How to "pull" a tail?

[dwi]

I'm planning on getting a tail rake or similar to do D's tail. Has anyone got any photos of what it should look like, tips on how to do it, what brand of rake to buy?

Thanks

 

[minesadouble]

Sorry no photos but my rake is a Clippersharp and is great. Still have to use pliers to get the very short top hairs though. Also best used on dirty tail - they tend to slide through very clean ones, so let that grease build up before you start!

 

[Colleen_Miss_Tom]

Get a smart tail rake ..I have a photo , I just see if I can find it now .

 

[Colleen_Miss_Tom]

Heres one here , It took me ohhh all of 5 minutes to do and while missy stood with her arse to the gate , she loves it being done .

Sorry gate is slightly in the road but she just wouldnt walk forward

But hopefully will give you an idea .

 

[dwi]

[ QUOTE ]
Also best used on dirty tail - they tend to slide through very clean ones, so let that grease build up before you start!

[/ QUOTE ]

Trust me, that's not a problem

 

[Colleen_Miss_Tom]

Brush from the sides and underneath first and then start with the top of the tail with a brushing down motion.

I wouldnt take too much from the top though , but just lifting the tail and start with the sides .

I can never explain myself too well, but I could do it no problems

Col x

 

[dwi]

She's a mw cob but has the tail of a shire so i'm guessing I'll need to take plenty off the top as well? How do you know how much hair to leave?

Col - I'd get you to come and show me but I reckon its a bit far

 

[Colleen_Miss_Tom]

hmm just a tad

Have you a pic of her tail ?

 

[dwi]

No unfortunately I'm living in the 1990s and still don't have a digital camera

 

[minesadouble]

How much you leave is down to personal preference. I pull ours for showing and they are left with just a thin covering of hair - when first done you can see the skin of the dock with a properly pulled tail until it is bandaged.
If you are not showing and just want a 'tidy' tail I would just start raking and keep going until you are happy. It's hard to make a mess of it, my daughter did my hunter mare for her first attempt and made a really good job of it.
Just remember to keep things symmetrical - its easy to get carried away on one side. I try to spend the same amount of time on each side of the tail. and pay close attention to how low on the dock you want to pull to & ensure both sides are the same.
It really is easy

 

[dwi]

how low do i go? she has a really long dock and being a cob I'll cut her tail quite short once I've pulled the top so that the whole thing looks neat

 

[Thistle]

Think there is a step by step photo guide on clippersharp

 

[Colleen_Miss_Tom]

Lol !

You will know how low , Personally 3/4 of the dock .

 

[piebaldsparkle]

Here's my effort (done with a smart tails, tail rake). The 1st pic she had just got off the lorry after a 6hrs drive (think she had sat on her tail most of the way, hence it is a stuck up at the top). The 2nd pic is just after I had pulled it the 1st time (but don't think I pulled it quite far enough down).

 

[Colleen_Miss_Tom]

That looks spot on , but yeah agree with you when you say about not coming down enough .

About another inch perhaps .

The first pic looks spot on ie the lenth of the pulled area . (or raked area

)

Smart rake tails is my favourite item from my grooming box .

 

[saskia295]

A good tail rake and/or a solo comb! Just remember.... GO FROM THE SIDES!!

 

[lauraanddolly]

It's not using a tail rake, but there is a great video on horse hero about tail pulling - the interviewer woman I find annoying but the bloke doing the tail is the badminton yard manger or something (can't remember without looking). If you want to take a look should give you an idea of how far to go down and how much to take off etc!