Caring for a hairy in winter

MuddyMonster said:
I can't believe how seriously some people are taking a dodgy mane cut ... It's hair at the end of the day & it'll grow back. It's having no effect on the horse whatsoever.

Admittedly, I wouldn't like the tail so short in Spring or Summer, but heading into winter it's fine & won't be trailing in mud at least.

Relax OP. It's nothing that can't be grown out in time :)
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And interestingly at least one of those commenting has a hogged cob. That mane certainly won't keep off the flies. Don't worry, OP, it will all grow back amazingly quickly.
 
You'll actually have a good tail when that grows as the mud won't pull it out through the winter. Mind the scabby bits on the legs are actually mud fever and not scabby patches from mites which a lot of feathered horses get.
 
cobsarefab said:
I might ask my instructor but I think you're right about me someone did have a bit of a laugh at her as they rode past earlier
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The mane will be an easy fix, if you do get someone to sort it out - it's still quite long, so there's enough to work with. Tail is a lost cause - but it will grow. I cut tails short in winter to keep them out of the mud - just not quite that short!!
 
I'll ignore the mane and tail because I think enough has been said but what I do in November is trim feather evenly all round, so that it is a good inch or so above the ground. We have clay soil here and this makes a huge difference to my two and stops them from getting clay dreadlocks! Yes, they look a bit silly over winter but it also ensures that the feather grows neatly and evenly in the spring, without getting straggly and patchy. I call it my "investment for next year"!! Each to their own, but this regime works for me.
 
I have a similar type and his mane is regularly hacked with scissors as he won't stand for pulling or even a solo comb. He also gets his tail shortened for winter, although not that short but as others have said, it will grow back so don't fret about it.

If you want to tackle her mane, use the scissors vertically, rather than horizontally, as it makes for a more natural look. So cut upwards, rather than along, if that makes sense.

Mine has permanently scabby legs (although no mites) and in the past I have used both pig oil and sulphur and pig oil without sulphur to keep on top of the crustiness. However, they were clipped out last year and much better so that is the plan for this year if I can get the sedative he needs down him! That will also be my opportunity to tidy up his mane a bit.

In terms of feed, save yourself the money! Mine gets a mere handful of chop to carry the salt he has as a supplement and a few fibre nuggets or carrots as treats. Forage is much more important so as long as she has access to hay once the grass goes she should be fine! Mine doesn't usually finish his hay overnight, although he will also get hay in the field after Christmas or possibly earlier if the weather is awful.

There is a reason most cobs are known as good-doers and the plus side of that is that they are cheap to keep, don't need much rugging and generally hardy. Keep an eye on her weight over winter but unless you get to the point where her ribs are sticking out, which is unlikely, don't worry about it. It does them no harm to come out of winter on the light side.
 
Her mane can be fixed with a bit of careful pulling so dont worry about that her tail will grow by summer I expect but again could look better with a bit of careful treatment to soften and condition it all so it grows healthily. Feeding I would suggest as other have a few soaked grass nuts they are cheap and swell up to make a decent sized feed are cheap less than a tenner a bag for emerald green ones and will hydrate and carry the supplement. I add a little oat straw chaff to make it chewy. She will need hay once the gras has gone but I wouldnt be tempted to give her very much as again as said above she needs to lose weight in the winter to be able to put it on again in summer I have been advised that by Spring you should be able to see the last rib or two by April maybe a little more so when the grass comes in she can graze happily
 
Pearlsasinger said:
And interestingly at least one of those commenting has a hogged cob. That mane certainly won't keep off the flies. Don't worry, OP, it will all grow back amazingly quickly.
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Manes arent generally used to swat flies are they? Tails are and would have until it was butchered. This is a pony that lives alone, so has no other way to deal with flies.
 
I've deliberately done similar to a mane, OP, and it worked out fine :). I wanted to tidy the RSPCA foster ponies' very long and tangled manes without upsetting them. So I scissored them short like you did, and then washed the manes and used the solo comb over a period of days to thin them and make it look more natural.

The secret to getting tail length right is to lift the dock first so that it mimics the tail being 'carried', and then cut to the desired length. Tbh, I've seen shorter tails than that.
 
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