So, I have some questions. I have a draft X and the crest of her neck is over 3" wide. I shave a 1" - 2" area down the center and braid. It’s really difficult to keep up, but braids beautifully. Last year I tried roaching and it looked awful. After looking at these pictures though, I’m thinking I did it wrong. I just shaved it to the base all the way down. It made her crest look even thicker than it is, and than I had this gigantic puff of forelock. It looked like I made a mistake and couldn’t fix it. How do you roach with that bit of length? Is there a system where you leave it a bit longer at what would be the highest point when they’re round or ??? How do you balance the clippers and not mess it up? Would it be acceptable to lose the forleock too-like a polo pony?? I realize the rules say it’s OK, but???
Frankly, I just shaved the forelock off as well. I think it shows off my horse’s face more and he looses the “Plow horse” look. Here are some shots:
http://www.chronicleofmyhorse.com/photo/photo/show?id=1971868%3APhoto%3A65445&context=user
http://www.chronicleofmyhorse.com/photo/photo/show?id=1971868%3APhoto%3A65434&context=user
http://www.chronicleofmyhorse.com/photo/photo/show?id=1971868%3APhoto%3A65440&context=user
http://www.chronicleofmyhorse.com/photo/photo/show?id=1971868%3APhoto%3A65439&context=user
[QUOTE=kahjul;3094672]
So, I have some questions. I have a draft X and the crest of her neck is over 3" wide. I shave a 1" - 2" area down the center and braid. It’s really difficult to keep up, but braids beautifully. Last year I tried roaching and it looked awful. After looking at these pictures though, I’m thinking I did it wrong. I just shaved it to the base all the way down. It made her crest look even thicker than it is, and than I had this gigantic puff of forelock. It looked like I made a mistake and couldn’t fix it. How do you roach with that bit of length? Is there a system where you leave it a bit longer at what would be the highest point when they’re round or ??? How do you balance the clippers and not mess it up? Would it be acceptable to lose the forleock too-like a polo pony?? I realize the rules say it’s OK, but???[/QUOTE]
A lot of folks don’t ever shave it all the way down, but leave an inch or two. That’s what I do. To help balance my hand and the clippers, I rest my hand on her crest and work along that way. It takes practice… and preferrably a very still horse. :lol:
If you want to leave an exact height you can buy spacers for your clippers–just like hairdressers use.
Before I got the spacers I personally found that I would cut it down to the wood and it would look perfect after 2 weeks.
Then again there was that day I had a shaky hand :lol:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v53/Cajunblue/as/an584.jpg
[QUOTE=dilligaff2;3094883]
If you want to leave an exact height you can buy spacers for your clippers–just like hairdressers use.
Before I got the spacers I personally found that I would cut it down to the wood and it would look perfect after 2 weeks.
Then again there was that day I had a shaky hand :lol:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v53/Cajunblue/as/an584.jpg[/QUOTE]
Holy cow… :eek::eek::eek:
That’s almost kinda cute! :lol:
Well sublimequine - I’ve been breeding for over 20 years and don’t have problems selling my WB’s or ponies but would never present any horse to any buyer with a roached mane. I honestly don’t know any breeders of sporthorses that would.
But I will keep my eyes peeled at the shows for all these roached mane horses that you all are bragging about on here - I’ve yet to see one and I’ve been going to shows for over 35 years.
[QUOTE=ise@ssl;3095255]
But I will keep my eyes peeled at the shows for all these roached mane horses that you all are bragging about on here - I’ve yet to see one and I’ve been going to shows for over 35 years.[/QUOTE]
The link I posted shows my horse at a show.
Kahjul - Normally I would clip him clean, down to the skin, 2-3 weeks prior to a show so there would be just enough grow out (1" - 1 1/2") to make a nice arch along his neck. I don’t clip his forelock, as I like the wild stallion look 
and he has enough hair in that forelock braid for 3 horses.
[QUOTE=ise@ssl;3095255]
But I will keep my eyes peeled at the shows for all these roached mane horses that you all are bragging about on here - I’ve yet to see one and I’ve been going to shows for over 35 years.[/QUOTE]
And the two links I posted shows my horse at more than one show. He was competing right up to GP with a roached mane.
To each his own - I think it looks horrid. But good luck and big clippers to all you gals who keep posting the photos. We like horses and ponies with manes.
lol ise@ssl… you are too funny!
Well, Fred Webber roaches his horse’s mane and he shows at FEI. If it is done properly, it looks from each side as if it is very neatly braided. Then you go to the other side looking for the neat braids, and voila, that side is also missing the braids. I know that there are a number of people at FEI level that show with roached manes. I, too, am a breeder and I have seen LOTS of roached manes on already approved broodmares at inspections, with the forelock being braided and the foal being braided and it looks really neat IF done properly. I’ve roached manes on a couple of my approved broodmares as well. Once the horse is bathed and groomed, the forelock braided and the mare is stood up, you have to really look to see if the braids are on the opposite side or if the mane is roached.
For anyone whod like to try to thin out my draft xs mane, be my guest.
