Is pulling her tail the answer?

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Mongoose11

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So, over the past two years I have tried everything to keep her tail poo free, she uniquely squashes her bum flat against the wall to poo and with each poo spreads it over her butt cheeks and soaks her top third of her tail in it. Bum cheeks can be cleaned each day, tail can not.

We have tried all manner of tail bags, doesn't take care of the main pooey bit which is the length of her dock I guess. We have tried weekly washing and oiling up, does help but her tail then becomes green in colour and greasy.

I considered using a few of those gel wrap things but can I leave those on overnight?

If her tail were pulled it would remove the hair that is the biggest problem, with the cold weather I haven't washed her tail for two weeks now and it is matted around the top third with dry poo, it is rock solid, you would have to see it to believe it.

I don't want to pull her tail but is it a solution?
 
Maybe plait it for one night to see if less hair is the answer and then look into pulling it if needs be? Nothing worse than pulling it and finding it doesn't work.. Either that or thinking outside of the box would a tubi grip work? Never tried but with a glass of wine by my side it seems like a good idea!
 
I have plaited it before and it has certainly made a clear difference. Thing is I just CAN NOT plait to save my life and I had a friend that did it tightly for me before to try and keep it clean.

I guess those gel wraps are the same principle as the tubagrip. Tuba would just get soaked through as she squashes her poo up against it though. Ewwwww.
 
Arrr ... Oo I guess not such a great idea!!! Iv never heard of these gel wraps... Maybe drop the manufacturers an e-mail asking if they can be kept on for a long period?
 
Yes that's a good idea. In principle I see it working but I am thinking they are only for short use, I guess I will have to try and find out! Certainly can't go on like this! Tail is so thick and 99% of the time is sodden in poo!
 
I didn't think you could bandage for a long period as damages the dock.. Talking of docks you could just dock her if all else fails ;) I'm only joking of course but I'm all out of ideas in afraid :/
 
French plait it with bigger bunches of hair than you would if plaiting for a show, I do this to my connie's white tail the night before. Slaver it with a good detangler as well which would help stop the poo sticking quite so much. Also can you make up some kind of deterrant around the walls such as a stand off rail attached to the walls just below bum cheek level?
 
Billie1007 said:
Tends to soak through BUT means poo juice needs washing out rather than solid poo that is caught and dried, is it safe to keep a tail bandaged all night though?
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Please don't bandage overnight. To keep the bandage on, the tightness would cause serious damage. Just having the worst experience with a leg which was bandaged too tightly for a prolonged period (by a vet, not us!), please don't do it!

Have you tried loads and loads of silicon spray in her tail? Like Pledge or furniture spray, or proper mane and tail sprays... Might prevent the poo from sticking?
 
I do use sprays Lolo but it just does not keep it clean. Well it keeps it undredlocked with poo (relatively) but it is still fairly filthy. I guess I am wondering if the pulling will be an easier long term solution for me and a cleaner/healthier vsolution for her!
 
If you whack on pig oil and sulphur, no poo will stick - tried and tested with the longest, bushiest tail - belonging to the pony that does elephant poos. :)
 
I do rug her and have to buy a slightly shorter in the body rug than I might like. Her fleece that is slightly too long and hangs over her back end is now redundant because of a poo issue.... Imagine a baby in a nappy - you know when they get it all up their backs? Well that has happened before now, the rug traps it and then she squishes it upwards!
 
I don't mean this offensively but are you sure she doesn't have worms? Something like pin worms? Maybe she is itchy and finds relief from pooing up the wall? I have no idea really but your problem is one of those things that would really bug me and I have to work a solution out for! I havent ever come across this particular problem but I have a grey mare who seems to get poo all down the inside of her dock and i hate it as I have to pick big bits of poo out. Your problem seems a 100% worse and I feel your pain!
 
pogface said:
Cork in her arse?
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I would like everyone to know that Pogface here is actually Olivia's second mother and in her contract as such it states that she is responsible for weekly bum/tail cleaning. If she kept up with her duties I wouldn't be looking for these solutions!

Thanks for all the ideas, I think we will try and go for a mega clean up operation and slug her in oil again until I think of a more successful solution. I think I will do some more thinking and research about pulling and I will get in contact of the makers of those gel wraps and see if they can be left on over night.

Grrrrrrr shi*ty horse!
 
Jericho said:
I don't mean this offensively but are you sure she doesn't have worms? Something like pin worms? Maybe she is itchy and finds relief from pooing up the wall? I have no idea really but your problem is one of those things that would really bug me and I have to work a solution out for! I havent ever come across this particular problem but I have a grey mare who seems to get poo all down the inside of her dock and i hate it as I have to pick big bits of poo out. Your problem seems a 100% worse and I feel your pain!
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She is due to be wormed but she has always done this, well since I got her anyway. She poos in one big pile, chooses her spot, rams herself up against the wall and then that is forever known as 'poo mountain'. If I could solve this tail problem I would swear she was the most perfect horse EVER!
 
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