Tips for Long, Thick Manes

[cgcancel]

Hi,

I’ve been leasing this horse for a while, and I finally asked his owner if I could do something with his mane-- always thought she would say no. So he’s a Haflinger, Fjord, and (unknown) little mutt. So, safe to say he has a thick mane, and it has never been cut really. I’m looking for suggestions on what to do with it, I’ve considered roaching it and staring over so he can have a cute little mohawk but it kinda scares me to commit to that. But any tips on doing that, or other ideas on how to manage it are welcome!

Thanks!

[Training_Cupid]

It depends on what type of riding you do and whether you plan to show, but I would just pull it so it’s a bit thinner and shorter. I’m not a fan of roaching personally and would never do it unless it is medically necessary.

[ChocoMare]

Roach it. I have 2 draft-cross mares and their manes are SUPER thick. They look great roached.

[goodhors]

We roach manes here, so easy to keep them cooled off, nice looking. I hate pulling reins and pulling out long hair too. Hair grows back fast if you don’t like it. Probably have a nice Mohawk in a couple months. Mine grow about an inch a month. They have very elegant necks when roached and need no braiding!

If you shorten, I advise scissors use over pulling. Pulling is painful, you may kill hairs pulling out quantities of hair. Seen it happen. And scissors are lots faster, easier on YOUR hands. Horse does not fuss, doesn’t care about scissor removal of mane. I would do shortening in 2 steps, to see if you like it halfway shorter or the 3-4 inch length… You can ALWAYS roach it.

We point the scissors straight up to cut. Working from the mane bottom, you can decide how short, then cut into mane at that length. Work up and down the neck doing mane shortening. Once you have excess length off, some cuts up into remaining hair get it thinned some, for a more natural look at the bottom, but neater. Not a chopped look.

I bet there are Utube videos showing how to shorten manes. They will show various methods.

[wildlifer]

I roach as well. Looks great, easy to maintain. I hate pulling, even before I roached I still just cut it with my dollar store scissors.

And it’s hair – it grows back, so no matter what, it’s not an irreversible decision.

[Simkie]

That guy would look great roached!

[MsM]

I would probably leave it long and just tidy it up a bit. I found it really difficult to keep a thick mane short and I am not a fan of the roached look.

My current horse is the first one I have kept the long mane on (palomino Morgan - couldn’t trim the “big hair”) When it is warm I sometimes do the long braids people use to protect the hair and I will also do a quick running braid to keep it out of the way when riding.

[TB2trk]

If you are planning to show, then yes, thin & shorten a tad, clean up his bridle path area but I wouldn’t roach. Cute horse!

[J-Lu]

With my last horse, I didn’t roach but I cut it with scissors around 1 inch. I maintained it like that for years (with scissors) and showed through fourth level dressage like that. Never a comment.

My BO has a mustang mare that looks JUST like your guy. VERY thick mane. Last summer, she cut that mane to “regular mane length” and her horse sweat so much less. She did it again this summer. (we are in NC, it gets hot)

People I know who want to maintain the long mane braid it every few inches to keep it neat and keep airflow under it. Or do a running braid. and keep it in.

[angelssix]

If the horse were mine, he’d be roached. I like the way a horse’s neck looks with a nicely roached mane. The boarding barn down the road from me has a client’s horse with a roached mane and I love it!

[2tempe]

I see the “pony mane”! My lusitano has a THICK pony mane, it parts down the middle and goes to both sides. I quit pulling because it took so much that horse was not happy, and when it all grew back to an inch or three, it was a horrible mess. I keep it (scissored) at about 5 inches and muddle thru braids when I show.

[cgcancel]

So, we did end up roaching it today. It took about 3 hours or so including charging the clippers once it was short enough with from scissors and getting him to stand still as he has never had a haircut before. I personally like it so far, and so do the friends that helped me with it. Excited to see how it looks once it’s more mohawk-y.

[2tempe]

@cgcancel

So, we did end up roaching it today. It took about 3 hours or so including charging the clippers once it was short enough with from scissors and getting him to stand still as he has never had a haircut before. I personally like it so far, and so do the friends that helped me with it. Excited to see how it looks once it’s more mohawk-y.

We need “after” pictures to go with the “before” pictures!

[cgcancel]

Touched it up a bit more today and did a little trimming of the forelock (not pictured)

[CanteringCarrot]

Looks good, OP! I do like a roached mane. Especially on horses with a thicker build.

I’m trying to decided whether or not to cut my PRE’s mane. He has a nice, long, thick mane…but it’s hot in the summer, I have to braid it for riding, and when I keep it braided he rubs it (sometimes) or his friends have tried to eat it. I think braiding with a long mane is easier for shows (running braid or scallops). Will it ever grow this long again? Will it take away from his Spanish appearance? Petty concerns, but I’ve been unable to pull the trigger, so to speak 😬

[Montanas_Girl]

@CanteringCarrot

Will it ever grow this long again? Will it take away from his Spanish appearance? Petty concerns, but I’ve been unable to pull the trigger, so to speak 😬

Oh, yes, it will. As long as he has good hair genes (which it sounds like he does). I’m an Arab girl, and I find long manes SO MUCH easier to manage/maintain than trying to keep a naturally long, thick mane pulled to a reasonable length/thickness. But, if you decide to pull, it’s not irreversible. These two photos were taken less than a year apart. Hope that makes you feel better!

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[CanteringCarrot]

@Montanas_Girl

Oh, yes, it will. As long as he has good hair genes (which it sounds like he does). I’m an Arab girl, and I find long manes SO MUCH easier to manage/maintain than trying to keep a naturally long, thick mane pulled to a reasonable length/thickness. But, if you decide to pull, it’s not irreversible. These two photos were taken less than a year apart. Hope that makes you feel better!

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It does make me feel better! :lol:

As of about 3 weeks ago, he’s sporting a short mane! At first I hated it, I had regrets, I said never again! But it is so easy because I no longer have to braid it. It’s his “cool summer cut” and fellow boarders seem to like it and say it makes him look “sporty” Therefore, I have dubbed him my “Spanish Sport Horse” :winkgrin:

That being said, I’m never shortening it again. I’m just going to let it grow out. It’s so thick and kind of flops everywhere without the weight of the length and braid holding it down, but he’s not being entered into a fashion contest anytime soon!

[Mallard]

We have a Canadian/Welsh large pony here who has a mane just like the OP horse. He was a kids western trail horse when we got him 2 years ago. Last year we just cut it down to about 6" but seeing the OP roached photos I think we’re going to go for it!
We also have a medium pony with a horrid thick mane. We’ve always pulled it as my granddaughter showed him. This year she will not be showing so perhaps both our very hairy boys will get roached. It will be grown in if there are shows next summer.

[candyappy]

It is a crime to roach a good mane. My current mare has no mane at all and I have toyed with the idea of just roaching her few minuscule hairs off( it wouldn’t change her appearance at all) but just can’t bring myself to do it.

Pulling/ thinning and using old clipper blades to shorten a mane is always a better option. Especially if you horse has a shorter thicker neck. It just looks better. That is just me.

[chestnutmarebeware]

Great job! I knew he’d look adorable with a roached mane!