Winter tail bags?

[Jaideux]

I’m considering putting my horse’s tail in a bag this winter in an effort to mitigate his ongoing poop issues (and the amount of washing I have to do!). There’s a whole saga about the poop I don’t need to get into but a search would turn up the old threads I have about it if you were so inclined.

Anyone have any experience or tips (or flat out “don’t do it!!”) for me? I’m happy to get any brand or product referrals you have to offer

I live in a snowy area, and while I’m not exactly an absentee owner with school and such I do sometimes go up to a week between visits to the barn. I share that in case it colors anyone’s advice. I’ve never used tail bags before so I’m in need of any and all info you want to share!

[Showbizz]

I have an elderly pony with poop issues. She gets a tail bag spring through fall but come winter, I do the Arabian tail method: Wash, condition, dry, brush, braid, loop braid through top braid hold over and over again until it’s only about 5" - 6" long, and wrap all of it, side to side and top to bottom with vetwrap or the like.

My other mare has the most amazing tail you’ve ever seen. I purchased her 10 years ago as a 2 year old and it’s been bagged ever since. I purchase NFL lycra bags on Ebay from missstinkysmom: http://www.ebay.com/sch/missstinkysmom/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=25 You can order any size you want and they last for years. Seriously. Very inexpensive too. I wash/condition/dry/brush/braid then tie the bag through the top braid loop. I do it in October, then leave it until March/April and wash again. Then I do it about every 6 - 8 weeks until summer, where it may need to be done once a month. Here’s the outcome: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10204740635422464&set=pcb.10204740652662895&type=1&theater

[demidq]

I have a grey mare- white tail just goes yellow brown in the winter!. I use the lycra tail protectors with three tubes. Wash, condition. Tie top part of protector just below tail bone. Separate tail into 3 sections and pull each section through a tube. (gather tube up over your hand and wrist like panty hose) Braid the tubes, tie at the bottom then fold it up once or twice. I secure the whole shebang with vetwrap or electrical tape. It sounds more complicated than it is, and I find that it stays on better and I have less hair breakage than with the ordinary bag. I take it out every couple of weeks, usually for a lesson then do it up again.

[Jaideux]

Thank you! And these methods don’t cause any damage to the tail despite wind/rain/snow? Obviously I won’t put it in and just leave it til spring haha.

Thank you!

[HorseKrazy]

Ya, you will have to redo the bag occasionally because the tail will grow. But it’s nice to not have poopy dreadlocks

I feel your poop pain. I struggled for years (better part of 6) with gas colic and diarrhea. I’m hoping this winter will be the first that we are clear of the runs. I know you have tried everything, I did too. Finally, after a particularly nasty gas colic, we ended up at uc Davis. We stripped his diet down to just hay and he has been fantastic and firm since the diet change! Now I have to slowly introduce some kind of fat source so that his weight doesn’t drop off this winter. It turns out my guy is intolerant to either cereal grains or soy… He has had both in his diet for a long time.