Hoof nippers for the ergots. Clip, clip and you’re done. A cheap pair of nippers is nice to have around anyway. I haven’t had a horse object to trimming them back, but I don’t go super short. Whatever they’re doing (if anything), they don’t seem to be any more functional by being longer.
For flakey chestnuts I run the curry comb over them every time I groom and that keeps them in check. I’ve seen horses with more solid, rock-like chestnuts but haven’t had to deal with that personally.
Re shortening the mane- I get a good result that looks pulled by using a handy dandy cheap plastic doo-hickey that cost me $4.50 at the tack store. It has a comb on one side and a razor blade protected by comb teeth on the other. I grab the long strands as if I was going to pull it, back comb then run the blade side down the long strand to shorten it. The mane ends up with a nice taper to it which mimics a mane that has been regularly pulled. It probably wouldn’t work well if the mane was really thick but for an average type it looks pretty darn good, and braids up better than a scissored cut.
It does lay flat. The brand da look lovely. His crest is huge! I clip it only for shows and keep training braids in for in between
I just remembered an ancient thread about using Nair on manes… I dare you! https://www.chronofhorse.com/forum/forum/discussion-forums/horse-care/90386-the-nair-no-hair-pull-mane-a-success
I use hoof nippers for ergots and chestnuts on my drafts. They don’t mind at all. You can do it after a bath if you want them softer or soak in baby oil. I have a VERY sensitive mare and she has never protested to me nipping them or reacted at all.
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