I roach - and add a neck strap which I never remember to use - and I LOVE it. No braiding, no pulling. Just keep it trimmed with scissors (I guess it’s not a total roach but more like a tiny mohawk). Not only do I event this way, I’ve competed through 3rd level at recognized dressage shows.
15 Likes
I LOVE the Mohawk look! I want to do one one my gelding. Do I need clippers, or will scissors work? Is there a YouTube video that will walk me through it? I’m scared to eff it up.
1 Like
The easiest way to do it is to use clippers and roach it, and let it grow back in couple inches. Once it is growing up keep it trimmed with scissors.
4 Likes
I did mine with clippers two days ago for the first time and while it was worth the experiment, I really don’t like the look compared to all the times I scissor-trimmed it. Thankfully it’s just hair and will grow out!
To trim with scissors I use a wide comb to hold the hair taut and help guide me in a straightish line. (I learned when the pandemic started that I have no hairdressing talents. 
)
@asterix Gorgeous horse! What breed?
3 Likes
You can use either clippers or scissors. I most often use scissors just because it’s easier than getting out the clippers. I don’t roach all the way down, just make a nice mohawk. No need to worry about “messing up” - it’s just hair, it grows back quickly. Nothing you do to it is permanent & your horse will not be offended. You can change your mind as many times as you want.
2 Likes
I wish horse people remembered this about mane decisions! There is so much angst over length, cutting, roaching, etc. & so on. Just leave it be and in 6 months no one can tell what was done.
Even if you want to go from roached to long and flowing, it doesn’t take that many months for a healthy horse to grow a long mane. Those of us who keep manes short are constantly thinking “I have got to do that mane!”.
3 Likes
Okay, thanks for the encouragement and reminder that it can always grow back. Operation Mohawk Mane commences this week!
2 Likes
@Libby2563 thanks for the tip re: comb - I’m terrible at hairdressing too and he now has a “flophawk” as my teenage friend calls it 
He is a perch/tb cross, which no one really believes unless they have had one (I had a dressage judge literally tell me it was not possible and he was a warmblood).
He’s spicy and talented, loves to run and jump, hates ditches (not so great for an eventer), and turns out to be quite a nice dressage horse (got our bronze last year)…
8 Likes
Haha! I thought he looked like a really nice draft cross but didn’t want to presume. Congrats on your bronze!!
I am definitely going to steal “flophawk”!! That’s exactly what was going on with mine until I broke out the clippers a few days ago because I couldn’t look at it anymore. My dressage coach is going to have a heart attack when she sees him today. She handled the original mohawk pretty well but this looks more extreme, especially from above.
I do need to find a better pair of scissors. My husband gave me a pair after I kept absconding to the barn with his, but the blades are short and it feels like a lot of work to trim a whole mane (still way less than pulling though!) I would like some with longer blades maybe? I’m afraid to use clippers if I’m not taking the hair all the way down because if the horse moves his head I’d probably take a big chunk out.
If i had a fancy warmblood I guess I’d be offended but I love being an ambassador for athletic draft crosses…
I am terrified to use clippers. I did get a nice pair of scissors meant for cutting hair - they aren’t very big but they are quite sharp and that helps a lot.
My eventing coach absolutely hates the mohawk but my dressage coach I think secretly likes the bad ass look he sports, and I’ve gotten nothing but compliments at dressage shows on how he looks…in any case, pulling it is so much work and braiding it such a source of stress that I really don’t care. I’m not going back… 
1 Like
I only like roached manes on a horse with a well developed neck. I think a roached mane will either add or take away from a horse… I’ve seen a couple horses with skinny necks and roached manes and found it rather unappealing… just my opinion.
1 Like
Well, I think braids look dumb since it’s not a beauty pageant for 5 yr old kids, so I think we neatly cancel each other out, lol. 
1 Like
I want to roach my horse’s mane SO BADLY. We only do dressage, and I’m afraid to do it, but his neck is glorious, and his mane is SO THICK that braiding is brutal, and I rarely show anyways… The photo above is making me even more tempting. The horse looks glorious.
2 Likes
@islgrl just do it. Give it a try.
Like has been said here, if it does not end up being what you wanted it to be you just have to wait a bit and it will be all grown out. The horse will not care that it looks weird for a bit while the growing out happens.
I am betting it will be just as amazing as you hoped it would be and you will be glad that you did it!
1 Like
Maybe in the fall. I have a really important clinic in June and I’m not brave enough to have a roached mane for it. Worst case in the fall if I hate it he has all winter to grow it out. Does it grow back thicker or anything? That would be the literal WORST if it makes it thicker.
I think your plan to do it in the fall is perfect! You will have to report back with an update of how amazing it is once you do it.
People say this, but it has not been the case in my experience.
1 Like
I used to pay someone to deal with my girl’s mane but that someone is no longer interested so I need to deal with it myself. My girl is scared of clippers so scissors it is. She will look cute with a sticky uppy mane.
1 Like
Here are some pics of my guy clipped close (today) vs. trimmed with scissors (last spring) vs. pulled (when I bought him), if anyone is interested. I prefer it trimmed but I think he’s pretty sexy regardless of hairdo. 
3 Likes
Not really. Braids look bad on a skinny, undeveloped next as well. But at least you can take them out at the end of the show.
It saved me so much time and I honestly love the way it looks
2 Likes
