Is my horses tail TOO long ?

Question

i was just wondering if my horses tail is too long,

or if a tail ever can be 'too long'.

http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u303/that-random/DSCF7790.jpg

plz help ^-^

Answer 1

It doesn't look tragically long but if you think it is then trim it slightly. You also may find it easier to groom if its shorter or thinner. A horses tail CAN be to long and thats if it is draging along the ground (the horse can stand on it, and gets dragged through manuer) but your horses tail looks fine at the moment.

Answer 2

As long as he can't step on it and it doesn't drag in his manure, then it doesn't matter how long it is. After all it's used to swat away flies and bugs so you'd definitely want a decent length to help with that.

Answer 3

If it were me, I'd trim it just a tiny bit, or at least put it up when trailering or doing other things that might risk the horse stepping on it.

Which reminds me... I saw an ad in "Dressage Today" recently for some kind of hair growth supplement, and there was a photo of a horse with a tail that was so long, there was a good 2 feet of it dragging on the ground.  Yikes, can you imagine if the horse stepped on that (which it probably does do all the time)?  THAT is when it's time to cut it!

Answer 4

nope

my arabs tail was twice as long as that (arabs in our area spose to have long flowing tails ect)

anyway, we kept her tail up in vet wrap, and took care of it daily. . . her tail trailed behind her by 2-3 feet. (note arabs carry their trail higher usually and it looks flashy why we took extra care to grow and take care of it)

we also made sure that when we had her tail down for shows that she wouldnt back up over it (tied in loose knots until we were in the class)

so no your horse's tail looks good and as long as he doesnt step on it when he backs up it should be fine. anyway, it's what the owner likes for the tail.

edit: not mah horse but one with tail as long as hers was :

http://yeinjee.com/discovery/wp-content/...

them taking care of the horse's tail :

http://pet-a-holic.com/longesttail.jpg

i like longer tails.

Answer 5

If its too long to the point where it is unmanageable or it gets clogged with manure and dirt then chop some off.

A longer tail is useful for flies though for the horse.

I personally like a long tail, but its up to you.

Answer 6

Well, only if you are the one that has to wash the c**p out of it.

That would be the only real reason to dock it.

Did you know there are people who pay money for the hair from horse's tails.

for example; http://www.horsehair.ca/

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No, docking tails is not illegal here in Alberta.

It is not normally done on saddle horses and it is rarely done on harness horses any more.

http://www.afac.ab.ca/research/species/a...

There are some reasons that people do it on heavy horses (I don't think rein trapping is a real reason, I have never known that to be a problem) and I have only seen it done on a few Clydes and Percherons.

Most people who have draft and light harness horses just keep the hair trimmed short. Even most of the saddle horses have the manes and tails trimmed.

We don't clip their coats though so our range horses tend to get pretty shaggy looking in the spring with their rough coats.

(cold winters) They take a lot of currying to get rid of it when they start to shed.

Like I said.

The only real reason to dock is if you are the one washing the horsecrap out of them.

Answer 7

I don't think it's all that long. But like everybody says, you need to trim it when it starts dragging. Just trim it again so it can't drag. But it looks fine. (:

Answer 8

I would just tail bag it so they dont step on it but thats a very nice tall, a lot of horse people would love to have that tall for there horse. Just  keep it clean and bag it or braid and it will be great!!!

Answer 9

yes it is far too long, he could get it caught very easily and he would panic. Or another horse could stand on it while grooming in the field and get kicked from your horses reaction.

Ideally, it should measure just past the hocks.

Answer 10

I say it is too long.  It can actually irritate his pasterns and set them up for skin problems, and it may drag and catch in things on the ground.  I would shorten it about 4 inches.

Answer 11

Some riders would kill for a horse's tail to be that long. I don't think it's too long. As long as you are comfortable with it that length, keep it. If not, you can always trim it up a bit. Your horse probably appreciates the length in the summer, though.

Answer 12

Guru?  Is that him?  :)  No his tail is great, and that's a lot of fly swatter:)  hehe

No I've seen plenty of show horses here in the us that drag quit a bit on the ground.  I keep my girl tail just above the hooves, she doesn't need anything else to get in trouble with, lol.  He name Calamitty!  Yep it's perfect for her, but she's a sweetheart, just has her mothers trait, accident prone:)

It's perfect

Answer 13

Not at all. It's a perfect fly swatter! If you are worried about it catching something on the trail or while working, you can always braid it.  It doesn't look long enough for him to step on unless he's doing sliding stops and working cattle. Beautiful tail!

Answer 14

it depends on what your doing with him. If it isnt long enough to be stood on, or drag through the mud etc then its fine. I personally prefer the tail slightly shorter, just below the hocks, as i find that otherwise its just untidy and gets in a mess out hunting etc. I also like it a bit shorter as it is easier to brush out, wash and keep pulled. And to someone who said about tail docking..... is it not illegal??? well it is in the UK anyway!

Answer 15

nope. my friends that show wrap their horses tail, so when they show it drags a foot on the ground almost. but they only take it down for shows, then trim it for a couple weeks if they dont have a show for awhile

but thats not too long.. not yet

Answer 16

How does your horse carry its tail?  Does he hold it high when he is working?  I do not think a tail can be too long other than tripping him over or dragging in muck in the stable.  It is a natural defence against flies etc.

