Cutting a headpiece path in the mane?

Paddy Irish

Paddy Irish

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Just a quick question , i cut a headpiece gap in PI's mane last year , but as i've not ridden him over the winter (and not bothered trimming it ) it's starting to seriously grow out , looks really flattering as it's at the sticky uppy stage :D Anyway i think i'll let it grow out completely but is there any real reason why this is benefical or is it just personal preference?
 
I assume personal preference? I like them & my horse always had one(also get rid of some of his horrible mane!) I seem quite unusual in doing it though, most people I know don't seem to bother.
 
I used to, but don't bother now.

My older mare has a sort of natural parting now - she has to wear a head collar in the field, as shes always been petrified of headcollars/bridles being put on in open spaces, so shes got definate seperation of mane and forelock now.
 
Not just personal preference but for the horse as well. Some horses don't like to not have one, maybe they've had the hair pulled as the bridle goes on or something else makes them uncomfortable without it being cut.
 
Its just personal preference. To be honest, I trim a bridle path and a tiny bit off the end at the wither to have one less plait to do on each horse! It was something I started doing on hunter yards as it made plaitting quicker when I had a few horses to do - one plait less per horse was a bit of time if you were doing four or more horses...:o
 
I always trim one which is as long as his ear folded back. It's easier to put the bridle on and I think more comfortable. The true purpose is so that the bridle acts effectively i.e. the horse feels the correct poll pressure.
 
I think its personal preference really. I don't do it but I agree that a mane pulled roughly through the bridle is uncomfortable. I use a pick which neatly parts the hair and stops any pulling,it only takes a few seconds. If the bridlepath is growing out on a thick mane, I'd have thought it would be irritating.
 
DaffyAppy said:
I always trim one which is as long as his ear folded back. It's easier to put the bridle on and I think more comfortable. The true purpose is so that the bridle acts effectively i.e. the horse feels the correct poll pressure.
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This ^^
Also i think it makes things more comfortable for the horse - nothing worse than your hair being uncomfortably tugged every few seconds.
 
My mare has what looks like bookends either end of her mane at the moment!.
From a growing out bridle and pommel path from last summer.
She will have her usual spring 'tidy up' when I get round to it.
 
I used to with the TBs and WBs, but not with the gypsy cobs and clydesdales. I also do it on the welsh that we show as a hunter pony - basically for me, if they are plaited I do take about 1" off, but in the natural ones, I leave them alone.
 
The reason for cutting a headpeice ( correct name bridlepath ) is not just to look better for the horse but for comfort so the bridle can sit properly without causing any pressure on the poll and also to prevent pulling the mane as you put on the bridle
 
katrid16 said:
The reason for cutting a headpeice ( correct name bridlepath ) is not just to look better for the horse but for comfort so the bridle can sit properly without causing any pressure on the poll and also to prevent pulling the mane as you put on the bridle
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True, but if you think about it, unless it trimmed very regularly, the long stubble (for want of a better description) actually creates more pressure on the poll! For this reason I do not trim a bridle path. Nor do I trim the hair at the wither, as that one extra plait can optically increase the length of a horses neck (though appreciate why you'd get rid of it on hunters, as probably be rubbed by a breastplate anyway).
 
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