Horse that hates tail bandages

[ironhorse]

Any tips for getting a horse (mare) to accept a tail bandage?
Our mare is extremely sensitive around her quarters (nothing physical, checked regularly by a chiropractor) and it has taken a long time to get her to accept even having travelling bandages on her back legs.
When we first had her, I put a tail guard on her and she went nuts - lashing out and bucking on the spot. I couldn't take it off, had to wait until she got it off herself.
We do know that when she was a youngster she cut her hocks badly inthe trailer and I suspect someone tried to restrain her by holding or even twisting her tail.
I can wash and brush her tail OK and thin it with a tail rake but would really like to use a tail bandage sometimes to make it look tidier. Any suggestions?

 

[stencilface]

Tail guard? One of those wraparound velcro things? They are much quicker to put on, and maybe safer if she freaks so she doesn't have 4metres of bandage trailing behind her? How about putting one on at home when you are grooming her and not going anywhere, so she can get some practise?

 

[moogrrr]

When T was younger she used to have a very dodgy back leg and when you went anywhere near her back end she would just collapse on it. Putting a tail bandage on/a tail guard had the same effect - we were worried that she might have had a nasty experience when she was younger as she was very sensitive around her bum.

I would advise getting a very light weight/thin tail guard and trying that on, one of the very easy to get on and off ones and do it everyday as part of your grooming. So it is just a natural thing to have on. once/if she gets used to that try a heavier one and or a tail bandage and continue doing it as part of your daily routine. Hopefully she should get used to it. T is perfect now and we put a proper tail guard on her - one of the quite thick ones.

 

[Cop-Pop]

My mare is sensitive round her dock area - she had a nasty cut there when I got her. I use a tail guard with a wadge of cotton wool underneath to prevent it rubbing.

 

[Bossanova]

I dont use tail bandages or guards unless they sit on their tails in the lorry- I very nearly had a nasty injury as we have one that wont tolerate them and I see them as largely unecessary now!!

 

[kerilli]

same as Boss. just not worth the risk. you are right in the kick zone and no-one on earth can move fast enough if the horse reacts badly. (and i know of at least 1 person killed while putting on a tail bandage, and another who was working on the horse's tail - not sure if bandaging or pulling - and was killed.)

if they'll happily accept one, i'll use one, and i'll gently persuade the baby horses to accept one, but if they absolutely hate having one on already due to previous trauma, imho it is absolutely not worth the risk.

 

[LCobby]

Forget tail bandaging, just slick it down with some hair gel when it need to look really neat and tidy.
For travelling, just us a rug with a tail flap ( sew one on if her travel rug does not have one.

 

[Noodlejaffa]

I rarely use anything now any on any of my lot when traveling. Only horse that really gets anything is my whiter than white grey and only because he'll have a Tail-wrap on from the end of his dock down, so put a Woof tailguard thing on to keep the top of his tail clean.