Glorious manes, tails and feathers.... help!

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Louby

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After years of Sports Horses, I now own a Highland pony and instead of worrying about legs, Im now having nightmares about hair :D
I need some tips please on how to care for his mane, tail and feathers! I know not to mess about with it too much but my main problem atm is hes wearing a LW rug with neck in the field to try and protect his mane as his friend loves to groom him and Id love to show him next year with a mane! Hes wearing one with a detachable neck and alls good apart from where the wither pad bit sits as its starting to thin :eek: Ive been loosely plaiting it weekly as theres soooo much of it!

Any tips for care in general too please :)
 
Pinkvboots said:
Agree with above turnout necks will rub the mane out most showing people use snuggy hoods in winter to help keep mane in tact and to keep clean.
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Ive got a snuggy hood but he would be too warm atm, its the bit where the rug sits thats going thin, I havent a clue how I can stop that. Do you think a snuggy hood would help with that bit? I also havent a cue how Id fit all his mane in it :eek:
 
Louby said:
Ive got a snuggy hood but he would be too warm atm, its the bit where the rug sits thats going thin, I havent a clue how I can stop that. Do you think a snuggy hood would help with that bit? I also havent a cue how Id fit all his mane in it :eek:
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Yes it would as you just use it without the neck on the turnout as they are waterproof, they have a very silky lining which helps.

They are not that thick so I think you could use it now and maybe still plait the mane loosely.
 
Buy some shapleys mtg and use it a few times a week, I use it for my Arab's and it really helps it grow and they have very fine hair that breaks easily, I also use tail bags in winter from Ebay they are about £14.
 
Helpful product is "Mitey Feathers" by Old Style Horse Remedies. I empty it out into a biggish yoghur-pot or something similar (or family size ice cream tub!) and slap it on to feathers with a paint brush; then use the paint-brush to brush through mane and tail. Fantastic product.

Would urge you to avoid well-meaning advice to slap-on pig oil or pig-oil & sulphur on feathers as this can be very caustic and bring up in a nasty rash - would advise you to patch-test for a full 48hrs first if you consider using it (as with all other things....... once you've had a stoopidly-sensitive cob with pink skin & white legs you'll test every dang thing believe me!).
 
Cinch UK make lycra tail and mane bags

There are waterproof tail bags on ebay

If you're on Facebook there's a lady on the One Stop Western fb page selling mane and tail bags too. I've just bought a set from her. The plan is to use human hair oil (bought some organic super luxurious stuff that I'd never use on myself!) on his mane, plaits then bag. Hoping this is the year he grows a thick and long mane like a QH should ?

I rate MTG too
 
Thank you everyone
Out of curiosity I always found combo rugs to take the lower half of my Sport Horses mane out, hence being a detach a neck convert. It didnt matter too much if she lost a bit at the bottom but it does now with a Highland. What rugs do you all use with your hairies please? He will be clipped later on but is currently in a no fill, just to try to protect his mane from his friend
 
I use the Masta Fieldmasta dome neck rug. I've not had any rubbing with it at all.

ETA I have the original version version love it but others on here have newer ones and weren't happy with thr quality. I need a size up now and was worried about a new version but thankfully found the size up in the older style second hand. So might be worth trawling fb
 
TPO said:
I use the Masta Fieldmasta dome neck rug. I've not had any rubbing with it at all.

ETA I have the original version version love it but others on here have newer ones and weren't happy with thr quality. I need a size up now and was worried about a new version but thankfully found the size up in the older style second hand. So might be worth trawling fb
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Thank you, Ive never used masta rugs, how would I tell the old from the new version please :confused:
 
Louby said:
Thank you, Ive never used masta rugs, how would I tell the old from the new version please :confused:
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Colours I think. My original one is royal blue with lime green and thr 2nd hand one is pink and grey.

The new one is a "jazzy" blue on their website.

Thats my not at all scientific approach!

The new rugs might be fine and just a coincidence. My original version has had over 4yrs of abuse I think and it's been the perfect rug. Whereas others with the same rug didn't like them
 
I use detachable necks with no problem on my hairy cob. Amigo or Weatherbeeta. My gold standard for conditioning is Cowboy Magic serum, but even buying the bulk option is getting ridiculously pricey, now, so I'm trying out Farrier's Shire Oil (it's reportedly better for sensitive skinned horses and my boy is pink skinned). I plait the mane and forelock sometimes and thin it a little for winter (using proper thinning scissors). I also thin the tail from underneath and cut a few inches off to keep it out of the mud. I thin the feathers at this time of year, too. They're always back to full length in the Spring so thinning now you'd be fine for summer showing, especially as Highlands have less feather than gypsy cobs.
 
Standard neck rugs always rubbed my old haffie’s mane. I’ve put her back in her Premier Equine half neck and it doesn’t dig in the same and she doesn’t really need a full neck. I don’t know if it will save the mane rubbing but stops the the line where a standard rug sits digging in.
 
Gloi said:
I wouldn't use anything on the mane and tail except possibly trimming and oiling the end of the tail if it is dragging in mud. I am a great believer in benign neglect, only using fingers to detangle unless washed for a show.
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The truth is this thread started making me feel guilty about my benign neglect. I check his feather is not itchy and his legs have no swellings or cuts but he never gets brushed or washed below the knees!

Edited to add that I actually brush his mane and tail regularly as it helps thin them slightly. He is very hairy, even for a heavy mini cob.
 
planete said:
The truth is this thread started making me feel guilty about my benign neglect. I check his feather is not itchy and his legs have no swellings or cuts but he never gets brushed or washed below the knees!

Edited to add that I actually brush his mane and tail regularly as it helps thin them slightly. He is very hairy, even for a heavy mini cob.
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This little guy was left Au Natural and barely touched last year too and he had a glorious mane and tail, often full of sticky buds and twigs lol!!
Its just difficult as his friend is an avid groomer, a friends horse had hardly any mane left from his grooming!, its the only reason hes got a LW turnout with neck on to try and protect it.
 
tda said:
I've found a rug with full neck better than detachable, gallop ones seem to have decent size neck.
Pig oil or similar lightly applied once a week will keep everything tangle free hopefully
Tail plaited loosely
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I've found the same. No neck or detachable neck = big hole in mane where the rug sits. Full neck Gallop = lovely mane all winter. I know that's the opposite to what most people say but there we go!
 
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