Roached Manes- How do we feel about them in the show ring?

[Abbie.S]

[QUOTE=beaujolais;8830628]
“He had a magnificent neck, and I actually got a lot of comments on how “cool” his roached mane was - several people called him the “Chess Piece” or the “Roman War Horse”.”

That is a perfect description for the look!

“I don’t shave it down to the crest but let it stand up a bit.”

How do you do that, though? You don’t use clippers? Thanks![/QUOTE]

Yes, you can use clippers to achieve this. I’ve never shaved right down to the crest. Simply take the mane and comb from the base, lifting up so the mane is vertical. Then take the clippers and buzz off the excess so you are left with the length you want.

It does take a few weeks, or a couple trims, for the mane to start really standing up. I disagree that it doesn’t do much for a horse with a thin neck. My mare has a nicely shaped but very long and tapered neck, so I’ve experimented with roach lengths and found I can really imprive the appearance of her neck with the roach shape.

[Pocket_Pony]

[QUOTE=MysticOakRanch;8830526]

Here she is:
http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r264/friesiansport/SVEJuly2016-1_zpsvsot0zsg.jpg[/QUOTE]

Beautiful!

[Pocket_Pony]

My pony has a thick mane that splits on both sides on one portion of the neck, lays to one side on another portion, and lays to the other side elsewhere! I tried doing a running braid on her but it ended up lumpy and bumpy and uneven and funny looking. Haven’t tried button braids yet, but she has a LOT of mane and I don’t like to pull.

Hmmmmm…

Maybe next summer. For now, the mane comes in handy for jumping lessons. :winkgrin:

[beaujolais]

“Yes, you can use clippers to achieve this. I’ve never shaved right down to the crest. Simply take the mane and comb from the base, lifting up so the mane is vertical. Then take the clippers and buzz off the excess so you are left with the length you want.”

Thanks, Abbie!!! Of course! Somehow I didn’t get it at first. much appreciated!

[MysticOakRanch]

[QUOTE=beaujolais;8830628]

How do you do that, though? You don’t use clippers? Thanks![/QUOTE]

So, the first time I roach, I start with scissors, and cut it down to the approximate length I want it - then I use clippers to clean it up - I run them fairly lightly across the top (poll to wither), back and forth to clean up the top cut. Then I “beval” it along the sides with clippers - just a slight angled clip from the neck upwards - this is really for the thicker mane, so it isn’t a huge “brush” sticking up. I cut to under an inch, but again, that is a horse with a good neck. If your horse’s neck isn’t as good, OR is thin, use a bit more mane to give it shape or depth.

For maintenance, I just use clippers - start by clipping the top, again, back and forth, poll to wither and back, doing just a bit at a time, then beval the sides.

I have a friend who rides Andalusians, and they cut it down to the neck on the mares, even the forelock goes! I don’t go quite as far down, and leave the forelock.

[RedHorses]

I have a length attachment comb for my clippers but it is shorter than I really like.

Last winter I experimented with scissors and a big plastic comb (one of those 8" long jobs) and now I do the same with clippers. I comb the mane out sideways and run the clippers along the comb. This gives me the bevelled edge without having to do it freehand. I can hold the comb close to his neck or further away, or angled so that one end is closer to his neck than the other to get a nice curve down at poll and withers. I finish by freehand cleaning up the midline hair to get the length I want. I haven’t got it down pat yet, but the process is coming along.

I am often surprised at how little mane one needs to grab hold of.

[Ceylon_Star]

My cob looks infinitely better with a roached mane. His neck is deeper than it is long, and having a mane really weighed it down and made it look thicker/shorter. I keep a tight roach, just a couple inches max, and it makes his neck look much longer.

We show dressage, hunters, hunter under saddle, and dabble in a bit of western. He also drives.

[rjr]

So, for those of you who roach manes: How do you do it? Scissors or clippers? Is it possible to do a neat job with scissors? If using clippers, what kind of blade and does it dull the blades quickly? Comming from hunters into dressage, I have never done it before.

[Foxtrot_s]

Mounting from the ground:

I had an ah-ha moment watching a lesson from the vantage point of a viewing lounge above the horses. Several of them had saddles that were definitely crooked and twisted from being mounted by someone using the back of the saddle to pull themselves up.

From then on we have always used a mounting step.

Or, secondly, grab the saddle by the waist and heave ho. A necessary skill in case one got an unexpected dismount out hunting or somewhere.

But we got a bit of flack from the instructor once when I legged my daughter up - but we continued as I feel I’m not a greenie, and besides, my horse, my money, my tack, my daughter. We help each other like that.

[Beckham03]

I show my draft cross with a roached mane! Love it! His mane was so crazy and now he looks tidy all of the time. I like it at about 1/4 to 1/2 inch for showing. He has enough tail and forelock to make up for his mane.

My younger horse has a different build, a bit more TB like, but I really want to try it to see if a little fluff looks better. His mane is so thick and course.

[kcmel]

So how would a roached mane look with a thick neck? I am tempted although my husband would kill me (and my dressage trainer–I think she was horrified when I suggested it lol!)

[StormyDay]

I have always had a bit of bias against reached manes- probably because I always seem to see them on western trail horses with horrible conformations. But darn, your guys’s horses look so awesome roached. It really helps round that neck out.
I think I am a convert :lol:

[asterix]

I love love love the mohawk. It’s not quite a roach as I like it a bit bigger. Again thick mane, good neck.
Can I tell you how much I love not having to pull or braid? have had nothing but compliments at shows. I am an eventer and do local dressage schooling shows as well. I am hoping to show some recognized dressage next year when we are going 2nd level, and I plan to bring the mohawk with me!

[norcalammie]

Showed my hunter for years with a roached mane as he would not tolerate braids. I would use the clippers a week or two before a show and just clip. Then right before the show I would clip his bridle path so there was a bit of difference. Most people assumed he was braided on the other side and the differentiation helped keep that illusion.

[Puddin_Pie]

Mystic oak: awesome picture.

[MysticOakRanch]

[QUOTE=Puddin Pie;8831288]
Mystic oak: awesome picture.[/QUOTE]

Thanks I put in the camera settings, then tell my husband - shoot a LOT of pictures, and I’ll pick out the good ones. It always works!

[Can_tFindMyWhip]

[QUOTE=MysticOakRanch;8830526]
Here she is:
http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r264/friesiansport/SVEJuly2016-1_zpsvsot0zsg.jpg[/QUOTE]

Roached mane and a blue One K-apparently I aspire to be you!

[Boo]

After doing 30 plus plaits for several shows on my last trak gelding his mane was hogged/roached.

I used to let it grow out between events and then 2 weeks prior to a show i’d clip it off again (but would leave his forelock on and plait that)so it had a bit of growth for the show. Most people would then assume the plaits were on the other side

Won several best presented classes in the hack ring even with the roached mane!!

He had a fantastic neck set and very long neck and a lot of natural presence so it worked for him. My current mare has the neck but looks more even with the bigger plaits. No pics unfortunately on this computer though.

[ThreeFigs]

I love the roach on my gelding – but I do shave right down to the skin as I have NO IDEA how to do a shaped roach. Fortunately, he’s got a super neck. i can see how having the talent to shape a roach is helpful, though.

Might practice through the winter!

[RPM]

At first glance I thought this thread asked how do we feel about roached manes in the morning after the night we roached them?

I love roached manes on cob types, some ponies, and some draft and draft-cross types. Totally depends on the neck and head, IMO. It takes a certain kind of horse to carry the look off.

I prefer a plain, flat bridle with them.