Bridle path (behind ears). Where do you trim the mane, if you do?

kerilli

kerilli

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The post about the therapeutic bridle
<img src=>http://www.dyon.be/imgs_produits/diff_1031_1.jpg</img src>
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(in case pic doesn't work!)
got me thinking.
my trainer showed me that i'd been trimming the mane in the wrong place for absolutely years... if you cut it right under where the headpiece goes, as i always had, you're creating 'stubble' for the headpiece to push down on, on a neurologically sensitive area (atlas/axis area.)
so, he showed me to cut it a bit behind there (towards withers) so that the mane ahead of it goes forwards to become the forelock (making it a bit nicer and fuller for plaiting anyway!), and the headpiece sits on top of the flattened mane, not the stubble.
= comfier horse, happier rider. i know lots of horses probably wouldn't care or react, but some do, i'm sure!
more of his pearls of wisdom as i remember them, if i remember them...
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Nooooooo!!!! I don't need any more forelock for Megan, we get a tennis ball on her forehead when I plait as it is... I'm afraid she's going to have to cope with the stubble pain
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That's so obvious when you actually sit and think about it!! Not that I ever have...... and am guilty of cutting it in the 'wrong' place.... looks like Osc might be growing a bit of a quiff over the next month!!
 
Henry is hogged but I leave his forelock long (to help with flies in summer etc). I leave about 2 inches of mane behind his ears which then comes forward to form the forelock. But I only do this as I can't clip him right up to his ears as he hates it!
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QR
Then why bother clipping a bit behind the bridle head then?? As the idea of it was for where the bridle was to sit.
I don't bother with one just split the mane to plait one less job to do at least!
 
I'm wrong then too - would have to trim halfway down his neck with the FTS headpiece!

Tennis ball??? I'd have a medicine ball if I pulled all that lot forwards
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i trim just behind where the headpiece goes so that i don't have to faff around dividing it every time i stick a bridle on.
oh, Miller, i was talking about dainty thoroughbreds, sorry!
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okay, trim it between his ears then!
 
I have always thought the same, so dont trim the mane for the bridle, I just thin it a bit. Have always thought it would be horrible and uncomfy for the horse to have stubble under the headpiece!
 
My bridlepath was somewhat closer to a motorway this summer due to horse moving at an inopportune moment!

Stroud saddlery do a much more attractive version of that 'theraputic' headpiece - they've been doing it for years. If I had a sensitive horse I'd hanker after one! As it is, my comfort bridle is wasted on him and I am considering sticking it on ebay!
 
That's why I don't usually cut a bridle path for mine anymore. The exception is for the old pony - her mane is so thick that removing a bit between forelock and mane make plaiting a lot easier!
 
I keep the bridle path realy short (clip it off) so surely that combined with a comfort headpiece would be acceptable?! Otherwise wouldnt bother cuttting one at all, my horse has a short neck so it would make it look even shorter!!
 
Barons is just behind where the headpiece lies, not because I thought about the stubble thing when I cut it, but because I cut it in the wrong place. Which I am now pleased to know is the right place
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My horse had a bridle path when I got him. I absolutely hate them - I would rather just part it between the forelock and mane! However, everytime it starts to grow out, I keep cutting it off because he looks so silly with a punk effect just behind his bridle! Perhaps I could try gel ...
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That's so obvious when you actually sit and think about it!!

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Isn't it just!! Makes you wonder about all those fancy showing breeds that clip back about 1/3 way down the neck from behind the ears!

When I had Tops, he had SO much forelock (it was like an extra tail
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) that I would literally clip from behind where the bridle lay (withers side), up past where the bridle lay and forewards between his ears - I did it weekly to keep it very short! He was tall enough that you couldn't tell from the ground
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I've never clipped a bridle path, as I think (from looking at other people's)they just seem to get bigger and bigger each time they're done! With a finer mane the bridle naturally rubs that area a bit thinner, and even with a thicker mane the forelock and mane will still part quite nicely.
 
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