Horse tail question*?

Question

How long are your horse's tails? I have a horse with a very long and beautiful tail that drags the ground and its not supposed to be cut according to her breed. I was just trying to see how long his is in comparison to other horses tails that are grown long.

Another question:

I have gotten mixed answers about this question from several trainers..

Does water dry out horse hoves or moisturize them? Should I put hoof conditioner on before I wash down my horse to keep water out or put it on after I wash them down to lock it in?

Answer 1

my horses tail touches the ground but i dont want it to drag on the ground cause it'll get dirty and mane and bangs are really long too he's a red roan  quarter/appy

i agree with kazzee about the hooves

Answer 2

Major's tail is a few inches off the ground, and I refuse to cut it.  I think it's beautiful.  

Answer 3

Around the feathers or shorter for the tail length.

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I would put the hoof moisturizer on before maybe?!?

Not to brag but my horse is perfect with his hooves and I havent had to worry about that.

Answer 4

My horse's tail is to the ground. But she's a Friesian, so it's not rare. But to take care of it I don't comb it often and I keep it wrapped up.

Water moisturizes them. I  put on the hoof conditioner AFTER the bath before I put her away for the night.

Answer 5

My horses tail doesn't grow much longer than past his hocks, he's 5 and I've never cut it. It gets to right about his pasterns then stops. I wish it would grow longer. :(

Answer 6

You seem to be doing something right if your horse's tail is dragging the ground, just keep it up.  I usually wait until my horse dries from a bath before applying conditioner...but I don't give many bathes, I rinse with plain cool water a lot, but rarely do I use soap and conditioners.  some of the things that we do with and to our horses tails are counter productive.  If you have ever seen a herd of wild horses, or a herd of brood mares that rarely see the inside of a barn or a comb or brush, you will notice most of the tails are dragging the ground...we do a lot of damage with our constant grooming and wonderful brushes and combs designed to protect the hair.

Answer 7

I have to trim the bottom of it or he stands on it ( Fally)

Harvey's is just below his hocks.

Do feet after a bath but not immediately after - hooves can get crumbly if they are too moist.

Answer 8

my QH has one of the best tails i have ever seen on a horse that was natural. it is long (about mid pastern), thick, shiny, and jet black. my TB's tail is also long, but not as thick. my arab's tail was chewed off by his mini friend at the rescue, so its not very long right now. i really dont do much with their tails; when you brush it out it breaks a bunch of hairs out so i only do it every once in a while, and only after i condition it and pick through it with my fingers.

with the hooves, i never really worry much about sealing them before a bath. water is the most important hoof moisturizer, so it wouldnt be good to seal it out.  

Answer 9

I like it when a horses tail is a few inches off the ground

what breed is your horse

I have heard that water moisterizes the hoof but I am not positive on that one maybey ask a vet or an experienced horse person

Answer 10

My horse's tails are maintained about 2-3 inches higher than the ground, that way there is no risk of them stepping on them when backing or turning.  I trim tails as necessary.  I show Paints, and this is pretty typical of them, people that ride reiners keep them even shorter.

Now, to the water/hoof question.  Water moisturizes hooves temperarily, just as it moisurizes your hands when you have them wet.  But once your hands (or their hooves) dry out, the moisture is gone.  So wetting your horses hooves now and then won't hurt them, but it won't drastically improve them.

According to Pete Ramey, who is the current expert on barefoot hoof trims (and has a set of 10 hoof trim/care DVDs) dry hooves do not cause any problems.  He states the problems occur when a hoof goes from wet to dry and then back to wet and dry again.  That is supposed to be the cause of cracks and splits, not just remaining dry.  He states you should NOT use hoof conditioner on your horse's hooves, he believes that the moisturizer seals the cracks and makes a horse more prone to getting thrush, infections, and bacteria.  I don't know if he's totally correct as in the past I was taught to apply hoof conditioner to the horse's cornet band only (not to the entire hoof) on a daily basis.  I've done that and didn't seem to have any problems, but I'm not sure it made them better, either.  This year I have done nothing to my horse's dry hooves, and they seem fine, too.

I think the best thing you can do is - keep your horse out of constant mud, clean their hooves often, keep them properly trimmed so they don't break or crack, and feed your horse well - including a mineral suppliment and flax (good for hair and hooves)

Answer 11

my horse when we were showing her had a long tail, it dragged 2-3 feet behinder her (with her tail up, she was an arab and accoding to their breed standers at the shows we went to they had to have longer tails)

my quater horse had a horrid tail. we tried to grow it out but it just wasnt happening. some horses tails just dont grow that well.

i personally like longer tails.

about the hoof treatments, i like rainmaker*(found at any tack store) and i used to put it on after i gave em a bath. but that's just what i liked to use and how i used it.

Answer 12

I have two ponies whose tails drag on the ground, but as I don't use tail bags or anything they stay just touching.  Any longer, they get stepped on - nature's hair cut!

On hooves - IMO, do both.  Do it first so that the conditioner isn't competing with the water for absorption - if you use water first, thehoof will absorb more water and have less room for the condioner.  Then do it again afterwards, to replace the conditioner the water washed off.

If you're only doing it once, it will depend on the hoof condition and the climate.  Dry climate, do it after; the hoof can use a little water.  Wet climate, do it first; the hoof's had enough water.

Good Question!  I'll be interested to read other people's answers.