Thanks. I did this the 2nd time I used the tail (the first time I only got 1/2 of it right - I only washed my horse’s tail, but didn’t do anything with the extension). It was somewhat improved by getting it out of the bag, rinsing and letting it “poof up.” I should get a picture - I think it doesn’t look right because her natural tail stops, then there is no “blend” of layers down to the bottom of the extension. Picture something like a bowl cut but with a mullet in the back. Yes, there’s a pretty picture for ya :lol:
Does the tail match exactly? If the real hair ends are a little lighter than the rest of the tail, you may consider dying the real tail ends to match.
Agree with posters who said fluff the tail. Also bring hairspray and help tame the shorter ends.
I had an appy with a tail above his hocks and got awesome at blending in a full length tail. Unfortunately, I was also a young teenager and DID decide to cut the extension to blend in (it was towards the end of the horse’s show career anyway, he ended up passing the next year). It didn’t look terrible bu didn’t look great and I’ll probably not be able to resell it.
The color is def not perfect because the end of her tail is bleached and not as black as the extension.
But even the color aside, it’s the natural tail kind of sticking out/away from the extension. When she’s standing still, it looks good - I was quite pleased with my handiwork this time. Until I got to the show, watched her swish her tail at a fly and saw that the extension flopped about like a mop end not blended with her natural tail at all.
Maybe this means I’m not tying it in as well as I think I am. I want to taper some layers into that extension so badly but I should learn from your teenaged mistake!
Good for you for being your own braider! I bought tails myself twice and had no complaints from my very picky braider. I would take a look at Champion tails. I would not buy a tail from Dover as I bought a black one once that was dyed and when I washed it it bled dye like a mother you know what. Get the one pound tail. Get a tail with a loop not a knob. To put it in, start about six inches up on the bone. Get some hair clips to hold the hair back so you can see what you are doing. Begin a very small braid against the bone and after a few sections are braided, pass one section through the loop. Continue braiding, picking up hair from the real and fake tail. Braid down, making a small braid at least six inches below the horse’s tail. Secure with a matching color small rubber band or yarn. It should be nice and tight against the tail bone and very secure. Make sure the loop is placed several inches above the end of the tail bone. When you are done you can let it alone or then braid the tail. When I put in a tail it was always easiest for me to have a helper to hold the fake tail up while I braided it in because they are heavy. I’m not a professional braider but damn, I did a good job and our guy’s tail was stunning. My daughter often showed in the eq with the tail unbraided and just the fake tail. We had two judges tell me it was the prettiest natural tail they’d ever seen 
You should have no trouble creating a nice look for your horse.
I experimented with a fake tail for the very first time this year. I got mine from CustomTails. Lots of emails and pictures back and forth and the end results is a perfect match - I am so happy with it.
If your extension is not moving naturally, then you probably need to tie it in differently. The closer to the end of the tail bone that you attach it, the MORE unnaturally swing you are going to have. So make sure you don’t tie it in too low.
Also make sure you have 2 or 3 braids tied into the extension, from the sides and the front. This stabilizes the tail better and gives you more natural movement. And tie it in CLOSE to the tail bone. You want it snug.
Also make sure you braid DOWN when you braid in. If you braid outward, then yes, your extension is going to stick outward.
This is my guy before, and with his fake tail here and here. Of course, I wasn’t dealing with an extremely short tail like you are, but it certainly does make a difference on how you attach it.
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THIS. This this this this. This is exactly what I was going to say next. Get a tail that you can braid in in multiple places to stabilize it. There is nothing worse than a horse swishing his tail and the tail going one way and the extension going the other.
THAT SAID, how thick is the tail? If it’s thick enough, it should be able to cover the braid in looped tails even if it’s short. One of my horses has a ridiculous amount of natural tail and covers any extension easily. My other gelding has a thin tail that goes just below his hocks. He will probably need a wrap around tail.
And don’t forget the hairspray. 
