Lidocaine for mane pulling?

[Barklands]

Having been previously very traditional in our methods with our horses I have become more uncomfortable with the idea of pulling manes as I know many others also have! We have used raking etc instead but just don’t get the same results as with traditional pulling when plaiting.

Has anyone ever considered a numbing cream before pulling a mane? Obviously we would do a patch test first but just thought it may be a more comfortable option - none of ours are difficult to pull but I just feel that I don’t particularly enjoy the idea of waxing so why should the neddies!

 

[rara007]

You’d need a lot (I’m unsure of horses toxic dose?), and I can’t imagine it would penetrate well?
I just use scissors, and can get a perfectly good plait from that for competing.

 

[Barklands]

Yes dosage is what I was concerned about - more of an off the cuff idea and wondering if anyone had ever tried it!

I know they have done studies on numbing cream prior to injections with positive results but obviously that will only be a small area! Need some sort of painless pony epilator

We stitch our plaits and find the right thickness is crucial for having neat plaits so struggle if only using scissors!

 

[claret09]

i use a hair razor (ebay) and always have done. many years ago my connie was very sensitive and hated having his mane and tail pulled so had to get round it in another way. since then i have always used a razor - i have had people comment about how beautifully my horse's tail has been pulled. i still use a razor today as jay has sweet itch so couldn't tolerate having them pulled.

 

[Barklands]

i use a hair razor (ebay) and always have done. many years ago my connie was very sensitive and hated having his mane and tail pulled so had to get round it in another way. since then i have always used a razor - i have had people comment about how beautifully my horse's tail has been pulled. i still use a razor today as jay has sweet itch so couldn't tolerate having them pulled.

Interesting! We always use a combination of razor and trimmers to pull tail but would be interested to know how you use that for the mane!

 

[blitznbobs]

Yes dosage is what I was concerned about - more of an off the cuff idea and wondering if anyone had ever tried it!

I know they have done studies on numbing cream prior to injections with positive results but obviously that will only be a small area! Need some sort of painless pony epilator

We stitch our plaits and find the right thickness is crucial for having neat plaits so struggle if only using scissors!

to get emla cream to work properly you have to put a thick blob on and cover it with a dressing that actually changes the epidermis… ( like when you take a plaster off and your skin has gone all wrinkly) so you would need to clip the horse where you were numbing the. Put huge amounts of cream on then cover it with a dressing then wait 30 minutes to an hour… not practical or desirable. I don’t know what the maximum dose of lidocaine is in a horse but absorbsion systemically from topical application is not that much however the other practicalities would render it pretty unhelpful

 

[ycbm]

I tried it many years ago and also clove oil which has a similar numbing effect. I only remember trying each once, so it can't have worked very well
.

 

[Rowreach]

I haven't "pulled" a mane in 30 years but I've plaited thousands, literally, in that time and I always trim the manes with a comb and stripping knife - beautiful looking manes and easy to plait with bands or thread (and I'm very fussy). I would only use a rake as a first approach to a very thick mane, and only ever on the underside.

Traditional pulling is a horrible thing.

 

[Barklands]

to get emla cream to work properly you have to put a thick blob on and cover it with a dressing that actually changes the epidermis… ( like when you take a plaster off and your skin has gone all wrinkly) so you would need to clip the horse where you were numbing the. Put huge amounts of cream on then cover it with a dressing then wait 30 minutes to an hour… not practical or desirable. I don’t know what the maximum dose of lidocaine is in a horse but absorbsion systemically from topical application is not that much however the other practicalities would render it pretty unhelpful

Ah interesting! I remember having a clear plastic dressing on my hand unwell in hospital with a cannula in (they hadn’t put it in right the first time so had been quite gory and painful!!) and it had some sort of gel underneath and sounds very similar. I wondered what it was they put on, must have been emla cream!

 

[Jenko109]

I dont pull manes. Not because of the concept of causing pain, just because I simply cannot be bothered.

A friend will rake and scissor him occasionally if things get too unruly and she cant stand seeing it anymore.

