Is Pulling Manes Cruel ?

Gingerwitch

Gingerwitch

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Questions:-
Do you think its cruel?
Do you think it actually hurts the poor animal?
Do you do it because its the thing to do?
Would you use a solo comb etc instead?
 
I use a tail rake instead
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Do you think it actually hurts the poor animal?


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erm... biased question, much?

Anyway
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I pull manes. I don't think it is cruel. I do think it causes some discomfort to some horses but there are ways to minimise this, like doing it when the horse is still warm from exercise. I use a solo comb if the mane just needs shortening, rather than thinning. Why?
 
I pulled my old girls mane at the weekend and after a couple of tantrums from her she let me eventually do it..... but every time i have tried to touch her neck/mane since she does the "tossing head and snorting" thing.

She is retired, and has cushings so is fully clipped out - and i pulled her mane as she was clipped on Friday - just because it seemed the "thing to do".

I feel really guilty about doing it now !
 
yes i do think it can be....

I used to pull mine and i used to do it after exercise and just take out small bits and pull entire mane over 4 - 5 days. Well i decided to hog her mane and when i did i was shocked there were bald patches up and down her mane and i felt so guilty - have you pulled your own hair out?? - its attached the same way as ours. it hurts me so i figure it hurt them or is at least mildly discomforting
so now i hog and tail rake her tail.
 
I never pull manes, both of my horses hate it, I use a thinning comb, solo comb and ....shock horror... scissors!! if needed
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I have a feeling I'm gonna get slated *** ducks for cover**
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I pulled my old girls mane at the weekend and after a couple of tantrums from her she let me eventually do it..... but every time i have tried to touch her neck/mane since she does the "tossing head and snorting" thing.


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She will forgive you
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I plait a load of hunters so their manes have to be pulled - I always have to do one of them a few days before I need to plait him, otherwise he does that same head toss. Just give her a bit of fuss and comb her mane gently a few times - all will be well again.
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I think it hurts me more!! My horse has wire, not mane (and he's full TB- aren't they meant to have pretty, fine manes?) and when I pull it I do about 3 inch sections each day and do about 4 hairs at a time... Still cuts into my fingers before it yields!!
 
Do you think its cruel? No
Do you think it actually hurts the animal? No- it falss out of his mane >:(
Do you do it because its the thing to do? No
Would you use a solo comb etc instead? No, it looks all cut and funny :/
 
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Questions:-
Do you think its cruel?
Do you think it actually hurts the poor animal?
Do you do it because its the thing to do?
Would you use a solo comb etc instead?

[/ QUOTE ]

No
Some seem to react more than others
No
Solo comb some, tail rake some, pull some - depends on the horse
 
I had a youngster who came to me with a mane down to his shoulder. I have used solo combs but hate how it does not really thin them out.

I cut a bit off first with scissors as it was seriously long, he has never had his mane pulled before...it took a good hour. I had come back from a hack and it was a nice warm day. He had a haynet and I swear he did not even feel it.

but on the other hand the sensitive racehorses at work don't like it and rear...I think it depends on the horse's pain perception, but i don't think its cruel as such. Obviously if I had a horse that really did not like it then I would use a mane and tail rake.
 
I don't think it's cruel - I only take very small amounts at a time and use clove oil to numb at the root (or Id never be able to do it
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) If Im honest 90% of the time I use scissors now
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Looks fine, no one notices the difference
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[ QUOTE ]
Questions:-
Do you think its cruel?
Do you think it actually hurts the poor animal?
Do you do it because its the thing to do?
Would you use a solo comb etc instead?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes
More than childbirth
Yes, I is well current
No.

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well, maybe my horse is an exception, but she absolutely loves it. She leans into me and almost goes to sleep. She like her tail being done too. She is indeed a strange creature.
 
I don't think it is cruel necessarily - but it is just for vanity, the horse doesn't benefit from it. And does it hurt - have you ever plucked your eyebrows or had a bikini/leg wax - pulling hair of any sort is going to hurt - yes horses get used to it - but they don't really have much choice though do they!!
 
