Horse Hates having mane pulled- advise needed

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Lisa_fmh

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The horse I'm sharing Hates Hates Hates his mane being pulled. He doesn't even like it being combed. He just shakes his head constantly. I've tried using a solocomb but he just shakes his head so u can't do it. His owner has even tried to cut it with scissors
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but he wouldn't even let her do that.
Trouble is I've started competing him in Dressage, just little competitions & I've been taking him without being plaitted cos, of course, he doesn't like you doing anything to his mane. But someone said to me he should be plaitted cos the judges like to see you've made an effort & it might improve our marks. He's a Tb by the way.
So what do you think? Do you think he should be plaitted? Or is it ok not to? & has anyone got any tips on tidying up his mane? Thanks guys
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It's ok not to plait horses for little dressage competitions.

From what you say it sounds like your horse has a deep rooted fear of his mane being pulled, to the point that he dislikes it even to be combed or cut as to him this could mean you are going to pull it. Will he let you brush his mane? When you're grooming him I would make sure you brush over his mane, just gently to start with if he dislikes it, then gradually build up to using a stiffer brush to get some of the tugs out, running your fingers through his mane, praise him lots and keep reassuring him if nessecary all the time.

Once he's happy for you to brush his mane you can start trying to comb it, don't go in with the intention of fully combing through his whole mane, instead just run the comb over (not through) his mane initially, only allowing it to very gently pull on his mane. As he becomes happier (which he will with time when he realises you're not going to hurt him), then start combing out the ends of his mane and gradually work nearer to the roots, allowing him time to accept it.
Some horses are particularly shakey around their withers so if this is the case start further up his mane and work back down, as well as up to his head.

I would spend a few days getting him happy with his mane being combed before introducing a solo comb (I would not try to pull this horses mane, he clearly hates it and you would just undo all the good work you've just done). Get him used to the feel of back combing but don't cut anything until he is really trusting you (even though cutting doesn't hurt sensitive horses may still react to it at first as they won't realise you're not actually pulling their mane). Once he's happy with backcombing you can solocomb his mane properly.

My main advice is t take everything as slowly as is nessecary, make sure you're never in a rush when doing this and don't make a big deal out of anything and then neither will he.
 
I can brush his mane ok with a curry comb- its only really if he has mud stuck to his mane that he doesn't like it so much.
I will do what you suggest- Thanks. Someone has obviously really hurt him in the past, poor boy.
 
Can you brush his neck, his face? Is he generally headshy?

I would just brush the mane along with every thing else and not make a big deal of it - a bit of coat shine will make the mane easier to deal with. Once you have got him used to this a rake might be the easiest way of dealing with it.
 
No- he is not headshy at all. He loves being groomed, face, body anywhere. When i first started doing him he wasn't so keen on me brushing his mane but now he knows thats all i'm doing he is fine. I tried to start plaiting him the other day but he just kept shaking his head thinking i was going to pull it. I'm very gentle with him & take things slowly.
I'm quite happy to never pull his mane but use other methods- just have to try & get him used to them slowly but surely.
 
I hope I don't sound too harsh but I'd twitch him. My horse is exactly the same and I've spent ages trying to convince him that its ok but he still tries to stand on me or squash me against the wall....personal safety comes first so he gets twitched, it takes 10 mins max to pull his mane and he's fine during and afterwards!!
 
I like painted lady's advice best. These things take loads of time and patience but eventually he will get better. You should still be firm with him however, for instance, if you are just combing his mane, you are not hurting him so keep the comb touching his mane even while he his shaking his head - be confident but obviously don't put yourself in a dangerous position. Keep the comb there until he gets fed up and realises it won't hurt him.
I also agree that trying to pull his mane in future will undo the hard work you have done with him, he obviously hates it so don't put him through it!
I use a solocomb and Jerry's mane looks great!
 
The horse I ride was a bit like this but not as bad. I pulled little bits at a time, after he'd been ridden. This meant his pores were nice and open and the hair comes out easier - so it's less painful for the horse. I also used a bucket of feed or a haynet as a distraction, which helped!! Good luck.
 
my horse is exactly the same............. he has very little mane....... we twitch 5 mins and it cut with sissors (within a few days looks pulled..... if we pulled there'd be no hair left) twitching means he doesnt get stressed by it all and is safer for all concerned
 
One of ours - double dose of Sedalin gel, a twitch on the nose and someone else pinching half way down his neck on the other side to the mane (apparently it is another twitch point). He still had me pinned against the wall, but with 3 people on his case he let me get on with it grudgingly. Guess what - I pulled it very short, so it wouldn't need doing for a while!. Nightmare...
 
Sounds exactly like mine, I just dont pull it anymore, occasionally have a concerted attempt, if I can get the twitch on I can pull it. OTherwise, no go.
I just plait away! (this also gets them used to having the mane handled).
 
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