Horses mane matting into dreads and falling out?

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countercanterr

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My horse has quite a long mane which I usually detangle with my fingers and pig oil (or coconut in summer) but yesterday she had a matted clump (like a forming dreadlock), which was falling out as I detangled it. I thought this may have been from her wearing a rug with a neck, and it starting to rub. She was in at night with a neckless stable rug and this morning had another matt/dreadlock which was again, shedding hair as I detangled.
I've put her in loose braids for now which should hopefully help but any ideas on what it could be? The neckless rug couldn't have been touching her neck in that area..
She's recently had a diet change (from a feed of mostly mix and hard feed to fibre-beet, pro-balance and linseed oil..and a handful of mix until I finish the bag..).
 
I would be inclined to wash it, this weather makes the mane damp and sticky. Wash with nice warm water, rug up well to dry and spray with mane conditioner.
 
It is probably just the hair falling out naturally, as she has probably started moulting her coat for Spring (!), I know mine have. The dead hair gets tangled in the still growing hair and looks like a lot when you detangle. Try spraying her mane with loads of conditioner and detangling with a metal comb until you get it sorted then go back to your fingers. The comb will remove more dead hair.
 
lhotse said:
I would be inclined to wash it, this weather makes the mane damp and sticky. Wash with nice warm water, rug up well to dry and spray with mane conditioner.
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If this is 'rug rub' then also, wipe the bit of the rug which goes over the main with a damp slightly soapy cloth. If it mane is coming-out at the withers, some people use a cheap cotton summer sheet as an 'under rug' so this can be washed regularly.
 
Pearlsacarolsinger said:
It is probably just the hair falling out naturally, as she has probably started moulting her coat for Spring (!), I know mine have. The dead hair gets tangled in the still growing hair and looks like a lot when you detangle. Try spraying her mane with loads of conditioner and detangling with a metal comb until you get it sorted then go back to your fingers. The comb will remove more dead hair.
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This. I leave my ponies manes all winter more or less, and when I come to wash and brush them out loads of hair comes with it - you would think the whole mane was falling out! Unless there are literally bald bits left behind. Are there any signs of her rubbing that area which could be matting the hair and pulling it out? Or any wounds or skin infections, they can do weird things to patches of mane?
 
Thanks guys, think she might be having a reaction to the pig oil as I don't think I've ever put a lot by the roots until a couple of days ago. She's never had a reaction when it's used anywhere else though, but it's the only thing i can think of that is causing it. Definitely not just shedding- it's way too much for that but no bald patches/really thin patches yet. Gave it a good sponging tonight and will properly wash it tomorrow- hopefully caught it in time to save it!
 
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My highland has a v long mane and is sprayed with canter every other day which keeps it lush. I find pig oil useless as a conditioner
 
amymay said:
I'd either pull it short and/or give it a good spray with show sheen.
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Depends how she values the mane I suppose but if anybody suggested that with my highland iv have a heart attact |o| def the show sheen option ;)
Honestly I'm so proud of my highlands mane but its conditioned every other day and never gets time to knot :)
 
Without wishing to alarm anyone, I would advise a real good look at the base of the mane. I had a similar problem with a heavy tail on a retired welsh cob. When I finally got to skin level he had an horrific skin infection and was literally rotting.
 
Funnily enough, I was very near pulling it when I got her as I've always had short manes but ended up keeping it and I like it now and trying to grow it as long as possible! Dutch running braids are easier and quicker for me than proper show plaits too! :p

Base of the mane is fine, clean and only a little dandruffy.
I've not used proper mane and tail conditioner in it because most of them contain silicones. She gets it washed with sulfate-free shampoo too :p.
 
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