How do I get a smooth shiny mane!

[sarah&max]

My welsh Section C has an afro for a mane and tail, and no matter what I try, I can not seem to tame it!

I go to all these lovely county shows and see these amazing horses, with smooth silky straight manes, I was wondering if anyone knows anything to thin it, or make it look thinner, more of a shine, etc.

I have tried using several different shampoos and conditioners, using a hood, plaiting etc. The mane looks cleaner, but still frizzy and massive! i feel he could win an county level, but my turnout and frustration with the fro lets us down.

any advice, info, products would be greatly appreciated.

x

 

[Crosshill Pacers]

I use Carr & Day & Martin Mane and Tail Conditioner, although someone posted on here a while ago about using furniture polish (which I'm yet to try but will do soon!)

 

[TwoStroke]

Feed linseed and balanced minerals. My remedy to cure all ills .

 

[welshstar]

My welsh D has a mane like a toilet brush! His is definitely frizzy! The only way I can control it is to leave it at a bit of a longer length. On show days is gets washed, conditioned (!!), then his lycra hood is put on. I keep this on until we are at the showground and getting ready. Then I take it off- don't brush it!- and apply the bryll cream. This is the only way to get it looking half decent! I wish he had a lovely silky mane like my connie but unfortunately I have to put up with this!!
I think this shows it a little bit in its wild form

and this is it tamer

But you do have to accept that the mane is going to be bushy for 99% of the time!!

 

[GeorgieLee]

I dont do this so please dont have a go anyone but my friend has a fell that has this problem, so much so that he was getting know where in the ring, she shampoos and blow dries his mane and then straightens it with ghd's! it looks amazing and he has now qualified for HOYS and I think olympia! (this is not my op and Im not saying his qualification is down to his straight mane!)
personally I use pig oil

 

[Littlelegs]

Firstly if there's lots of nasty split ends then subtly tidy them off. Wash it with human shampoo & conditioner, & comb through thoroughly while the conditioners in. When rinsed & dry, use mane & tail conditioner, or furniture polish & brush through. If its really frizzy, use human anti frizz serum or straightening cream to smooth it down. Get in the habit of only using a body brush on it, except for when its got conditioner on while your washing it. If really awful, before washing, drench it in olive oil, leave for 30 mins, then shampoo & condition. Olive oiling it as a regular treatment does help too, maybe every 4 wks or so. I have blow dried & straightened manes too, with great effect. But, done regularly the heat can do harm, so really only a rare emergency measure. And if you need to flatten it, stick a lycra neck cover on the night before a show.

 

[mcnaughty]

Frizz eze from Tescos? Lycra hoods are great though too!

 

[mandwhy]

I don't see why you shouldn't blow dry and straighten it if you want to! As long as you don't burn them!

 

[AprilBlue]

My welsh Section C has an afro for a mane and tail, and no matter what I try, I can not seem to tame it!

I go to all these lovely county shows and see these amazing horses, with smooth silky straight manes, I was wondering if anyone knows anything to thin it, or make it look thinner, more of a shine, etc.

I have tried using several different shampoos and conditioners, using a hood, plaiting etc. The mane looks cleaner, but still frizzy and massive! i feel he could win an county level, but my turnout and frustration with the fro lets us down.

any advice, info, products would be greatly appreciated.

x

pull his mane, that way it will be thinner and less afro - like.

 

[Meowy Catkin]

Isn't Mr Sheen (or similar) furniture polish spray meant to be good for getting silky, tangle free manes and tails?

 

[AprilBlue]

anyway, you should be happy that your horse even has a mane,

it's better to have a horse with a thick mane than a thin one.

i know some people who would kill to have their horses mane thicker (not literally but you know what i mean)
anyway your ponies mane is an advantage because if you are a younger person (i don't know your age and i'm not going to ask for it so dw) you can enter fancy dress classes or something and your pony could be dressed up as let's say a clown or something, i dunno, by using his thick mane, just a sugestion if you are young.

 

[Meowy Catkin]

anyway, you should be happy that your horse even has a mane,

You have cheered me up with that comment AB. I despair sometimes when my horses manes are full of wind tangles and it takes ages to get them out, but I was even more frustrated when my chestnut lost half her mane due to a combo rug rubbing it out.

 

[WestCoast]

Aussie 3 minute miracle.

Paula

 

[MissMincePie&Brandy]

I have showing friends who prepare their horses manes using straighteners. The horses don't mind, and it doesn't harm their manes if you only do it occasionally. I suppose the only risk is that if you're a bit cak handed you might inadvertently burn the poor horse, but if used carefully that shouldn't happen.

 

[AprilBlue]

You have cheered me up with that comment AB. I despair sometimes when my horses manes are full of wind tangles and it takes ages to get them out, but I was even more frustrated when my chestnut lost half her mane due to a combo rug rubbing it out.

you welcome Faracat, hope her mane grew back

 

[Meowy Catkin]

Yes - I ditched the combos and neck covers though.

 

[sarah&max]

What great responses! I shall try all of them and see what works best. I have used straigteners on it once before, and yes it did look better, but i did not use any creams etc so it looked very matt, dull, and probably did not do it much good. I may try some Frizz eaze serum perhaps? And Paula I use the 3 minute Miricle on my own hair and it works wonders, so will try that too.

I have also used Olive Oil on my own hair and again, my hair looked amazing! silky soft and healthy... i didn't even think to try it on Max!

Yes I am very grateful he has a mane ( bottom half is sadly very much shorter due to combo rug rubbing , which in turn will make me think twice about using combos) but i do feel this is letting him down in the show ring, so I will try all your suggestions and see what works for him. I know most of it is down to genetics, but I will see if i can tame it a little.

Thank you very much for your photos! Welsh section D is beautiful! I will certainly try leaving his hood on until the last minute.

Would it be a good idea to put a lycra hood under his combo rugs to help prevent mane rubbing?

thanks again

x

 

[Meowy Catkin]

Would it be a good idea to put a lycra hood under his combo rugs to help prevent mane rubbing?

The only thing that stopped my mare's mane from rubbing, was ditching the combo rugs and neck covers.

 

[Littlelegs]

I would ditch the neck covers too, exception would be a lycra one the night before a show. Even then though not if its likely to make pony warm & itchy.
And yes, furniture polish works as mane & tail de-tangler/ conditioner. I use supermarket home brand.