Hogged! (or maybe not?)

PapaverFollis

PapaverFollis

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I'm almost, *almost*, decided to hog my IDx mare's mane... It is thick and unruley, she HATES it being pulled or even back combed. It takes me a couple of hours to sort it out to look tidy with thinners and comb and scissors, then it looks dreadful again the next day. I can't even begin to imagine what a time I'll have plaiting it (we haven't been to any pony parties yet so I haven't had to!). She also gets hot under it even on mild days and if you catch it in the reins while riding she gets very grumpy. So yes... almost decided. Buuuuuut I don't know what she'll look like without it! I've never really been a big fan of hogged cobs (I think they look smart but not my thing) and I'm not sure if she's cobby enough to carry it off. Sometimes she looks very cobby, sometimes she looks a bit more sporty (although if I can work out how to post a picture she looks like a butterball cob in most of them!)... but she has a got a big extra full head. She's 16hh so not a cob but could be maxi-cob type. Any shows round here that I go to though won't have cob or maxi-cob classes, tend to be riding horse or hunter usually just one or the other... so she won't be "correct" in those with a hogged mane. But I'm not sure I care as I'm not exactly big into showing! Mostly just want to do dressage and pleasure rides and maybe some jumping if we all get brave enough.

Reason for the thread... Has anyone got BEFORE and AFTER photos of hogged vs not hogged so I can try and picture what my girl will look like without.

I'll try for a photo of the beast as she is now... She does look cobby in this (if it posts) but not sure she's got enough neck muscle to really rock it yet.
21192177_10159218272210564_1661709197426925593_n.jpg


And her pretty (big) face...
20604540_10159105382505564_6995421348722743265_n.jpg
 
No pictures to help you I'm afraid! Have you thought about plaiting up to see how you think she looks with no forelock etc. ? Might give you better idea. I think it'd look ok but she does have a very pretty face with that forelock of hers!
 
Hog her and keep her forelock, I've hogged one of my Arabs(people don't think he is an Arab!) and left his forelock he looks much smarter than having a half rubbed mane!
 
I "hogged" (I prefer trimmed) my mare and left her forelock - it looked great I thought. I think a well trimmed mane makes the neck look longer and fuller.
 
Hog! I love these threads because I get to see everyone else's hogged beasts! I've got one myself though so biased! If you don't like it you can always grow it back!
 
Thank you all! Love the before and afters. It just looks so much tidied all off... plus I've got enough on with her tail being white to be overly faffing with her mane! They just look so different it'll take getting used to... I should have just whipped it off the second she arrived so I didn't get used to her with a mane in the first place. I'm umming but theres less ahing. Lol.
 
be positive said:
What a transformation, looks like a proper horse now not a scruff, probably added several £k to her value as a bonus.
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Thank you! Such a good girl. Never been clipped before but stood like a pro. Legs came off a couple of days ago and now I can't believe I hummed and hawed about taking the mane off. So pleased! She looks a hand taller as well.
 
PapaverFollis said:
I'm almost, *almost*, decided to hog my IDx mare's mane... It is thick and unruley, she HATES it being pulled or even back combed. It takes me a couple of hours to sort it out to look tidy with thinners and comb and scissors, then it looks dreadful again the next day. I can't even begin to imagine what a time I'll have plaiting it (we haven't been to any pony parties yet so I haven't had to!). She also gets hot under it even on mild days and if you catch it in the reins while riding she gets very grumpy. So yes... almost decided. Buuuuuut I don't know what she'll look like without it! I've never really been a big fan of hogged cobs (I think they look smart but not my thing) and I'm not sure if she's cobby enough to carry it off. Sometimes she looks very cobby, sometimes she looks a bit more sporty (although if I can work out how to post a picture she looks like a butterball cob in most of them!)... but she has a got a big extra full head. She's 16hh so not a cob but could be maxi-cob type. Any shows round here that I go to though won't have cob or maxi-cob classes, tend to be riding horse or hunter usually just one or the other... so she won't be "correct" in those with a hogged mane. But I'm not sure I care as I'm not exactly big into showing! Mostly just want to do dressage and pleasure rides and maybe some jumping if we all get brave enough.