If you do decide to trim it straight at the bottom, always get someone to stand with their forearm under the horses dock and then it should be no less than a hands width below the hock.  One of my horses carried his tail very high, the other did not.  So I rarely cut the high carrier, the other just got trimmed from time to time when it started looking straggly.

Always remember to brush the tail out properly before attempting to trim the tail.  And wash it after, not before, or you will get a false trim.

Answer 17

That's only like 2 inches longer then mine is. If you think it's a hassle to deal with and it has problems you can cut it a bit.

The main reason would be if he is stepping on it and it is making him trip, then you should definitely trim it up a bit.

Answer 18

No, Until the tail drags on the ground, there is nothing to worry about.  At that point you may want to pull it a little, just so the horse doesn't trip and hurt himself.

Answer 19

No its fine... if it get to long just put it up so your horse dosnt step on it... MY saddlebreds have long tails... we keep them all up but one on my guys have a 7.8 foot tail.. i mesured it yeasterday... but if you like short tail then you can just trim it if you like... then you dont have to bother putting it up and taking it down.... its all up to you and what you like

Answer 20

i would trim it... it appears to be dragging on the ground which could be dangerous. also, if you are going to be showing then you typically want it between their hocks and pasterns. also, if you are going to show him then you want to level it which can easily be done by putting your arm right under their tail by their butts.that picks it it to where they hold their tails when riding... then drag your hand down and grab the tail at where you want to level it... then you can take your arm out from under his tail and cut it off...

Answer 21

oh no!

that tail is nothing compared to most of the horses at my barn.

one of our saddle bred studs tail drags two feet on the ground.

and my old horses (who now belongs to my trainer) tail drags at least 8 inches which is also nothing.

just vet wrap it.

wash it so its super clean then braid it.

wrap the tail around kind of into a little bun

then wrap it in vet wrap, you only have to take it out about once a month to wash it.

almost every horse at my barn has its tail like this.

its great for shows to keep them clean.

Answer 22

I dont think it is too long... I have seen horses tails that drag along the ground. If you want it a bit shorter, you can always cut it anyways!

Answer 23

it depends on how long it actually is! if its dragging on the floor then i would definatly take a couple of inches off as it will get dirty very easily and they or another horse could trip up on it!they say a horses tail should be cut with someone standing to one side and them putting there arm under the tail then another person cuts the tail below the hocks about where the chestnut is, you can also cut it at an angle so when the horse has its tail up it shows it off better.its entirely up to you really i personally prefer to cut the tail halfway between the fetlock and hock so that they can still use it to squat flies, it looks nicer and is easyer to manage!

Answer 24

its ok. i wouldnt let it drag out behind, then i'd cut it. the problem is that if you try to show your horse other riders will purposely step on long tails to make your horse break gait or buck. if the judge doesn't see the rider purposely make their horse step on your horse's tail, your horse will get disqualified for bucking or reacting to the jerk on it's tail. usually your horse will also get a huge chunk ripped out when another horse steps on his tail, and if severe enough the hair will never grow back. personally since having this happen in a 5 A show a few years ago i will never again let my horses tails drag the ground enough that another horse could step on them.

Answer 25

That is a bit too long. I have a mare whose tail was that long and she was stepping out of the trailer and she stepped onto her tail and when she backed up it ripped a huge chunk out of her tail. So we cut it about 4 inches- to right around the fetlock. Also I saw on an informational horse video that it should never be longer than that.

Heres my long tailed mare:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=vk8vYsRPgvU

Answer 26

the longest ever horse tail was over 3 m i think from what i can find

i think it would be to long if you want to show etc but as long as it isn't dragging on the flloor and geetting in his p**p or could get caught i'm sure it is fine :)

if he can still swish it to get ride of flies etc that is ok

Answer 27

no its not too long, but when it touches the ground, your going to want to start putting it up so that he doesn't step on it.   its not hard to do, you just need to braid it and then secure it so its not trailing on the ground.

Answer 28

your horse's tail is beautiful. it is not to long its a good length. i wouldn't cut it, but to prevent your horse from stepping on it and pulling it out, or having it drag in dirt, mud, or manure then you should wrap it up. you can ask someone to help you if you don't know how. that way you cant save the the length for the show (if you show). If you do rap your horse tail you should take it out and take care of it a least once a week. also if you are wrapping it out leave some of the tail out to swat fly away.

Answer 29

Your Horses tail is fine. As long as it is not draging behinde him so that he could step on it then it's length is okay. But if you don't like how long it is you can always cut it but remember not to cut it too short so he can't swat flys with it lol

Answer 30

Some people cut there horses tail to the hocks, but i think that is to short as horses need their tail to swish fly's etc, if you thought it is a bit long you could trim it a bit, i usually have my horses tail to the fetlock joint.

Answer 31

I have seen horse tails alot longer then that, and on mini's too. I think a long tail looks great. If your able to be with your horse and look after the tail you can have it as long as you want. I know alot of people that put their horses tails up when they are in the stall and pastures, and bring them down at shows and stuff. My mare had a tail that long but I cut it only because she was going ot be in the pasture without any care to keep her tail clean.

Hope this helps