly Long Hair products. One of their product reps recommended to me putting a dollop of the conditioner and the detangler in your palm, mixing them, and then applying liberally. Do this 3-4 times before brushing for the first time.
I found the advice to be spot on.
Don’t turn a horse out in a running braid; the last thing you want is for the horse to rip half its mane out in one yank!
I have Arabians, so long manes have been part of my daily life for over 25 years now, for better or worse. 
If tangles are the main problem, then large, loose braids are the simplest solution. The key to not having them make the rubbing worse is that they need to be taken down, washed/conditioned (weather permitting) and rebraided at least every two weeks - though weekly is best. You get pretty quick at it, after a while. Most of the time, when I see a horse start rubbing the crest of its neck (and there’s not something like sweet itch or ticks going on), that’s a signal to me that the mane needs to be washed.
