I love a nice roach! I decided to do my one TB gelding’s mane one day, because why not? It looks great! Properly done, it creates the illusion of a nice neck (or enhances it). If you don’t like roached manes, then don’t do it. You can sit on the sidelines and snicker at those of us who like roaches. If being silly and petty makes you happy, well, go for it. It won’t rain on my parade.
With no mane or tail your filly’s shape is very definite. Looking at the posted video I saw movement rather than flowing locks. Why do they shave everything off? She’s drop dead gorgeous by the way. 
Well I see you gals have to get personal but then again - this is a Dressage discussion board and what someone does with the forelock of their horse after they have shaved the mane off - seems a bit disconnected from Dressage!!
And that rat tail on the lovely filly just broke my heart - why would anyone shave a horse’s tail!?
Well I see you gals have to get personal but then again - this is a Dressage discussion board and what someone does with the forelock of their horse after they have shaved the mane off - seems a bit disconnected from Dressage!!
And I have to believe you haven’t been in the business of marketing sporthorses - most of us who have could write a book about what people want to see and not see. We work very hard to keep manes groomed and we never pull manes and with tails we work to keep them long and banged on the bottom.
And that poor filly with her tail shaved off - breaks my heart.
[QUOTE=ise@ssl;3097785]
Well I see you gals have to get personal but then again - this is a Dressage discussion board and what someone does with the forelock of their horse after they have shaved the mane off - seems a bit disconnected from Dressage!!
And that rat tail on the lovely filly just broke my heart - why would anyone shave a horse’s tail!?[/QUOTE]
I think you got personal the minute you came on this thread and told us that our horses looked terrible and horrid, and that it is a direct result of our laziness. Grow up.
this is a Dressage discussion board and what someone does with the forelock of their horse after they have shaved the mane off - seems a bit disconnected from Dressage!!
Well, since I’m taking my horse with the roached mane and full forelock to a rated dressage show in a couple of weeks, it has a lot to do with dressage. Now I have the answer I was looking for as to what to do with his pouffy forelock. It will go into a nice french braid. Thanks to everyone who gave me advice and I loved the pictures.
Luna, your horse is so cute. She kind of has a pony face (you know, a fancy but still adorable pony)–please take that as a compliment, because that’s how I mean it.
I apologize if this is this is too off topic, but I’m too curious to resist: How big is she? She’s a draft cross? Do you know with what / how much?
this is done in the traditional Iberian breeds...in our Marchadors it a mark of the females....the Andies do it as well....only stallions are kept with full manes and even then they are short....
the foxhunters and polo ponies have done it forever....as they are actually worked in the winter....the polo ponies were army horses and they were always roached....the Fjords as well and as are most working drafts then and now...and there are so many draft crosses marketed as
warmbloods" for dressage (back in topic)that there is not much hope for them and their genetics but to be roached off…
someone asked about a bobbed tail...when the last flies leave every one here gets a tail cut wayyyy above the hocks and manes roached....keeps ice and mud out of the tails and manes and burrs out of the manes...
I saw two paso finos left out a full season....the cockleburrs were so bad in their manes and tails that weeping sores covered everywhere the hair touched....that just re-affirmed what I had already believed about the things....but it's with cool that you aren't into it....tradition…
Thanks to everyone who posted compliments about my new filly
As Tamara said, it is tradition in her breed (Andalusian) and others, for the mares/fillies to have roached manes…for anyone interested, here is the most concise description I have come acrossed for the rationale behind clipping… http://www.spanishvisionfarm.com/arti_spantrad_clipping_I.htm
Pertaining specifically to her ‘rat tail’ :lol: ----her breeder, (and the above website) say that the tail is clipped to show off the hind quarters, and without tail hair it is difficult to hide any conformational faults. It is done prior to inscription…
Again, thanks to all for the compliments on my ‘hairless’ filly I am not too concerned about it—it will grow back :yes:
Susan
she would have been improperly (and rudely) presented in any other way…:winkgrin:
[QUOTE=horsefree;3097988]
Luna, your horse is so cute. She kind of has a pony face (you know, a fancy but still adorable pony)–please take that as a compliment, because that’s how I mean it.
I apologize if this is this is too off topic, but I’m too curious to resist: How big is she? She’s a draft cross? Do you know with what / how much?[/QUOTE]
blush
Why thank you! We affectionately call her the giant Welsh…lol
She stands 15.1hh on a good day, and is of unkown breeding, though from what I understand it is believed that she is equal measures of Belgian and Quarter horse. I have owned her for nine years now and I just adore her personality and work ethic. The only thing I could fault her for is that she just keeps trucking, even when injured. Sometimes it is hard to catch a pus pocket for example before it blows.
Thank you for the kind words though…we are often discounted and maligned for her breeding and my general ability, but we work well together and enjoy our respective jobs, so its always nice to hear compliments 
BTW- I adore that new Andie…what a lovely horse!
I took the plunge and roached three of mine last summer and was thrilled with the results. I’m in the Deep South, so our shows are mostly in Nov-April. So when June rolled around and my horses’ necks were dry on the left side (no mane) and covered in sweat on the right side (mane), I gave them buzz cuts The horses were much more comfortable, and by the time November (start of show season) rolled around, their manes were all grown back out to a braidable length. They even earned a compliment from my friend who had just spent a year grooming for an Olympic rider. (“Oh, look at all these neatly pulled manes,” she said! And I hadn’t so much as THOUGHT about pulling a mane in over a year!) So I think this is now my every-year strategy. It’s much better for the horses and perfectly fine for me.
thank you
she would have been improperly (and rudely) presented in any other way…:winkgrin:
Tamara–you are so right. :yes::yes::yes:
Luna–as a former breeder of warmbloods and Welsh ponies—I can see why you call your girl a giant Welsh—she is lovely! And, personally I love the roached mane on her—it does her justice:yes:
Again, thanks for the compliments on Valencia :D-- it will be great fun to watch her grow—she is to be my next upper level dressage prospect----I guess we’ll just have to wait and see how that turns out :yes:
Hey bird4416—I agree–braid the forelock for the show— I bet your boy will look smashing!!! Post pics!!! And good luck at your show!
Susan
horrid huH!! though honestly if he was going nicely, his neck might not look quite so horrid. But when i roach it, i leave it a little longer in the middle to get rid of that ewe neck look Cheating, perhaps… and yes, i’ll admit it. i’m lazy too! but he does seem happier. and if i decide to braid it, it grows out so much nicer and neater after being roached.
here’s him at show with his mohawk!
[IMG]http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i211/FleckenAwesome/Poplar%20Place%20Champs/dressage18.jpg)
this was actually the area 3 eventing champs.
oh, and speaking of mohawks! I LOVE The stripey look. hee hee. that was awesome!!! i’ve seen some labradoodles with mohawks and they were just wayyyy too cute!
Fn’A that Appy is adorable! I am a huge fan of the breed. It is funny how the fauxhawk actually makes his mane seem thicker! Very cute!
