Clipping tails instead of pulling?

joulsey

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Can they look just as good, and does anyone have any photo's of ones they have done?

We are going to a local show next month and her tail is such a bog brush....need to sort something out! Shes not too keen on pulling so need other options!
 
I think they can, but not if you go for the shaved look. I feather with the clippers, blend carefully and always stop before I think I have done enough. Also best NOT done the night before. Sorry, don't have any photos, but with practice and caution, it works well.
 
Yes I think they can - I clip down the sides of both my cobs and people always comment on how smart they look.

Please do not clip the whole dock though - I have seen this on several horses and just looks awful!
 
I think they can, but not if you go for the shaved look. I feather with the clippers, blend carefully and always stop before I think I have done enough. Also best NOT done the night before. Sorry, don't have any photos, but with practice and caution, it works well.

Oh jeez, I can see my self making a right pigs ears of it!! I might have a look on youtube and see if there are any tutorials ha!
 
Yup, incredibly common thing to do over here, no one pulls! You only clip down the sides, not the top, and you can pull the top a little so it blends in better. Once it's done it takes 30 seconds to run the clippers up each side, and you're done! I would tidyit up weekly just so it would always look nice.
 
I used to recoil in horror at the very idea. Then I worked with polo ponies. Mine are done with clippers now. I pull over the 'face' of the tail and to blur the edges.
 
I do use the trimming clippers but only from top to bottom and only the blade edge not the flat plate so that you end up looking 'clipped', as well as using a tail rake which gives a better finish I think? I don't touch the hair on the middle front though, just pull a few stray hairs or rake it lightly to thin it out. I also find it helps to bend the tail in a side ways curve while I'm working on it as it makes the hairs stand out.
 
I use thinning scissors and do it over about 3 days a little bit at a time. Its settles each day so you get a neater finish if you do a little bit at a time.

I actually had some ask if I could pull their horses tail because they liked mine.
 
Thanks for all your replies...going to see if anyone has a rake I can try out first before arming my self with clippers!
 
I use a rake and I don't think you can tell its not been pulled.
Its really easy, I just run the rake down the sides and then slightly damped and put a tail bandage on for half an hour.
 
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