Are mane thinning rakes suitable for

Casey76

Casey76

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manes that are to be plaited?

Both of my ponies have very thick manes, and it takes forever to pull to keep them short (usually I let them grow over winter for a bit of protection).

I keep eyeing up the thinning rakes, but can't see how they don't leave a myriad of short hairs sticking up in all directions... :/
 
Horrible, vile things! I hate them and wont use them, any I find on the yard at work I confiscate and throw in the bin. There is nothing worse than trying to plait a mane that has been so badly savaged by one of these things! Yes some people can use them well and properly but IMO nothing is a patch on a properly well pulled mane
 
I know plenty who do, but I find raked or solo combed manes difficult to plait, as the end isn't as thin and tapered so splays out when I twist the end of the plait around itself before folding up.
 
I manage OK, but my horse has a thin mane and absolutely HATES his mane pulled, however gentle I am - snapping teeth and black looks, even though he is normally very easy and good!

I use a Solo Comb like pulling a mane and although it isn't the same as a nicely pulled mane it is good enough. I also use a "fork" type thing on his tail which again, does a good enough job. I don't know what the result would be with a really thick mane/tail though.
 
With time and practise you can make a mane looked 'pulled' using a variety of tools and also plait them up just fine.

For example, plaited this one in a 10min rush job as an emergency favour when I didn't really have time after using only a mane rake, so yes it could have been much better done but hardly looks drastic! No water/oil etc used hence the wispy look! :D



 
Illusion100 said:
With time and practise you can make a mane looked 'pulled' using a variety of tools and also plait them up just fine.

For example, plaited this one in a 10min rush job as an emergency favour when I didn't really have time after using only a mane rake, so yes it could have been much better done but hardly looks drastic! No water/oil etc used hence the wispy look! :D



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Random question, but how do you get the plaits so even? They're beautiful. I've tried the, use the same amount of mane eg 1/2 of a combs length (that's just a guess!) and they're uneven. How?!
 
crystalclear said:
Random question, but how do you get the plaits so even? They're beautiful. I've tried the, use the same amount of mane eg 1/2 of a combs length (that's just a guess!) and they're uneven. How?!
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Your mane will be different thicknesses which will be causing your problem.

Solocombed/raked manes look ok and when plaited up within days isn't too bad but when it grows out it is awful!
 
crystalclear said:
Random question, but how do you get the plaits so even? They're beautiful. I've tried the, use the same amount of mane eg 1/2 of a combs length (that's just a guess!) and they're uneven. How?!
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I didn't have the time to evenly thin the mane out so as you can see from the photos the plaits vary in thickness and do look wonky if you look closely enough! This horses mane was very thick in the middle and quite long (about 5/6").

Plaits can be manipulated to look even when they shouldn't be logically. Over the thicker area (usually lower top/middle section of mane), make the partings slightly thinner (2-4 mm) but plait in exactly the same fashion as all the others.

Just the same as plaits can be used to manipulate the neck of the horse.
 
Following with interest. The mare I ride is v hairy but not that heavy so would look smarter neater. I don't like pulling - I wouldn't like my hair pulled out, so if a rake doesn't work what do I use?
 
Illusion100 said:
No they're not! :p

Disclaimer: I may be a tad tipsy and I can keep this Pantomime attitude up all night!
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I have yet to meet a managable mane 2 weeks after being savaged. But that could just have been the idiot wielding the blade hence why I confiscate them and bin them. I hate to imagine how many I have trashed. All because they are too lazy to pull properly!
 
Yes, I have but they're probably fatter than I would like than with a normally pulled mane but you can certainly get it to a decent length and tidy without hassle.

TBF EKW, I only use one when the horse is known to be a strong objector to pulling; some don't mind it but others it can be a case of taking your life in your hands and I'm too old to take that risk now as I'm always on my own unless I can pull over a month or so after exercise.
 
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EKW said:
I have yet to meet a managable mane 2 weeks after being savaged.
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I just don't think you are trying hard enough!

Seriously, you do need to use it right. Only work the rake on the underside of the mane after it has previously been thoroughly brushed out. Always put the rake at the base of the mane for each stroke. Trim/straighten the mane using other methods as this is a thinning method only.

One does not want to be Sweeney Todd about it!

A correctly pulled mane is lovely though. :)

Hold on EKW......are you dissing my plaits?!
 
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Illusion100 said:
Hold on EKW......are you dissing my plaits?!
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Of course not! Usually my own when I get to the races to be faced with a savaged mane. So on return to the yard I hunt out the offending object and the following day the person who used it and probably got completely OTT on them but they still never learn how to use them properly! I have never and will never use one.

Please do feel free to come give us a lesson on how to use the things and I may not find them quite so objectional in the future. But until then I will maintain that they should all be melted down and turd into hoof picks - at least they are useful lol!
 
EKW said:
Of course not! Usually my own when I get to the races to be faced with a savaged mane. So on return to the yard I hunt out the offending object and the following day the person who used it and probably got completely OTT on them but they still never learn how to use them properly! I have never and will never use one.

Please do feel free to come give us a lesson on how to use the things and I may not find them quite so objectional in the future. But until then I will maintain that they should all be melted down and turd into hoof picks - at least they are useful lol!
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Spare hoofpicks are always needed, particularly when you can't find the original deserter!

I agree, if you can't use a mane rake, don't. In the same mentality, if you can't pull a mane properly, don't.

Why won't you let us play with our toys EKW?

Nazi.......... :p :D

Perhaps I shall come down to retrain you non-believers. *Strokes imaginary beard*
 
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No, done it once and it resulted in the worst plaits Ive ever done! Very nearly refused to take the horse out of its stable due to the state of him and nothing I did seemed to fix it.
Hairs sticking out everywhere and 2 weeks later it was even worse, infact it took nigh on 6 months of careful pulling and growing to put the mane right.

I will however use one to do the vast majority of a pulled tail and the I finish off by hand
 
Very difficult to use correctly- even if 2 weeks in its plaittable it's likely not to be in 3 months! Clever use of solo comb and scissors for me :) I do rake tails though.
 
Guess I'll have to stick to pulling ;)

This took hours over several days to achieve:
IMG_1661_1.jpg


But I was very proud of my plaits (first attempt at plaiting with thread):
IMG_1663.jpg


IMG_1664.jpg
 
EKW said:
I have yet to meet a managable mane 2 weeks after being savaged. But that could just have been the idiot wielding the blade hence why I confiscate them and bin them. I hate to imagine how many I have trashed. All because they are too lazy to pull properly!
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Do you mean you bin solo combs and rakes which other people have paid for?
 
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