How would you smarten this mane?

[ArklePig]

So, some of you may remember my previous threads about my loan, Jack. There were lots of comments about his coarse hair etc and muscle. I've been working really hard on his coat, and deshedding and generally all the elbow grease I can muster. I think he looks much better now.

Anyway, this mane! It is so thick and it grows from both sides with a middle parting. How would you smarten it up? I was planning on leaving as is for now but I've had.. Comments. So just wondering if I should be doing something with it?

 

[Upthecreek]

It’s your horse so it’s up to you how you like his mane, so ignore comments! I use a solo rake to thin and then pull it to the length I like (about half the length of yours). I don’t like the look of manes cut with scissors, but as yours is quite long you could cut a few inches and then pull it to make it look more natural. I must say that both my horses don’t mind having their manes pulled at all, they both fall asleep. Some horses hate it.

To keep it all on one side just keep brushing it that way and eventually it should stay there.

 

[ArklePig]

Thanks so much for your response. I've been trying to brush it to one side but there's so much of it ? should I think about thinning it a bit would it stay better?

Re other people's comments, he's a riding school loan, temporarily while lessons are closed, so while I have unlimited access I don't get to make a lot of decisions and I'm a complete novice so people offer 'advice' from the friendly to the irritating ?

 

[ElleSkywalkingintheair]

Solo rake to thin it then solo comb to 'pull' it shorter He is looking lovely and shiny BTW ?

 

[Bosworth]

Plait it and leave plaits in to get it all on the one side, then after a few days undo and comb through, then mane rake it on the underside. I have a horse with a huge thick mane, who Hates it being pulled. So I mane rake and I scissor cut but upwards, never across or it’s too straight.

 

[AmyMay]

His coat looks absolutely fantastic!

 

[ihatework]

If he is a riding school loan then check with the owner before you do anything or it may not go down well ?

If he were mine, and the horse tolerated it, I would have a marathon pulling session. If he didn’t tolerate I’d do my creative second best with a thinning rake and scissors

 

[benz]

Agreed as he’s on loan don’t do anything with it without owners permission, I would go spare if someone hacked at my horses mane! Ignore comments from others his mane is lovely, enjoy your pony

 

[ArklePig]

I plan on checking with the owner definitely, but she just has a habit of telling me crack on with whatever because she knows I won't do anything totally mad so just wanted to get a few of ideas on how I should go about it if I do go at it! Thanks for the suggestions!

 

[Red-1]

My horse has a similar mane, I am watching it grow with delight!

If he gets hot in summer, I will plait it loosely so he gets air to his neck. Other than that, I love the way it waves and dances when I ride him.

Your horse's coat looks amazing

 

[Crazy_cat_lady]

Definitely agree with checking with the owner of the RS!! maybe talk through with her what you're planning, so there's no nasty surprises?

It depends what you like (if she agrees) as you're the one loaning him! If he's an rs pony, and they don't have neckstraps, she may want you to keep it with some length, so the children have something to grab if they're having a wobble.

When I got my Welsh D, I think I solo combed it has his was about that length, and I like the pulled look. Next time he then decided he was scared of the solo comb noise ? so now I pull the lower half and scissor from about halfway up as he won't let me pull the top half. The top half is thicker than I would like, but it will never need plaiting and you also can't see too much drastic difference between the 2 methods