Draft horse tail is in bad shape?

Question

I am getting ready to show my draft in about a month. His tail is nothing but wires and he rubs it on the pasture fence so its all broken, the same with his mane. When i brush it it breaks, even when i use my baby-hair brush. His forelock is fine, its just his mane and tail that i cant seem to keep up with. I would like to know some treatments or products that i can use to get his normally beautiful, fluffy mane back to where it should be for show!!!

Answer 1

Since you have already wormed him and made sure that he doesn't have any fungus type problems, you might try bagging his tail or separating the hair out into three pieces, putting it in "tubes" (either velcro or pull through tubes made of material) and then braid the tubes.  You'll find that will protect the length of his tail, but won't protect against him rubbing it out at the base of the tail. You could also try sheeting him with a sheet that comes down over the top of the tail.  Conditioners can also help.

Answer 2

Is he being dewormed regularly? MAKE SURE he is not infected by parasites or worms. You could also try to use a deep conditioner on his mane and tail once a week. Instead over brushing it, you could pick it out with your fingers to prevent the hair from breaking. Eqyss Survivor Detangler and Shine works really well to protect the hair, and the Eqyss Avocado Mist Conditioner works very well also. You can get those products from Dover, KV Vet, Valley Vet, basically any where. Just make sure to keep the hair hydrated. You could also frequently "dock" his tail.

Good luck!

Answer 3

Have you tried Cowboy Magic detangler?  Detangles better than anything else I've used, and keeps the hair smooth,silky and shining. Cockleburs comb right out if you use this stuff...it really is that good.  I've been using for about 8 to 10 years and haven't used any other product since. When you first put it on, the hair feels wet...then you brush it in.  It dries and leaves the hair soft...each hair becomes silky and resists tangling.  It's as if the hair is coated with silicone.

Answer 4

I would start by washing his mane and tail with an iodine shampoo that has aloe vera in it to kill any possible fungus or bacteria that could be causing him to itch.  After he dries, I would use a Tea Tree Oil product or MTG by Shapleys to sooth his skin and encourage new hair growth.  Also, be sure that your worming program is up to standards as that can cause parasite issues.  You should check with your vet if this doesn't work __ I had a similar problem and it turned out that there were aggressive mites in my area!! (central Ohio)  He gave me directions for treatment and a special spray to use, so you might be best served to find out about any special problems in your area.

Answer 5

Show Sheen will definatly rid him of tangles and might keep your brush from breaking his tail...as far as the rubbing problem...have you checked him out for pin worms. they cause the horse to rub his rear. Hope I helped! oh sorry I didn't see all the other suggestions for Pin worms. Ops!

Answer 6

Pinworms will cause him to rub his tailhead, but not his mane...I have a home made solution that I use (after washing and rinsing clean) on horses and dogs, it stops hot spots and just plain ole itchy skin at the base of the hair.  Equal parts Listerene, baby oil and hot water...shake it up and use fairly liberally, right on the roots and skin. Maintaining cleanliness is important, but sometimes, we tend to over due and simply dry out the hair on our horses, you can over do, even if you do use rinses.  Is he docked or does he have a full tail?

Answer 7

I think it sounds like he might have dandruff. Do you wash him every week!? Make sure you use some type of mane and tail conditioner. If you dont brush it every time you see your horse its tail will become knotted and it can lose all of the hair! If you go to a tack store they might have a tail extender which is like a fake tail

Answer 8

He may have worms. My horse would always rub out his mane and tail with worms. Try to look up what type of worm can cause this and by a de-wormer that is for that type of worm. If you have already done this, I would put a tail-gaurd on his tail. I prevents him from rubbing out any of his tail. Another problem that you might be facing is that when you wash his mane and tail, you are not rinising it out all of the way. That makes hair come out also. If these aren't your problems, then I would try and find a product in a tack and feed magazine like Horse Health USA that  will treat these types of problems. I find that looking in tack and feed magazines help me find what I am looking for other than a search engine.

Good luck and hope you do well at the show!

HJB

Answer 9

HAS HE BEEN CHECKED FOR PINWORMS,HORSES WILL RUB THEIR BACKEND PROFUSELY IF THEY HAVE PINWORMS.I USE A LEAVE IN CONDITIONER FOR EXTREMELY DRY MANES AND TAILS, LEAVE IN A DAY OR SO THEN RINSE, I ALSO USE KIDS DETANGLING SPRAY KEEPS THEM KNOT FREE AND NICE AND SHINY, BABY OIL WORKS GOOD FOR ALLOVER DRY COAT, TOUGH TO WASH OUT THOUGH AND YOU DONT WANT TO TACK UP FOR AWHILE IT WILL STAIN YOUR LEATHER. HOPE THIS HELPS A BIT.

Answer 10

I would suggest calling your Vet.

Why would you ask an important question like this here.  I think your Draft is having some kind of reaction to something that he is comming in contact with.  Maybe he has an allergy that is making him itch.  I think a call to the vet is in order.  Before he does any more dammage to himself trying to scratch and not getting better.

Hope you'll take this advice.  Good Luck.

Answer 11

draft horses are probably the itchiest horses on the planet and mine used to itch on anything they could get around.first check for fleas, lice and gnats and if that is an all clear then he just has dry skin.try some cowboy magic shampoo and make sure it is rinsed out completely so it doesn't dry his skin anymore.mine i washed too much and they had dermatitis.

Answer 12

My mare had this problem and until I figured out she was itchy from dirt, sweat and bacteria it stopped, wash and clean around the a**s, his sheath every chance you get and I wouldn't doubt that stops most the problem, then I use cowboy magic detangler and shine, love it for my hair too:)