Tell me about fake tails

[enjoytheride]

I’ve been lamenting the fact that I bought a horse with a terrible tail but the mare has been blowing me off as “you don’t ride my tail so why should I bother growing it”

Well, her tune changed when I took her to an open show and told her that all the QHs pinned above her because of their tails.

Unfortunately, she saw someone take a tail out of a bag and now she wants one.

She is solid black with sun fading and I’d like something as natural as possible that will look fine with the rest of the tail loose.

[Didi]

Not sure what you are asking, but most tack shops and tack shop trucks at horse shows sell fake tails. You can get a good for one for about $100.00. Best to use the tack trucks at shows so you can walk her up to it and hold up various options for the best match. Good luck!

[Alterrain]

Ask your braider

[enjoytheride]

I am my braider…

I don’t have anyone who knows anything about fake tails in my circle o friends.

[oldernewbie]

Plan for a trip to QH Congress in October to go shopping. I know at least one tail shop that always has a booth there with a zillion fake tails in all colors. Might as well go to the source and talk to the experts in person. Them QH folks know their fake tails!

[TresGauche]

Um, no. Stay far, far away from QH people and their 5 pound “tails” with the knob ends that not only look terrible in a braided or unbraided tail but cause the tail to wobble like a bell under the dock and catch in the hocks.

What’s your budget?

[rememberthenight]

Well… There is a lot that can be said about fake tails… They can be as gaudy or as subtle as the person that puts them in. I ASSUME they are legal for the classes you show in.

Often starting with a very small tail such as a 1/2 lb black switch is a nice way to start. I braid in the switch fairly high up the tail bone, and so the knob gets incorporated into the braid the the hair naturally will move with the rest of the hair below it and looks as natural as possible but you will need to try to make sure the color matches fairly closely. Depending on how thin the tail is or how big the mare is you may want a bigger tail, but it really depends.

You MAY want to consider dying your mares sunburnt tail if you feel up to it…

[sarcam02]

[QUOTE=enjoytheride;8295139]
I am my braider…

I don’t have anyone who knows anything about fake tails in my circle o friends.[/QUOTE]

Most H/J braiders know plenty about fakes. Black fakes are the most reasonable version but a good one will probably cost a bit more than $100. These are very common in h/j land. Make sure you get with a tapered end and a “hunter loop” at the top connection vs the knob end.

[sarcam02]

duplicate post

[Renn_aissance]

Quite frankly the $100 wig I bought from Dover was one of the nicer ones I have ever braided in, and a good match for my horse’s black tail with faded ends. The color you want is “natural black.” A tail in that color will be a lighter color with some brown hairs interspersed.

[enjoytheride]

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b__lW1qGX4c/VaFgMrlq0eI/AAAAAAAABMU/wDXUycNN_LY/s1600/vlcsnap-2015-07-11-14h04m42s079.png

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FR-M2srT3Mw/VaFgAEzfkZI/AAAAAAAABMM/kLdQVIJH_J8/s1600/vlcsnap-2015-07-11-14h02m36s047.png

Here are the best pictures of her tail I could find. I saw that there are several different end attachments, I’m looking for something that works with the tail kept loose and not braided.

[Lord_Helpus]

I am usually not a fan of fake tails, but your horse is right, she deserves one.

Get a 1/2 pound tail which matches her body color. If it looks bad with her bleached out tail, then dye her tail.

When choosing hair dye, be aware that there are many different shades of black, and they are not all created equal. I would take a picture of your mare that exactly matches the color of her body hair. No lighter, no darker.

Take that to a beauty supply store. Ones that cater to AfroAmerican hair are the best because they specialize in black hair.

Once you have picked the sales lady off of the floor from laughing, she will be happy to help you. You will have made her day.

The only trick to dying a horse’s tail is to have a garbage bag ready and put the tail in it as soon as the dye is on. The purpose of the bag is to keep the tail hair from touching the coat should the horse swat flies while her tail is being dyed.

You would be surprised to find out how many horses have dyed hair and/or dyed tails. Summer sun bleach is a bitch when trying to make your horse look her best.

PS: Always thoroughly condition the tail after dying it.

PPS: Do not give up. Her tail is decent at the top. It will only take about 2 years for it to look decent all the way down. Ask me how I know all this.