Reason for the thread... Has anyone got BEFORE and AFTER photos of hogged vs not hogged so I can try and picture what my girl will look like without.

I'll try for a photo of the beast as she is now... She does look cobby in this (if it posts) but not sure she's got enough neck muscle to really rock it yet.
21192177_10159218272210564_1661709197426925593_n.jpg


And her pretty (big) face...
20604540_10159105382505564_6995421348722743265_n.jpg
Click to expand...

OP - If your lovely horse moves straight and is straight in its brain, you have a potential top class maxi cob in the rough stood in your yard.
 
Argh! Don't say that! Too much pressure. I have to think she's just a completely ordinary riding school type else I get all freaked about "ruining" her when I ride. ���� but that at least confirm that I should hog her for sure.
 
If you're not bothered about showing and she's easily upset by you catching it then I'd take it off - I think she'll suit it.

LeoWalker - I actually prefer yours hairy, and I normally cringe at long manes!
 
Ok. Here's a stupid question... last year she had a blanket clip and only wore a lightweight turnout with no neck cover all winter. Stabled at night out most days/alternate days when it got really yucky. Planning a hunter-blacket hybrid clip this year (It's going to be epic)... If she's hogged would you add a lightweight neck cover? She showed no sign of needing a heavier rug last winter, she's a warm horse! Just wonder how much her mane does for her for weather protection. Will get a fly mask for summer if I take the forelock off too.
 
AFB said:
If you're not bothered about showing and she's easily upset by you catching it then I'd take it off - I think she'll suit it.

LeoWalker - I actually prefer yours hairy, and I normally cringe at long manes!
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It was in such poor condition it was snapping off about 3 inches in so it was out of my hands really. And the legs had to come off to make sure there was nothing nasty underneath. I may well let it all grow back though. I'm dithering as its just not practical, all that hair just gets in the way and he got so, so hot under it! We will see, I am not a big fan of clipping so that will probably sway me!
 
PapaverFollis said:
Ok. Here's a stupid question... last year she had a blanket clip and only wore a lightweight turnout with no neck cover all winter. Stabled at night out most days/alternate days when it got really yucky. Planning a hunter-blacket hybrid clip this year (It's going to be epic)... If she's hogged would you add a lightweight neck cover? She showed no sign of needing a heavier rug last winter, she's a warm horse! Just wonder how much her mane does for her for weather protection. Will get a fly mask for summer if I take the forelock off too.
Click to expand...

I would see how it goes, as she is in at night she could be fine without a neck cover and they are better off a bit cool than too warm, I have looked after hogged cobs for years and in the old days there was no option of a neck rug, they were fine but it is nice to have the choice.
 
I'm going to go against the theme here, and say don't hog. Personal preference only, I just don't like the hogged look. If shes funny about you trimming/pulling then you can try scissors. Just replicate a solo comb action but with scissors, its painless and mine tend to look pretty good.
 
I have been using scissors and doing a pretty good job but it takes ages to do and she still doesn't like it much. And a week later it is like a wire thatch again. She's so sensitive with it she doesn't even much like any messing with it so plaiting will take ages as well. Obviously I can train her to put up with it but it seems hogging saves us both the stress! She's happy enough with clippers especially if she's got a molasses lick in her face.
 
be positive said:
I would see how it goes, as she is in at night she could be fine without a neck cover and they are better off a bit cool than too warm, I have looked after hogged cobs for years and in the old days there was no option of a neck rug, they were fine but it is nice to have the choice.
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I can get her a detachable neck cover for her existing rug so so can have the choice. I definitely tend towards less rugging if possible but having the option to cover up would be good if she is hogged. I am basically decided. Hopefully will have my own before and after pictures to add soon!
 
She would look nice hogged - you could leave her forelock intact. I did that with my cob and just used to plait it up for shows, until we got to county level and then he had the forelock off.

With rugging, he only had a neck cover for really cold weather and then only a thin one.
 
Thanks for all the responses. �� My husband (who has from the start we should hog her) is very pleased I've decided that she should be hogged - for once he was right about something. Hahaha.

ETA Still would be happy to see before and after pictures just cos I like pictures of ponies. :-)
 
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