Ive tried all sorts of things…Thinning (Even with tranq after having his teeth done, he had a fit. The ONLY thing this horse objects to so far), EasyComb (wouldnt go THROUGH the mane and made a terrible mess..For Sale...one EasyComb, used 5 minutes.. ), standard thinning comb, (Another mess that also grew in horribly), Ive even parted it down the centre and clipped off the underneath half THEN thinned the left overs…in order to be able to braid it. He hates it, I hate it and it`s a pain in the rear (or neck).
Even after clipping and thinning off OVER half his mane, this is still what we`re left with…
I roached it, left a little handle at the withers that I normally keep braided, and french braid the forelock for shows.
He looks mah-vel-ous and appreciates me not ripping hair out of him.
This is a horse who takes TWO sets of new clipper blades to do a trace clip on. He`s half draft, half musk ox, I think.
So, until youve tried MY guy, I dont think anyone can say they`d NEVER roach a mane.
Cinder.
PS…LOVE the Trojan horse cut on Ned! Hell look sweet doing the As this Spring!
[QUOTE=ise@ssl;3095504]
We like horses and ponies with manes.[/QUOTE]
I’m sorry, but somehow I picture Queen Elizabeth when I read this. Sort of like … “WE are not amused. WE like horses and ponies with manes.”
[QUOTE=Anselcat;3095925]
I’m sorry, but somehow I picture Queen Elizabeth when I read this. Sort of like … “WE are not amused. WE like horses and ponies with manes.”[/QUOTE]
:lol::lol::lol:
[QUOTE=Anselcat;3095925]
I’m sorry, but somehow I picture Queen Elizabeth when I read this. Sort of like … “WE are not amused. WE like horses and ponies with manes.”[/QUOTE]
I was going to ask who this we was! Thanks for clearing that up for me!
The only horse I’ve ever had with a roached mane (she came to me like that, too) had belonged to the Queen prior to my purchasing her, so I don’t think HRH has much of a problem with it.
She was an Irish Cob, traditionally turned out–roached mane, pulled and banged tail. Fabulous horse and SO easy to show 
my new filly
I am enjoying all of the pics of everyone’s horse’s with their roached manes!
I truely believe that you should turn your horse out neatly, and traditionally (whatever that is ;)) in a way that best ‘shows off’ your horse.
Until last month, I had never owned a horse that had a roached mane, I have seen them at shows (dressage, 4-h, and yes, warmblood inspection) and thought they looked nice a tidy, but did not have a need to roach my warmblood’s mane.
Now, I am the proud new owner of an Andalusian filly, who was groomed and clipped by her breeder for inscription (and presentation for sale)----they body clipped, roached the mane, and shaved the tail. You can see a video of my new girl “Valencia” at http://youtube.com/watch?v=zNuiLuokB58 In the video with Valencia is ‘Valaria’ another Andalusian filly, groomed in the same manner, and a pic of her dam ‘Olimpica D’ with a raoched mane.
Will I keep it roached? not sure yet (I’ll definitely let the tail grow :)) but I certainly do not think it looks terrible…
You can see a close up shot of Valencia here http://www.adonaiequestrian.com/mares_of_adonai.htm
Susan
Who gives a flying flip what someone else does to their horses mane??? I roached mine and don’t give a rats tush what someone else thinks of it!
I like manes as much as the next person, but the mane doesn’t do diddly squart for my horse and only makes a mess. He too is a VERY tolerant horse, and flat out 100% objects to mane pulling. He downright hates it, so why put both him and I through it? I’ve had him since he was a yearling (he is 6 now) and he still hates it.
To Queen Elizabeth who seems deadset on making it clear she doesn’t approve of roaching: no one is forcing you to roach your horses manes. Why would you even bother posting multiple times in a thread about roaching if you don’t do it and don’t “approve” of it?
And as someone else said - if you can’t sell your horses due to a roach job, then you need a different type of horse who has qualities beyond a pretty mane.
[QUOTE=sbp;3096499]
I am enjoying all of the pics of everyone’s horse’s with their roached manes!
I truely believe that you should turn your horse out neatly, and traditionally (whatever that is ;)) in a way that best ‘shows off’ your horse.
Until last month, I had never owned a horse that had a roached mane, I have seen them at shows (dressage, 4-h, and yes, warmblood inspection) and thought they looked nice a tidy, but did not have a need to roach my warmblood’s mane.
Now, I am the proud new owner of an Andalusian filly, who was groomed and clipped by her breeder for inscription (and presentation for sale)----they body clipped, roached the mane, and shaved the tail. You can see a video of my new girl “Valencia” at http://youtube.com/watch?v=zNuiLuokB58 In the video with Valencia is ‘Valaria’ another Andalusian filly, groomed in the same manner, and a pic of her dam ‘Olimpica D’ with a raoched mane.
Will I keep it roached? not sure yet (I’ll definitely let the tail grow :)) but I certainly do not think it looks terrible…
You can see a close up shot of Valencia here http://www.adonaiequestrian.com/mares_of_adonai.htm
Susan[/QUOTE]
Your filly is beautiful. I have a question, why is that done to the tail?