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I don't think it is cruel necessarily - but it is just for vanity, the horse doesn't benefit from it. And does it hurt - have you ever plucked your eyebrows or had a bikini/leg wax - pulling hair of any sort is going to hurt - yes horses get used to it - but they don't really have much choice though do they!!

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I think this is an interesting point - does anyone know how much pain horses feel through the skin? Only thinking that they bite each other hard, mutual grooming can be quite rough etc, so I'm not sure it can be quite the same as us plucking eyebrows.

I sure wouldn't like someone nibbling my eyebrows, put it that way, but my mare loves having her mane nibbled!
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QR

"Is it cruel and causes pain?" (Ok, I know that's not an exact quote but haven't got the hang of the quotey thing yet)

Not according to my pony - his ears flop out like a donkey, he drops his bottom lip, assumes a very goofy expression and basically does everything apart from rolling over and sticking his legs in the air for you to scratch his tummy!

He loves it and at the first hint of a pulling comb (I am rubbish with a solo comb) will bustle over, drop his head and shove his mane in your face given half a chance :-)
 
But should add, I have come across several horses who clearly haven't liked it and were either uncomfortable or in pain so its clearly an individual thing
 
The reason you do it after exercise is because pores are open and it will come out easier, therefore causing less discomfort.

I dont think it is cruel at all, prefer it to scissors anyday.
I dont believe it actually hurts the horse - if it does and he tosses head, then pull smaller sections of hair in whipping action.
Solo-comb dosent do the same job - its like someone half assing about cutting your hair!
Some horses just dont like it.
 
I'm undecided. Sometimes I think it must hurt them - its pulling the hair out by the root, but then I have a dog who is hand stripped which amounts to the same thing, and he doesn't seem to be bothered by it. I think that some animals do find it painful, others are not so bothered. I have given up on it and now use a mane rake and scissors, it looks fine and plaits fine.
 
Do you think its cruel?
- can be, not seriously so, but often not nice either
Do you think it actually hurts the poor animal?
- in most cases, yes, how pulls hair out by roots for fun?!? (yep, there are some people who like waxing, but not the majority I think!)
Do you do it because its the thing to do?
- don't do it!
Would you use a solo comb etc instead?
- if I was going to, yes
 
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I don't think it is cruel necessarily - but it is just for vanity, the horse doesn't benefit from it. And does it hurt - have you ever plucked your eyebrows or had a bikini/leg wax - pulling hair of any sort is going to hurt - yes horses get used to it - but they don't really have much choice though do they!!

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Just to be akward
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I dont think waxing hurts anywhere except the bikini line,a close friend thinks it is evil-an unbearable pain wherever it is done.
Horses are,IMO,just the same. Some wont ever bat an eyelind and others will object.
The solo combs do seem to be a good idea if you have a horse who does not like their mane pulled.
 
i think making me eat dirt is cruel but my horses think otherwise!
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No i dont think its cruel although i use one of those rake things to thin it out first and then pull a little then trim with scissors on 2 of mine as they pull their faces as soon as the pulling comb comes out.
 
Depends on the horse, surely? Some don't notice, others go mad and sulk for weeks.

Not essentially cruel, but if your horse is affected by flies think about a fly rug & mask - same with hogging

I wouldn't pull a mane on a retired horse, nor one who wasn't shown/hunted/taken somewhere where he/she needed to be smart - no point to me, although some like to see them smart.
 
Im going to be different now.
I have a crappy appy, his mane doesnt need pulling, its thin enough!
My mums a hairdresser so when its getting to long she comes down and gives him a haircut :P
x
 
Lancelot had a very thick mane . But he absolutely loved having it pulled . Not his forelock (thinning comb only). Pulling his mane would turn him into Mr Happy Pony instead of 750 kg of pure hate.He was a very odd horse!
 
Do I think it's cruel: No
Do you think it actually hurts the poor animal : loaded question? but no, mine don't mind.
Do you do it because it's the thing to do. It's the best tried & tested way to keep a mane tidy & neat.
Would you use a solo comb. Definately not, they are rubbish & give an untidy & unprofessional result.
 
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