I have never really thought about it hurting. Some horses do not seem to mind at all. Perhaps they have just come to accept that they have to tolerate a degree of discomfort with their interactions with people. After all, there are plenty of stoic horses out there being ridden in badly fitting tack or by riders with heavy hands etc, who just tolerate the discomfort and try their best to be good.

 

[ycbm]

I dont pull manes. Not because of the concept of causing pain, just because I simply cannot be bothered.

A friend will rake and scissor him occasionally if things get too unruly and she cant stand seeing it anymore.

I have never really thought about it hurting. Some horses do not seem to mind at all. Perhaps they have just come to accept that they have to tolerate a degree of discomfort with their interactions with people. After all, there are plenty of stoic horses out there being ridden in badly fitting tack or by riders with heavy hands etc, who just tolerate the discomfort and try their best to be good.

I have had one horse who almost begged me to do it, some of them really do seem to love it but it's a very small minority. If in doubt, don't tie the horse up, do it loose in a stable and give up if the horse moves away.
.

 

[whirlwind]

I’ll go against the grain a bit here and say I pull properly, nothing else gives the same result on a thicker mane which needs to be plaitable. On a thin mane or one that won’t be plaited you can get away with scissors or a knife. However I only do it on horses that don’t seem to mind, or just need a bit of bribery with a lick or something to stand. I wouldn’t twitch or restrain to do it. The lure of one of the horselyx pots is enough for mine to stand perfectly untied so I figure it doesn’t bother them that much. And I don’t do huge amounts in one go as I think that does make them sore, I try to do a little bit every week or two.

 

[Muddy unicorn]

Our gelding who had to be sedated for clipping adored having his mane pulled . His lower lip would go all droopy and he’d doze off - would happily stand still while it was happening so he really didn’t mind.

 

[poiuytrewq]

I have had one horse who almost begged me to do it, some of them really do seem to love it but it's a very small minority. If in doubt, don't tie the horse up, do it loose in a stable and give up if the horse moves away.
.

Mines isn’t bothered. I don’t do a big pull ever, he hasn’t got a bit thick mane so I just do a little bit here and there after riding. So it’s never a big thing.
He doesn’t even stop munching his hay net.

 

[Barklands]

I’ll go against the grain a bit here and say I pull properly, nothing else gives the same result on a thicker mane which needs to be plaitable. On a thin mane or one that won’t be plaited you can get away with scissors or a knife. However I only do it on horses that don’t seem to mind, or just need a bit of bribery with a lick or something to stand. I wouldn’t twitch or restrain to do it. The lure of one of the horselyx pots is enough for mine to stand perfectly untied so I figure it doesn’t bother them that much. And I don’t do huge amounts in one go as I think that does make them sore, I try to do a little bit every week or two.

I agree - there is nothing quite like a properly pulled mane for plaiting, I have one that loves nothing more than to be pulled and the others tolerate it loose in the stable with a few shakes of the head along the way.

I just wish there was some other magic way of doing it that gets the same results where I can be certain that it’s not bothering them!

 

[whirlwind]

I agree - there is nothing quite like a properly pulled mane for plaiting, I have one that loves nothing more than to be pulled and the others tolerate it loose in the stable with a few shakes of the head along the way.

I just wish there was some other magic way of doing it that gets the same results where I can be certain that it’s not bothering them!

I haven’t found one! Raking looks ok unless you’re plaiting then you get loads of horrible little spiky bits, anything else doesn’t do anything to the thickness just takes the length off. I know someone who used to half hog (like a strip on the right side to the centre of the crest) a cobby type that was plaited. It actually looked ok but had to do it super regularly and I imagine it was a nightmare to grow out!

 

[Rowreach]

I agree - there is nothing quite like a properly pulled mane for plaiting, I have one that loves nothing more than to be pulled and the others tolerate it loose in the stable with a few shakes of the head along the way.

I just wish there was some other magic way of doing it that gets the same results where I can be certain that it’s not bothering them!

I literally posted above the way I’ve done it for decades which does exactly that …

 

[gunnergundog]

Work the horse hard so that it sweats; makes the hair easier to pull.

