Taming the Troll Doll Mane

[2DogsFarm]

So my new mini is here & he is a sweet cupcake of a wee (33") thing :love-struck:
Complete with middle-split troll doll mane :ambivalence:
He’s very easy to handle, but his career will be a driving VSE, so I need to get that mop under control.
It occurred to me if I clip/roach one side the balance left on the “correct” side will look a tad more civilized.
I figure I’ll have to maintain the roached side - to avoid a Half Mohawk - but I regularly roach my TWH, so not an issue.

Go for it? :yes:
Or
Hand over the Clippers, Sweeney Todd! :uhoh:

[cayuse]

I know a couple people who do CDE’s with their minis and they completely roach the mane. But I just couldn’t do that, I like the little devils hairy :D. Plus I show mine in hand and they need their mane for that. But I can sympathize with the hair do issue. I braid one my minis if it gets in the way when I am working him. If your minis mane wasn’t split, I would say thin it from the underside with the clippers but I guess since it is split, that won’t do.
Do you have pictures of him you can share? I would love to see him, and his mane!
One of mine is 32 and the other 34, now that I have had them awhile they don’t seem “small” as their attitudes are huge.

[RHdobes563]

“Hand over the Clippers, Sweeney Todd!”

:lol:

[CanteringCarrot]

I have seen people do what you are describing with roaching part of it. It looked ok as long as it was maintained.

[2DogsFarm]

@cayuse Here he is in all his fuzzbutt glory.
& trust me, there is just as much mane on the side you can’t see :o
I’ve actually shed out about 40-50% of the hair he was wearing in this pic.
So much so I can see his roaning coming thru & he has a dorsal stripe.

My clippers went adios, so I am forced to borrow from a friend, but if it works I may have to indulge myself with a new pair soon,

[cayuse]

Aww he is CUTE! He is going to be a pretty color! My bay mini has a dorsal stripe during the summer too. He also has a mane just like yours but it is contained to one side. Try putting conditioner on it and leaving it, not alot, just a few dabs along the top of his mane and brush it through to the ends really well. A few days of that should help flatten thing out.
I can’t wait to hear how your first drive at home goes.

[2DogsFarm]

IT WORKED!

Mini has a Guardian Angel - just as I was starting to clip my neighbor - 3rd Generation Hackney family, showed mini last year in Halter & got 2nd - stopped by & approved the plan.

Baby stood for me like he’s been doing this for all of his 3yrs.
It sure looks like I got the Thinking & Non-Reactive Mini.

I removed his Amish Whiskers,thinned his forelock, cut a wee bridle path & TaDa! did a semi-roach on the left side so now mane is falling mainly on the right.
And TG I was able to stop myself clipping before I did any real damage - bodyclipping is so NOT my forte & I’d hate to get The Look from neighbor if I tracked up “his” Halter gelding.

Harness goes for adjustment Saturday, guy promised to finish repairs the same day.
So I could be hitching & driving next week!

@cayuse I’ll try the conditioner trick after I do a bath. Might be soon as it has warmed up nicely here.
Sire was a roany sorrel, so I hope that was passed on. Dam had the white ear-lining & still does.

[S1969]

I roach my mini’s mane. It’s in the “troll doll” category as I suspect most minis are. This year is cool and rainy so far but the last two years have been very warm already by May. She was much happier without the mane.

Oddly, my mini also loves to be clippered - but don’t try to give her a bath. Holy freak out.

Good luck!

[2DogsFarm]

@S1969 Digits crossed baby is as good about bathing as clipping <insert praying icon>
He was bathed for Fair last year, but we both know about Selective Baby Memory…
This weekend is supposed to hit 90F so good time for me to find out :yes: