Appy scrappy sticky up mane - please help!

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Janetinn

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My beautiful Appy's mane looks like a loo brush. She hates it being pulled, and in the past I have used thinning scissors - with not too much success, but better than trying to pull. Now it just looks terrible It is about 5 inches long and sticks straight upwards in a mohiccan. There is about 2 and a half inches of thick growth at the bottom, and the same of thin mane where it has been thinned in the past. I have left it as long as I can without 'fiddling' with it but now something has to be done a sit is just so horrid. Any ideas? I have thought about hogging but she is too pretty and it might never grow back. Thanks
 
Appys are characteristic of thin straggly manes and tails, its a feature of the breed I believe not to have thick bushy hairy bits....

I would hog! Better neat and still pretty than pretty let down by weird mohican!!
 
My mare is exactly the same and I have given in and hogged it! Considering it was so straggly and pathetic before it grows back so quickly and I have to re-do it every few weeks to keep it neat. Your horse will still be pretty but will also look super sophisticated and neat! If she has decent conformation she will pull it off no problem.
 
There is a product called Megatek which is meant to be very good for thickening and strengthing manes and tails. I keep meaning to buy some for my mare as it was recommended to me for the same reason. May be worth a try!
 
I would plait it over to one side to retrain it to lye where you want it to. This could take some time, and in between plating you need to be always wetting it over. I find it works better for horses that are stabled and not eating hay off the floor, as when there heads are down all the time the main flops forwards and upwards more. Dont be tempted to try and pull it or shorten it in any way until it is lyeing flat.
Your main sounds short so your plaits will need to be tiny but very loose still, and it could take ages before it will stay over on its own.
 
Leave the mane alone! That is my advice anyway, they are meant to be like this, if you want a horse with a 'good' mane and tail get another breed
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Would you buy a TB and be upset that it didn't have feathers?
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my appy is the same shes sposedly crossed with a welsh cob and her mane is always bushy and looks untidy but i dont show so the sticky up bits all over the shop dnt really bother me i plait it over one side cause she has one bit that is rebelious and wants to go the other way lol ive thought about hogging but she looks like a boy with a mane so ive not gone down that route yet lol.
 
My girls mane is not great either but thats just her. I plait for shows and for about a week afterwards it lays the right way, other times it just does exactly as it pleases!!
 
Thanks for all your replies. Yes I know, Appy's manes are part of them, but a 5 inch mohiccan is just horrid. Have trimmed it, so its now a 3 inch mohiccan which looks better already, and have put it into about 20 or so bunches which will help. I will try and get round most of your suggestions BEFORE I go down the hogging route (still my least favorite!) In the winter when she's in her hoody and providing I manage to lay her mane down that will help too. Thanks again - lovely to hear from so many appy owners!!!!!!!!!
 
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