Keeping a long mane in good condition (without plaiting)

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diamondrockharvey

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Hi,
does anyone have any good ideas for keeping a long mane in good condition without plaiting or covering it.
My boy lives out unrugged all year round.
He is 2 year old and has a lovely long mane, but the ends are quite dry and I really want to keep it long and grow it even more.
I don't want to plait or cover it though as he is likely to start rubbing it then.
Any suggestions??
Here is a recent pic of him:
harvmane.jpg
 
Hi there,

I have a native with a very long mane, and I brush it no more than once a week, so I don't break bits off it, and use mane and tail conditioner as little as possible (once a month maybe) to avoid damaging it too. I also trim off any dead bits at the end (his is quite a bit longer than yours and as he's black, it's the brown dead bits which I carefully trim with a blade). If you get really knotty bits, use your fingers to tease them apart rather than a comb. I don't rug mine either...
 
I tend to pull the ends by a couple of inches over the winter, so it continues to grow in better condition (a bit like looking after human long hair).
 
I love your horsey, and his mane!
My girl has a very long mane and I tend to put a bit of baby oil through hers to keep it conditioned, far cheaper than mane and tail conditioner too :D

Here she is with her mane
59434_498905449487_775729487_7086730_5339460_n.jpg
 
Canter Mane and Tail conditioner a couple of times a week. As soon as it starts to feel a bit knotty to comb through, more get applied. It gets brushed out every day too. I think as soon as it starts to get a bit knotted and you need to work it through the more it breaks so best to keep it tangle free :)
 
My boy's mane has grown about 6" using the pos - the pics in my sigs show the difference after 7 months, and after a year, it's getting to his muzzle.:)

I apply it along the crest line, and rub it into the skin, and then brush excess thru - same on his tail.

sm x
 
I have to put plaits in Stinky's mane or it goes into tight dreads, ditto his tail plus it is very long and he will step on it and pull it out.

At the moment, he is having his "stinky" time - no rugs, no plaits and minimal grooming. I am taking the worst of the dreads out with my fingers but will have to wash it, use a lot of survivor detangler and a detangler comb to sort it out at the end of the month.

With his tail, in summer I keep two thirds bagged and the top third out and his mane in plaits with towelling bands. In winter the whole lot is bagged or it will be filled with thick clay. The result is a thick, clean and very glossy tail and he is not bothered by the bag and has had it since he was 18 months.

With his mane, forelock and tail, the roots have megatek mixed 50 - 50 with water applied three times a week to keep it growing and strong. I never brush out unless it is clean and with survivor on it. I also take about 4 - 6" off it when I have finished showing so the dead ends and thin stuff is removed leaving a nice thick mane. I do this with a thinning blade so it does not look cut.

I also bag his mane in winter to stop it being full of bedding, clay and hay and again he has had these on since 18 months and never had any problems with them.

If you are not showing, then what I do is not necessary as I only do it as I need to have a mane that is in top condition.

If you don't want to plait, in winter cover it in pig oil and in summer buy some survivor detangler from tailgator.co.uk and use that instead to help with the tangles - oil in hot sun will not help the dead ends etc.
 
I have a hairy traditional cob and he has a full white mane and tail. I comb it out every day with canter mail and tail conditioner. I use a human super wide plastic comb with jumbo teeth. This method means a hair is very rarely broken.

I tried baby oil and then pig oil and sulphur and whilst great for feathers was no good for his mane and tail. It left them super greasy and all the dust stuck to them and so he looked really grimey. (might have been doing it wrong though as others seem to swear by it.

I also find the best shampoo / conditioner for greys is alberto balsam blueberry....it is fab! and only 98p a bottle.
 
Thanks for the replies guys.
I already use Pig oil and Sulphur on his legs.
I tried it on the top of his tail to stop him itching and it works okay but can make his tail get really grubby and greasy.
My main issue is I don't have running water at my field so I can't bath him regularly, I have to go to my friend's yard to do that!! :eek:

I shall certainly give it a try though.
I would like his mane to get as long as his mum's.
Here is a pic of her and Harvey when he was a week old!!
liffyandharv.jpg
 
JustJasper said:
Seven Day Mud Away is great in winter.
I do a running plait in Jasper's throughout the summer and have had no probs with rubbing...

A0295-1.jpg
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i actually think i need ur pony i will have a matching pair :) he is gorgous my mare manes drivng me mad im obsessed with it scared of letting her in the field dont want to use neck rugs but dntwant it to get muddy :/ x (i dont know how to post a pic ?? ) x
 
Comb daily with a rubber tipped/ soft comb (usually the kind made for kids). Do it gently but make sure it's all combed through, then douse it in mane and tail conditioner. It's important in the summer though to wash it regularly, as in the heat product build up plus dust and sweat isn't nice, plus in my experience frequent washes with hypoallergenic shampoos=less risk of itchiness.
335ax4y.jpg
 
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SwingHorse said:
Comb daily with a rubber tipped/ soft comb (usually the kind made for kids). Do it gently but make sure it's all combed through, then douse it in mane and tail conditioner. It's important in the summer though to wash it regularly, as in the heat product build up plus dust and sweat isn't nice, plus in my experience frequent washes with hypoallergenic shampoos=less risk of itchiness.
335ax4y.jpg
Click to expand...

Oh blimey....I think I might be a little bit in love with your horse!! :o
 
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