What do you do for your horse’s mane and tail?
I’m new to horse owning but my ottb has a gorgeous thick mane and forelock.
Is there anything to put in manes and tails to keep it looking healthy?
Thanks in advance 
I like any Mane & Tail product. You can read and find one that will fit your horse. Regular upkeep will also help. I recommend combing through with your fingers to remove any twigs and knots then gently combing it with a mane and tail comb/brush. Tea tree oil is also helpful to use every once in a while. Healing Tree Products has an inexpensive but high quality cream.
Hope this helps!
Definitely want to avoid overbrushing.
I want to make it a little more…shiny? It’s super thick but looks really dry
Proteins, Biotin, and other vitamins(A and B I think) in supplements can increase the shine.
I do Omega Shine for shininess. And I leave it alone! :lol: I only brush the tail when it’s clean and conditioned.
(I brush the snot out of the mane, because I’d really LIKE to thin it.)
Good hair starts from within…and genetics.
feeding flaxseed and a good biotin supplement will help quite a bit. But a horse with a really really poor mane or tail probably won’t suddenly grow a huge bush.
As far as caring for the mane and tail, avoid products with silicone in them, they will make the hair dry and brittle. I use a good quality human shampoo and conditioner without sulfate. Scrubbing gently and focus on the roots. After rinsing, I pat the excess water out with a towel and let air dry. Don’t mess with the hair while wet, it’s stretchy and more likely to break. Once it’s dry, you can use a wide tooth comb to pick through it.
for tails, to keep them off the ground and detangled, I separate tails I to 6 or 7 sections and tie a knot in each section and then wrap the knot in vet wrap. It keeps the tail away from the ground so it doesn’t get stepped on and having the hair essentially shorter, it doesn’t get knotty and I hardly even bother my tails. Once a month or every 6 weeks I will take them out and bathe them. They grow unbelievably long, stay clean and less hairs pulled out.
for manes, I keep them in loose braids and take out bi weekly to wash.
So it’s okay to leave tail in a braid most of the time right ?
What is appropriate length for forelock? I feel his forelock is thick and long (I love it) but I wonder what’s “too” long and when it’s appropriate to trim
I actually found that my mare with the thick, heavy tail just pulled it out when I kept it braided. Her tail is SO heavy that the weight of it braided was too much stress. Maybe it’s my error and I did something wrong when putting it up, but I really wasn’t able to keep it up and not find chunks of it loose.
For her, I’ve found that keeping it trimmed so she doesn’t step on it and pulling the tail flaps off her blankets so she can lift it entirely out of the way when she pees to be the biggest single factors in preserving her tail.
For length, if you are showing or braiding, your discipline will determine whether you need to trim or thin the mane or forelock. If you were showing western pleasure, you’d want a different style than if you were braiding for hunters.
If you aren’t currently showing, then you can just please yourself! Lots of ponies have forelocks down over their eyes, so if the hair isn’t interfering with the tack fit or causing any noticeable problem, I wouldn’t worry.
Only brush/comb after washing, drying and spraying with detangler. If you get icky muddy winter weather and you don’t compete, another poster on here mentioned banging the tail up to the hocks for the winter, which keeps the tail out of the mud, so it’s does not break and is easier to care for. I did that this winter and they are back down the to the ground, thick and healthy looking. I did not have mud clogged tails all winter, they stayed relatively clean.
Genetics will dictate how thick and long they will grow, diet and care will get you there.
I am on my 3rd Tail & A Half horse with an Uber-thick mane.
Added Bonus: this guy flops 1/3 of his mane on the “right” side, the rest goes on his left.
Long ago a Show Groom taught me to twist the tail like a rope, then start brushing from the bottom, untwisting as you brush.
I guarantee you will find very few hairs in your brush using this method.
I don’t use anything fancy or specially made for horses (read: pricy). just a Dollar Store hairbrush - the ones with plastic bristles.
Like these:
https://www.dollartree.com/health-be…5897/index.pro
For manes that are TrollDoll-style or on the “wrong” side for your discipline, you can put in some thick, loose braids when the hair is wet, leave overnight then take them out. Repeat as needed.
Leaving braids in longer will break off the hairs.
I don’t braid or bag tails, so have no info on that.
I like Cowboy Magic Shine & Detangler - I am still using a tube I got 15 Years ago! :eek:
The tiniest blob will do an entire tail or mane. Plus it helps keep dirt from sticking.
And if your horse has a nice neck, I am not above suggesting roaching.
It grows back & I think it;s a nice,clean look - even being seen in Dressage rings now.
Depending on the horse, I do little but feed them well. If the mane is just right in thickness, I cut it to shorten it, if it very thick I will pull it. With tails if I want a square tail, I first lift it up and away from the hindquarters and then trim it, If you don’t hold it up and away, when they carry their tail, it looks like a hula skirt. I don’t brush, I use Show Sheen and hand pick from the bottom, strand by strand.
I use a lot of detangler on mane and tail since the PREs that I work with are out 24/7. I find that it keeps mud chunksfrom sticking to the the mane and tail.
best way to combat frizzies is to protect it from the sun.
i add a human hair UV filer product to my mane and tail conditioning spray and they have had a lot less frizzies and bleaching since i started that
