Very important. Mohawk opinion :lol:

[runNjump86]

Several weeks ago I decided to pull/thin my horse’s mane to borderline mohawk length to avoid braiding. :yes: I’ve done it in the past, but we weren’t showing, so I wasn’t overly worried about how it looked. But now we’re gearing up for fall shows and I wan to make sure we won’t look stupid trotting down centerline. We’ve already established that I hate braiding in a prior thread. I have paid for braiding in the past but really would rather save the $35-$70 per show.

This was after a touch up today. When he isn’t in giraffe mode his mane does stand up in a mohawk (and it truly fits his personality). Should it be shorter though?

thrilled pony

[amymoyer]

From that angle, it looks pretty thin. If you can go shorter, I would suggest doing so - like maybe only 1/2-1" long.

[mmeqcenter]

I agree it looks thin. Cut it shorter, don’t pull any more, it’s plenty thin enough.
Or just roach it all the way and let it grow back in.

[asterix]

As mohawk queen (and I just took my mohawk down centerline at an unrecognized dressage show and no bombs went off…), I’d agree, it’s pretty thin. My horse grows a huge thick mane and I actually don’t pull it at all - just use scissors to get the mohawk.
I would perhaps try scissors or clippers to make it shorter. Don’t pull it any more. Be prepared to roach all the way if that doesn’t look good, and then you can let it grow back more mohawky without pulling…

[Highflyer]

I think it’s ok at that length, but that’s probably the longest I would let it get.

[RiderInTheRain]

Why not just truly roach/hog it?

I’m a fan of the mowhawk look (currently my husband’s QH mare and my Morgan are both sporting the look - awesome because we both hate braiding manes w/ freezing cold fingers for the few truly formal hunts our hunt has each year) and I’ve roached other manes in the past too.

I’ve found shaving it all off with clippers and letting it grow bag in, leads to a much nicer looking and easier to maintain mohwak than just starting by trimming or cutting with scissors. Usually avoiding pulling (so the mane will stand straight up and have a uniform look) works out better than pulling or thinning the mane if the mohawk look is what you are after.

[melula]

I’d roach it to make it look tidy.

[Greypolopony]

I love mohawks, but I also have a polo pony lol…The only way to get the cute rocking-horse look is to roach it down completely and let it grow back in. It will look much fuller, cleaner, and stand up straighter that way. I’ve tried cheating with scissors, it doesn’t grow back evenly or look good.

[cayuse]

I am going to be redundant and also say roach it.

[runNjump86]

I don’t know if I have the stomach to roach it. :wow: Also not sure his neck is nice enough for that look. If I do end up roaching I will wait until winter when we don’t have to worry about looking like dorks. :lol:

His mane does get SUPER thick, which is why [thought] I had to pull it. I definitely don’t want it to get any longer.

[Heinz_57]

Roach it a few weeks or a month (depending on how fast it grows) before your show. The extra 1/2"-1" adds instant topline. I speak from experience.

[Training_Cupid]

I’d trim it so it’s a little more even for now, and let it grow back out. My personal preference!

[bornfreenowexpensive]

Just go have an adult beverage and take it all off

It will not look bad. And who cares anyway. It will look neat and no one can ask why you didn’t braid! Then make sure you put on a neck strap to jump.

[CindyCRNA]

@runNjump86

I don’t know if I have the stomach to roach it. :wow: Also not sure his neck is nice enough for that look. If I do end up roaching I will wait until winter when we don’t have to worry about looking like dorks. :lol:

His mane does get SUPER thick, which is why [thought] I had to pull it. I definitely don’t want it to get any longer.

This is what I was going to say. Roached manes look best on thicker necks. I love a little short stand up mane but am not a fan of roached unless the neck is really thick.

[CindyCRNA]

I’m going to ask a dumb question but do you have to braid for a recognized?

[luvdogz72]

@CindyCRNA

I’m going to ask a dumb question but do you have to braid for a recognized?

no

[luvdogz72]

but people say that braiding shows respect for the judges - which i think is dumb. Hopefully, your judge is not that shallow and looks beyond turn-out. Any judges care to comment?

[runNjump86]

@luvdogz72

but people say that braiding shows respect for the judges - which i think is dumb. Hopefully, your judge is not that shallow and looks beyond turn-out. Any judges care to comment?

I agree 110%. But I also got chastised for wearing a polo (judge wasn’t savvy to the rules regarding one day show attire last season).

Training Cupid, the whole point is to have it not be long enough to braid…so growing it out isn’t really an option. :lol:

bfne/Heinz: I board at a western barn. Let’s just say he stands out already, but if I roach his mane I’m pretty sure there will be major pearl clutching. Although I think it would technically be rhinestones… Our next show is first weekend of September. Not sure I’m brave enough to do it before that, but if I have an extra Angry Orchard (or three) while I’m icing him after, I may get the clippers out…

[Draftmare]

Just shave it the rest of the way off. I went with a roached look last year, and haven’t looked back. I have gotten plenty of complements from judges and other competitors alike on how nice it looks on my mare’s thick neck. Saves me the pain of trying to thin my mare’s thick mane out enough to actually braid, and then doing the braiding itself.

[CindyCRNA]

@Draftmare

Just shave it the rest of the way off. I went with a roached look last year, and haven’t looked back. I have gotten plenty of complements from judges and other competitors alike on how nice it looks on my mare’s thick neck. Saves me the pain of trying to thin my mare’s thick mane out enough to actually braid, and then doing the braiding itself.

I think that is key though. Your mare’s neck is thick. The OP’s horse has a nice but not thick neck.