How do I make my horse's mane thinner without making it shorter?

Question

I started pulling my horse's mane today and just did a little section right behind his ears. Now that I've finished that little section, it looks a LOT shorter than it was and now its uneven with the rest of it. It kind of sticks out a little bit too..=( How can I make my horse's mane thinner without making it short?? He has such a pretty, THICK, long mane.

I'm showing him in english this year which is why I have to pull it...

Answer 1

If you're going to be braiding it for the english classes, you can take a little length off of it, assuming its really long.

If you really don't want to lose length, some things I do on my western horses (since we cut it really really short), is band their mane, like I would for a show (it helps train it over to one side), and leave them in a week.  Then, when you pull out the bands, you pull out some hair too, and it helps thin it from the base.

Another thing I've done on horses with rediculously bushy manes, is get a pair of thinning shears (looks like scissors with big spaces), and go down the mane, and just chop it somewhere close to the top (but not all the way at the base).  Make sure you do it the same direction each time, so you aren't zig-zagging back and forth, and then you're just chopping the mane.  Maybe flip half of it over, and try underneath until you get the hang of it.  Since you are cutting higher, you don't get the "cut" look at the bottom of the mane.

However, if you're braiding, the shears might not be the thing for you, because little hairs might stick out of the braids.

If you're braiding, I would pull it like you started, or try leaving some bands in for awhile.

Good luck!

Answer 2

you could buy a comb called a 'solo comb'. it looks like a human plastic comb but it has a razor blade attached so whilst you are combing your horses mane it can be thinner rather than actually being made lots shorter.hope this helps

Answer 3

it depends how you're pulling it.

i find with my mares bushy mane, back brushing a section and cutting the TOP part of the mane downwards seems to thin it out and stop it sticking out.

if you're not confident in that method,

you can go to your local horse supply store and get a "pulling comb" which has a razor attached in it.

you just run it through the horses combed mane and it thins it easily.

they're pretty cheap, mine was like £6 i think

:)

good luck in the showing season!

Answer 4

Take more time and only pull the shortest hairs.  I used to go down the whole mane and back to the top as many times as it took...never hurrying.  If the mane is very thick, you can part it longitudinally into 1/2 to 1 inch wide sections, starting with the underside and do it in sections. It takes hours so do a little each day, for both of your sakes.

Answer 5

take smaller sections when you pull, and do it evenly thru out the mane. go down once, pulling smalle sections, then brush it out, look at it, if some spots look uneven, fix em, if it looks shorter then my guess is the sections of longer hair were pulled out instead of evenly/spacing out the smaller sections. ask a trainer or friend to show you, it'll be easier that way.

Answer 6

they actually have a special pair of scissors for it.  I don't know what theyre called, but the blade is all wavy looking, not straight. I've seen them at salons and stuff, its used for making the hair thinner.  I would just buy a pair of those.  I'm not sure where they would have them.. Maybe you should ask a hair stylist or what not.  I think its the most accurate, quickest way to thin the mane. Thats what we use in my barn, and it doesnt make it shorter.