Pretty much like the title says. My pony has plenty of hair, and I’d like a spray that gives it a good non-sticky feel without the drying effect of silicone (or dimethicone) products.
Bonus points if it doesn’t cost a million dollars, 'cuz I’m a cheapskate. I’ve tried the conditioner+water in a spray bottle, but that gives it a tacky feel that attracts dirt.
Miracle Groom - it can be used as a “dry shampoo” as well. I’ve been using it for decades and like it a lot more than Show Sheen. It isn’t sticky at all. The de-tangling effect doesn’t last as long as Show Sheen but I’ve never minded that.
I’m pretty sure Vetrolin Shine doesn’t have any -cone in it, it smells good, it’s not sticky, and it does a good job.
Also, Infusium leave-in conditioner, which is a very thin liquid to start, diluted with at least 1/2 water, makes a nice treatment as well, not tacky at all.
I have used Infusium 23 for probably 20 years and love it. I use mine undiluted.
It’s not the cheapest thing, but I love EQyss Premier Rehydrant Spray. It makes their coats very soft and shiny with no slip. And it smells fabulous.
I’m kind of obsessed with all EQyss products. They really work well for my sensitive skinned appy.
CalmCoat detangler & conditioner! Love that stuff. No residue, smells amazing!!
Healthy Haircare Skin and Coat conditioner. It’s concentrated so it looks really expensive. It will leave a greasy feel if overused.
I second this. I do a little squeeze-squeeze of baby oil when I make a fresh bottle.
“Vetrolin Shine ready-to-use spray puts a brilliant shine on coats, manes and tails. Includes salon-quality silicone, Vitamin B5, conditioners, and PABA sunscreen. Vetrolin Shine protects coat from dust and weather. Makes manes and tails more manageable.”
Not sure what salon quality is, but hey…
Aw dang, really? I could have sworn that was a reason I picked up the VS because it *didn’t * have silicone.
I like Healthy HairCare Horse Moisturizer. It is concentrated and you mix it yourself, so the price is very reasonable. It is mostly oil and lanolin, no silicone. It’s not greasy and smells great.
Sorry, wasn’t trying to fact check you. I was searching all of these options to see if any might work better on my white gelding. Most leave a residue that attracts dirt and it drives me crazy. Salon Quality threw me off though. Does that make it better? lol
This doesn’t really matter for the sake of this discussion but I feel the need to point this out so you can better understand why you don’t like silicone - silicones are not directly responsible for drying out, although they’re directly responsible for other things. Silicone coats the hair for a quick, easy and temporary shine, can attract dirt, but most importantly for this discussion, silicones are not water soluble, so they stay in the tail until you use a relatively harsh sulfate-based shampoo to remove them (most shampoos contain sulfates) and that’s what dries the hair out. Therefore silicone products build up over time in the tail unless you’re doing shampoo baths.
There is nothing wrong with silicone-based sprays if you understand how/when to use them. I follow the no-silicones Curly Girl Method for my own curly hair, but don’t find silicones as troublesome on horses who have thicker individual hairs and a more closed hair cuticle, at least during the summer when I give a bath with shampoo and then follow that up with GOBS of conditioner every 4-6 weeks. I do avoid them in winter. Pic of my horse’s genetically blessed tail so y’all know what I’m talking about 
No, it’s all good! I appreciate it, really! I should have double-checked. Somehow it’s not the same as Show Sheen and I thought for sure it was because of the lack of silicone. Now we know!
I’ve never had any more dirt attracted to this than SS or nothing, it doesn’t make the coat feel slippery like SS did (haven’t used it in a really long time, no idea if it still does that).
You CANNOT tease us with that picture and not show the whole pony! 
Silver bay?
Rio’s tail was the same way, luxurious in all ways.
Nothing like a random photo request to make you realize you have no good recent whole-pony photos! 
Here’s an album with a few, he’s actually chestnut with flaxen. Gets mistaken for a Haflinger CONSTANTLY, but he’s a Section D Welsh Cob bred by Castleberry Welsh Cobs and Sport Horses in Indiana.
Absolutely gorgeous horse!.
I’ve been using Canter Mane & Tail, and I looked at the bottle today and–yup–it contains silicone.
I’m now intrigued about what other products might be out there without silicone.
I only bathe with shampoo maybe once a year if that, so I do not wish to use products with silicone.
Despite the lack of science, I find the hair feels more dry in my hand a few days after using silicone sprays, whether it actually is or not. And I don’t like it.
Wow, is he tested?
and now you have an order, errrr, I mean, excuse! to go take some new pics 
What a tail!
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