Mane management - do you prefer a side?

[PamnReba]

My filly has a very thick mane that parts itself down the middle and falls evenly on both sides of her neck. Cute, but not what I want. So I’m trying to train it to all lay on the right side by braiding it - fairly fat, thick braids that I then treat with conditioner… Am I on the right track with that? And as an adjunct thought - if you were me, would you have a preference for which side to train it to? I picked right for no apparent reason, except it felt - right. Any superstitions or old-wives tales out there about which side the mane should lie on?

ETA - really cool feature of this new board! As I was typing this, I got list of similar topics, all of which are spot on, on the right side where the preview usually appears! Now to go read all the others about mane sides…

[2DogsFarm]

Traditionally for Hunters mane goes on the right.
But if you braid that is rhetorical.

My TWH has a thick mane that falls naturally left. No amount of training braids will change that. I tried.
So I generally roach, as he self-pulls a chunk in the center grazing through my fenceline.
But, if we show, it’s Dressage, so not a problem.

For my mini of the uber-thick trolldoll mane, I clip right to the base any “overage” that tends left.
This works for show season, but right now the clipped part is about 6" of poof at the crest, majority goes right.
For shows I will also throw in a quick running braid, assisted by setting gel.

ETA:
I had not noticed that feature

[PamnReba]

Well, I apologize, it appears that this is a fairly popular topic (especially on the Hunter/Jumper forum), so feel free to ignore. From what I’ve read, it appears my efforts to retrain her mane may be futile unless I intend to keep her braided for the rest of her life - which I really can’t see me doing. Since I don’t show, and probably won’t ever, she should be free from ring bias against her parted mane. Except it makes me crazy?

[trubandloki]

It is not going to hurt anything to try to train it over to one side. Some manes are willing to train, some are not. I say try. If nothing else, if it does not work out you know you tried your best, which make it less cringe worthy to you when it goes wherever it wants.

I gave up on my horse and just let her crazy thick mane go wherever it wanted to. I am like you though, I really wanted it to be trained to the right, darn it.

[joiedevie99]

In dressage no one cares. We pick whichever side is easier, or just ignore it and braid it to one side when we show.

[2tempe]

My lusitano has a hugely thick “pony” mane. About 2/3 goes left and the rest goes right. I braid to left for shows. I’ve thought about doing what 2Dogs does above, but can’t quite bring myself to start the clippers. I think your best option is to embrace your horse’s parted locks and think of it as a sign of character. Mine is a dressage horse but I periodically giggle at the reaction I would get from a hunter pro braider if i said “braid this”

[lenapesadie]

I consider a double mane like you describe as a badge of honor. I’d be so proud. My boy’s mane is only double sided up near his ears, still totally awesome. But I’m a dressage enthusiast sooo

[Xanthoria]

The mane is supposed to be on the right side because if you’re right handed, you wear your sword on your left hip. Mounting a horse from the near side your sword would tangle in the mane if it was hanging there.

What’s that? You don’t arm yourself with a sword when you ride?!?

[Renn_aissance]

@PamnReba

From what I’ve read, it appears my efforts to retrain her mane may be futile unless I intend to keep her braided for the rest of her life - which I really can’t see me doing.

You know, I had given up on training my horse’s mane to one side. He’s got a big cowlick in the middle of his mane, and he’s Irish- Shetlands bow to his voluminous coif. I thought there was just no room for it to all be on one side. So I gave up. But now I’ve finally got it- he’s wearing blankets with hoods now, and I brush the mane over to the right side of the neck so that it doesn’t get snagged in the hood hardware. 14 hours in a hood seems to be doing the trick. I’m so glad I figured this out in his retirement when his mane care consists of running a stiff brush over it and cutting a couple inches off of it every now and then.

Having said that, if you don’t show and you do decide you care, it is easier to maintain a side if the mane is a little longer than you’d want it for braiding- the extra weight helps it to stay put.

[2DogsFarm]

@2tempe

I’ve thought about doing what 2Dogs does above, but can’t quite bring myself to start the clippers.

Come to the Dark Side
Before roaching (bottom pic w/Equine Combover) & After:

[Foxglove]

I have trained manes before using what you are doing. What helps, too, is a Sleezie when you can. I will wet, put gel or BraidQuik on the mane, then put the Sleezie on before I haul some place --any time I can keep an eye on the horse. I never turn out with a Sleezie on --worried it will slide into eyes.

Having said that, I have one retired whose mane is all on one side due to YEARS of QH little tiny bands and showing --don’t shorten now and he looks like a mustang but all hair on one side.

Second horse has had YEARS of banding over, braiding, and Sleezie --he’s pretty much all on one side except for a 1/2 cow lick at the very top.

William Tell is completely roached -which is sad because he has a lovely wave in his mane (his forelock is curly). But I shoot a bow off him and pull arrows across his neck --a high, tight Marine style roach is best for that --doesn’t catch in my bow string. And he has a lovely, lovely neck.

[Tarlo_Farm]

My horses have always had long manes to help keep bugs off them in the summer. Trying to train the mane is likely futile; the hair follicles are likely positioned on left/right angles, so the hair will erupt as the position of the follicle determines.

[candyappy]

I let them go to the side that the majority falls naturally. After years of 2 appaloosa with no mane I am struggling in vain with a young gelding with tons of mane that won’t stay put. It is almost enjoyable.

[PamnReba]

I took the braids out a couple of days ago and so far most of it is staying to the right - so maybe there’s hope? Her insane forelock is another story altogether, that thing HAS to stay braided or else she can’t see!

[Renn_aissance]

That forelock is downright luscious. Don’t change a thing.

[2DogsFarm]

@PamnReba

Her insane forelock is another story altogether, that thing HAS to stay braided or else she can’t see!

Devil’s Advocate here.
Mini has no problem seeing with this:

We drive roads & trails Au Naturel.
I do braid (mane & forelock) for shows, but only for the neat, finished look.

[PamnReba]

@Renn_aissance

That forelock is downright luscious. Don’t change a thing.

Thanks! She’s the first horse I can remember owning that has had a really long, full one like that. I see some people thinning and shortening forelocks for overall management (and showing too, probably), but I just can’t bring myself to do that! And given how young she is, I’m thinking that maybe her breeder/former owner either roached or cut her mane and tail. Her mane is just too perfectly level to be natural, so maybe it gets insanely long and thick as well. I know her daddy has a LOT of hair, so I’m looking forward to watching it all grow out and seeing what her natural look is!

[PamnReba]

A friend of mine posted a picture of her Arabian cross gelding that hands down has the longest thickest forelock I’ve ever seen. And she does nothing with it. So I guess if he can see through all that, my filly certainly can!