 

[pistolpete]

Solo comb or similar. No need to cause any discomfort. We have some archaic ways sometimes. Like having our legs waxed . We can choose though. They can’t!

 

[honetpot]

I stopped pulling years ago, you can tell the ones that have been made sore by pulling, I can pull a mane but wouldn't.
I have natives so you can not have a cut line, and now I use a thining rake, the sort they use of dogs. If you need to thin out the mane you use on the full length of the mane, if it's just a neaten up I just do the final inch. From full grown winter bush with wind knots to a soft do takes about 20mins.
Obviously if you want a neater shorter look for plaiting you are just a bit more careful about neatening up the ends to make it more level..

 

[Squeak]

I use scissors and a rake and find that fine for plaiting. I used to pull manes but after having one that didn't like their mane being pulled I couldn't go back to pulling.

 

[Barklands]

I literally posted above the way I’ve done it for decades which does exactly that …

And what works for some people does not necessarily work for others! I have tried your method previously but don’t find it adequate to get the thickness out …

 

[Rowreach]

And what works for some people does not necessarily work for others! I have tried your method previously but don’t find it adequate to get the thickness out …

.

 

[Wishfilly]

Our gelding who had to be sedated for clipping adored having his mane pulled . His lower lip would go all droopy and he’d doze off - would happily stand still while it was happening so he really didn’t mind.

Mine also is not keen on being clipped but will quite happily let me/people pull his tail/mane. I only ever do tiny amounts at once, though, mainly his tail to keep it tidy-ish.

I definitely think scissors and a comb can produce results which are just as nice!

 

[ester]

I haven't "pulled" a mane in 30 years but I've plaited thousands, literally, in that time and I always trim the manes with a comb and stripping knife - beautiful looking manes and easy to plait with bands or thread (and I'm very fussy). I would only use a rake as a first approach to a very thick mane, and only ever on the underside.

Traditional pulling is a horrible thing.

I would like a demo please

ATM everyone thinks I pull manes properly and keep saying how nice they look, they seems surprised when I say I use a comb and scissors these days.
I did used to pull Frank's properly when it needed plaiting for hunting, it was that lovely combo of thick and wiry, needed quite a lot of gel and plaits stitched in. Looked good when done though. Be useful to have another technique in the box

 

[Rowreach]

I would like a demo please

ATM everyone thinks I pull manes properly and keep saying how nice they look, they seems surprised when I say I use a comb and scissors these days.
I did used to pull Frank's properly when it needed plaiting for hunting, it was that lovely combo of thick and wiry, needed quite a lot of gel and plaits stitched in. Looked good when done though. Be useful to have another technique in the box

I’ll do you a video

 

[ester]

ta!

 

[Honey08]

Oh good. I’d like to see it too.

I love the look of a pulled mane, and find plaiting a mane done any other way doesn’t look as good (spikes!). But I do feel it’s time we stopped pulling. I use a solo comb and rake on my gelding (he would put me in hospital if I tried pulling) and once a year, when he’s sedated for his teeth, I quickly pull his mane so it’s incredibly short and thin, which lasts me ages! I don’t do anything that warrants plaiting nowadays anyway.

 

[LEC]

Pulling after riding and they are warm is easier but tbh if horse doesn’t like it I no longer persevere and will just knife, tail rake and scissors. Tbh result isn’t too bad. I also no longer pull even if horse tolerates it in the winter as find they keep their manes better.

Mine do get their teeth done twice a year by the vet and are sedated so I will do a good thinning at that time with traditional methods if they have a thicker mane.

 

[ihatework]

On a thin-average mane I can get a really good result using a combo of stripping comb & scissors.

On a thicker mane, yes combining the above with a rake to the underside can get a good enough result to have a tidy enough mane to plait but IME it’s no where near as good as a well pulled mane.

A horse that doesn’t like its mane being pulled I’d not pull and use above methods. And for a thin mane I’d use above in preference to pulling. But if the horse is tolerant without coercing them then pulling it is.