Long Manes and Combo rugs

[haras]

Ok, This is an EXTREMLY important post!

My arab mare does not normally wear a combo rug, as I'm so paranoid about her mane. However, she is now living out 24/7 and has zero winter coat, and very little shelter.

so I'm thinking she ought to have a combo rug on... so

Please tell me how to save her two foot long mane.

Plaits? Baby oil? something else? If it falls out / gets rubbed out I will actually be devastated!

Ta!

 

[wattamus]

I wouldn't even bother to be honest. Combo rugs have only just, well not only just but they've not been around for ages. Horses manage just fine with standard neck rugs. I put my horse in a combo rug for the last two years, within the first month the bottom half of her mane had gone and it took till september to grow it back. She now just has standard neck rugs.
Was your horse out 24/7 last year? did she have a full neck on last year? If the answers are yes and no respectivley then i wouldn't bother. It's a lot of hassle for what sounds like a lovely mane x

 

[Jnhuk]

My boy always rubs a three to four inch section of his mane when I put neck rug on so I try and leave off as much as possible. The combo rugs with the attached necks are better but still rub. If your mare has such a long mane do you really need a neck rug even if our 24/7 with field with little shelter?

I was advised to use a Dove conditioner to help stop the rubbing but forgotten which one but essential same idea as baby oil.

 

[teddyt]

If the horse really needs a full neck rug then you will have to accept she will lose some mane. With a traditional rug, just feed more hay- it will keep her warm from the inside. Then she will also have her own neck cover- her mane!

 

[haras]

She was on box rest last winter after colic surgery, so was just in a standard neck stable rug. The winter before that she was out during the day and in at night in a standard neck rug.

I might just leave her be in her normal neck rug then. I'll read all the ideas though. Maybe I'll just pop a combo on on particularly horrible days/nights and put the standard neck back on on all other days.

Here she is back in May, it's a bit longer now. Fortunately her foal didn't take a liking to it! Crib stop works wonders!

 

[appylass]

In my experience I find a proper combo (i.e. no detachable neck) seems to protect manes more than other rugs. I have a highland with a very long mane, his combo has never rubbed his mane out and I don't do anything special to it. I had three others in full necks last winter - no mane loss on any of them. I know others will say different but that's how it has been for me. Good luck!

ETA no one else had replied when I started typing!

 

[haras]

They have ad lib hay, big bales put out in the field.

 

[superted1989]

I had a cob mare on loan last winter, first time I've ever used a combo (or any type of full neck). Thankfully, it came with her as she lost a good few inches almost straight away. She's hogged during the summer months, so it doesn't matter.
Markie is shown as a traditional and has a wonderful mane that acts as a neckwarmer, even though he's fully clipped! He does wear Rhino rugs though, they come up higher than standard necks.