Long horse manes?

Question

I help groom a horse with a super thick long mane. the longest part ends where her leg begins just past the shoulder. It is always kept in braids so it doesn't get knotted or pulled out. Does constant braiding weaken the hair of pull it out. Are there any alternatives to keeping it from getting knotted

She also has a super long tail.it gets wrapped but it keeps falling out or breaking through the wrap no matter how thick it is put on. Any help please?

Answer 1

Sounds lovely!

Braiding the mane does not damage it generally - but braiding it and leaving it for months will damage it.  Here's an example to show what I mean.  I have long hair.  I often wear it up in a barrette or ponytail.  If I go to sleep or lay on it while it's up, the hairs break then pop up all over.  I must remember to brush it out well so it can't get broken and damaged during rest.

I suggest keeping the mane braided, but undo and redo it often - every few days or each week.

For the tail, there are some different types of wraps - I prefer the ones that still allow the function of the tail - with either pieces of material or something on the end so they can still switch flies.  As with the mane, the tail needs to be undone and redone often to remain safe and in good condition.  I have a few tail wraps that I think would work well - let me try to describe them:  They are made of polar fleece - there's a string through a band at the top (like a pair of drawsting shorts).  Below that are long strips of polar fleece material - 3 strips.  You separate the tail into 3 chunks,  wrap the strips of polar fleece around the hair chunks and velcro them closed - now you ahve 3 "tubes" of tail.  tie the drawstring securely around the tail - preferable through the hairs you will braid to hold it tight just about the end of the tail (don't tie tightly around the tail dock as you'll damage it).  Then you braid the tubes full of hair and at the end, there's a piece of polar fleece stitched to the middle tube - you wrap this around the end of the tail and tie it securely - there remains pieces of the tube which can be used to flick the flies away.  This is a soft material that works well.

Also check out the tail tubes made by JP Horse products at thewirehorse.com

Western Horseman had a great article a year or so ago about keeping those manes and tails gorgeous - it was a good article.  If I can find it, I'll be glad to copy and email it to you or give you a link to purchase the article or something.....

Answer 2

I think the braiding is fine as long as you occasionally take it out of the braids and wash and condition it well.

As far as the tail goes, you can buy a tail bag. The braid-in ones work the best, but her tail might poke out the bottom. You can just buy a basic nylon one and her tail will kind of coil up at the bottom and if you fasten it well it will stay in for a long time.

Answer 3

It depends on what type of braid is kept in the mane and tail. I usually put a simple mud-knot in the tail, and french braid long manes down the crest. If you leave in show braids or anyother intricate small braids the hair will unfortunatly be ripped out. (esspecially in tails)

Answer 4

you may need to try wrapping the tail tighter, and yes, constant braiding can pull the hair out. you may want to pull the mane, also. or cut it. thats a really long, probably beautiful mane.

Answer 5

go to a horse groomer and have them thin it out a bit and trim it

Answer 6

heyy!

I have this problem to with one of my show mares.

I like to spray it all the time with "Mane and tail" detangler and shine on, that keeps it hydrated and much looser so it dosnt tangle hardly ever and when it does it isnt bad.

with her tail I take the tail and spray my main and tail through it, I braid the entire thing, after braiding I band it up and together so that it is smallish, then I wrap it with vet wrap and then I take an old sock, and cut it in two places, put it over the vet wrap and then take the two peices into the braid and tie them on, I redo that about once a week

Answer 7

i suggest maybe shortening it all ?

pull the mane, or get a professional to do it

they ccan also thin it out