PPPS: Another solution is to do your mare’s tail up in a mud knot. That is what I had to do to my TB George, back in the days before fake tails. It became his signature look and he thought he looked quite fancy with it. (George was a speshul snowflake and took great pride in his appearance. )

[Impractical_Horsewoman]

I have to say, I think your horse’s tail looks pretty cute as is (and she has an adorable jump). It’s sufficiently high that I would never look at her and say “wow, she has a bad tail.” The way you described it, I was expecting a photo of a scrub brush :lol:

Others in this thread have offered you far more useful advice–I’m currently riding a Morgan with ‘hair to spare’ so I couldn’t add to it. I do have to say that the fake tails I’ve seen at local shows have been quite obviously fake and I much prefer the way your mare’s tail currently looks. Then again, I suppose a good fake tail is not obvious!

[Madaketmomma]

Buy a tail from either showpen.com or tailsource.com. Both are good companies that have nice tails at reasonable prices. The standard for hunters is 1lb. natural loop tapered end. I am a braider and have attached just about every type of tail on the market and the natural loop is by far the best option especially if you aren’t going to braid the tail. It is not hard to attach tails and there are really good tutorials out there. Please do not tie around the tailbone though, as some of the tutorials say!! I can help tell you how I attach the tails if you need me to. I find that the most important part of fake tails looking great is to start with a washed tail extension after it comes out of the storage bag. It is the fluffiness of a freshly washed tail extension that makes all the difference.

[Renn_aissance]

I think a 1/2lb tail will do the trick nicely. She is cute!

[copper1]

Check your association for rules on tails if you show under those rules. Your cute mare looks like an Arab bred and that is a no for fake tails

[doublesstable]

I love fake tails if they need them… I agree with your mare

Just don’t get one too thick.

I had good luck with Show Pen tails.http://www.theshowpen.com/Natural-Loop-Horse-Tail-Extension-s/25.htm

The natural loop. I think I got the 1lb. My horse has a scrawny tail. I wouldn’t do any more than a 1 lb.

You can take a photo of the tail and email it to them. They will send you a few choices and you can see what one works best and ship the others back.

I did this and it worked great. Here is a shot of my cute chestnut with his Show Pen tail…

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=665026903542396&set=a.444165222295233.106075.100001052770584&type=3&theater

My other horses didn’t need toupees since they had fluffy tails all on their own.

I think since we braid (which probably isn’t natural) clip, etc… I think a nice tail finishes off the look of a show horse…

Let us know what your mare decides.

edited to add -
I just saw your photos… she is cute and I think she would like a 1/2 lb tail

[akhunterrider]

I am learning about fake tails right now myself, as I’ve never used one. My Appendix QH is a very sunfaded black (He’s pretty much Grulla right now). Fake tails for QH shows will be different from fake tails at a H/J show. The QH shows use big fake tails and at least in the western events, at least some people use weighted tails. Blunt cuts are popular in the QH world, whereas a regular hunter not showing in breed shows would probably have a natural ended tail. Many people dye their horse’s tail so when the fake tail is added it blends a bit better. At QH shows tails are often a pound or more in weight. I don’t particularly like fake tails, but since I may be trying out some breed shows next year, I’m likely going to have to suck it up and buy a big, gaudy fake tail, otherwise we’ll be the ones sticking out like a sore thumb. That is if we don’t already for some other reason.

[Denzel]

I think she could definitely use a tail! I agree with everyone suggesting a natural loop tail. The first tail I got my guy was a 2lb tail with the knob top, and it made it really hard to put in and swung really funny. It doesn’t help that my horse has a freakishly short tail bone, so the tail wasn’t long enough without getting put in way too low.

I got a new tail this summer, went down to a 1lb (the 2lb was just way too much after his tail got a bit thicker) and got a natural loop. I got mine from Tail Source and they were GREAT, super speedy responses and shipping. I put together a picture of his tail with/without a fake. Top pictures are natural tail, bottom is with the fake in.

http://i60.tinypic.com/msetc9.jpg

[MtnDrmz]

I’m looking for something that works with the tail kept loose and not braided.[/QUOTE]

Are you looking to braid for a rated Hunter/Jumper show or for an open quarter horse show? In hunterland, we don’t put in fake tails unless they are braided in, and we always braid at rated shows. If you are going to a schooling show that does not require braiding, then don’t worry about it and save your money!