How long do you keep your horses tails?

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happihorse

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They should be four inches below the hock when carried, if I remeber correctly, but many horses seem to have them much longer than this?

Any comments?
 
i prefer them longer because they can reach more flies on their bodies!and i prefer them slightly longer but then i dont do any showing just jumping and dressage so doesnt matter!
 
Four inches below hock is the traditional length, but it does look b****y awful and stops them from getting rid of flies.
So I go for around fetlock or just above.
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I like my boys' tails to be level with the bottom of their chestnuts on their hind legs when they're moving. Shows off their bottoms better somehow.
 
It seems to be the 'thing' to keep tails long here, especially in the English ridden sector, not to mention almost de rigeur to have a 'falsie' if it isn't thick enough.

My lot just have their tails trimmed to about fetlock level, every inch counts in the battle against flies in this area.
 
It depends on the breed. Dales ponies for example are not to be trimmed in any way shape or form for showing. I just take the very ends of my mares tail off to stop it trailing on the ground.
 
My mare has sweet itch so I keep it as long as I can yet my previous horse had a short and pulled tail which looked lovely
 
My welsh d is kept long just trim the split ends

My fresian is long just trim the split ends

They would both look silly with short tails, and their manes are long too
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I alone must boost the profits of a well know tail and mane condition company !
 
I keep Barons quite long, I think its just a few inches above his fetlock. No reason I just think it looks nicer. It is probably about 6-8 inches below his hock when carried and he carried.

A lot of people on my yard seem to cut them really short, maily to keep the mud off I think as our fields are very very muddy at the moment.
 
When he starts standing on it because it is on the floor I trim it a bit just to take it off the floor an inch! It soon grows back though! My horse is very au natrel though...his mane gets longer and longer and I have not trimmed it since I have had him...4 years!!!
 
Thanks for your comments.

I only compete in dressage and keep their tails trimmed to just above the fetlocks, but someone recently commented that they look silly (too long)!

Glad I'm not alone in this!

Thanks
 
In dressage tails are usually very long so I cant see why anyone would say it was silly (unless they do showing - where IMO they have unnaturally short tails). The longer the better for me - mine has her tail just past the fetlocks.
 
I just cut a few inches off when it in basically touching the ground, this usually then lines up with the top of his white sock which is how I decide
 
I hate long tails on big hunter-type horses - looks completely wrong! My Welsh Cob has hers about an inch or two below her hocks and to a natural point, which is correct for them. The stallions should have it even shorter, eek
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I like them a couple of inches below the hocks. Any longer than that and it looks so scruffy especially if the "front end" is all plaited up; it makes the horse appear very unbalanced. The only horses that look good with a really long tail is an Arab. I really itch to cut them when I see a long tail!
 
I keep mine short, a few inches below the hock when carried. I do alot of hacking on soft going and don't want dirty rats tails when I get back! Also, I think it shows off his hind leg better, and it's what I was always taught to do with a non native.
 
Stressage mare - long, about 3" above her fetlocks.

Hunter pony - about 3" below his hocks
 
mine varies, generally my ponies tail is around 5-6 below the hock, sometimes shorter(generally in winer to help keep mud and c**p off) and longer in summer for flies etc!
 
I keep my horse's tail far too long for a hogged cob - but it looks lovely and hides his rather large hocks!
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Living in a very hot climate, all of my horses tails (except one which competes in English) are kept long, only about 2 inches from the ground when at rest. The competing one's tail is far longer than it should be and at rest lies just above the fetlock.

We have to keep them long over here because of all the biting bugs!
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I like long tails generally, but PF's tail is rather wispy and looks better shorter... just below the hock joint, although I do try to keep it as long as poss.
A really long tail really should be quite thick too, otherwise I think it looks a bit messy.
 
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