Mane Pulling Advice

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tye_bo

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Any advice for a horse that hates their mane pulled? Even with a solo comb she hates it and shakes her head making it impossible to do. In fact even if you MIME/pretend to pull it she goes mad. I know for a fact she's not had it pulled for 10 years and she had to be twitched then.
 
Spend a lot of time scratching and rubbing her up and down her mane, then start using the comb to scratch her, so that she gets used to it. I did this with a youngster once who was terrified of having her mane done - it took a long time to gain her trust, but eventually she stood still long enough for me to get it looking semi tidy. Thing is, if she hasnt had it pulled for 10 years its going to be dreadfully thick and will really hurt her, so in actual fact you may never be able to pull it properly, not while she's conscious, anyway. You could try running your hands underneath her mane - there may be a lot that will come away in your hands, and she may not be as stressed if you aren't using the 'back-comb, pull' action.
 
Thanks MizElz. Yes it's the back comb, pull action that she hates. The mane isn't so bad, it hasn't been completely left and she has had it solo'd from time to time but not as often as I'd like. I'll have to go softly softly as you say.
 
Sedation? A bit drastic I know, but it was the only way I could pull the mane of our old pony. What about starting it off with one of those tail rake thingies that some people on here rave about.
 
I know it's less than ideal but if she's really difficult you could try thinning scissors to tidy it up a bit.
 
if it's not really thick, i'd just use scissors tbh. otherwise, just pluck the longest hairs using only fingers not a comb, so no backcombing. a few at a time very frequently and you'll get it all done eventually.
would it be worth giving a couple of days' worth of bute (if not competing, obv) to take the sting out maybe?
some horses are really sensitive and if it hurts them, i'm not surprised they object tbh.
 
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some horses are really sensitive and if it hurts them, i'm not surprised they object tbh.

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ditto that,, would be better to trim with sissors and not cause any pain at all, n then later on maybe you will be able to do a bit of pulling!! I hate the epilady anyone tried to get near me with that, think would cry alot!!!!!
 
The thing is the solo comb doesn't hurt so I'm not sure what she's objecting to, must be a past memory so I don't think bute will do anything in this case.

Just off the topic slightly but do show jumpers have their manes cut - they are so exact and precise they look like they've been cut?
 
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Just off the topic slightly but do show jumpers have their manes cut - they are so exact and precise they look like they've been cut?

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i think they r deffo cut, and sometimes i wounder if the grooms have straightners in their kits too!!! i like the look, if done well, can look really awful if not!! You do need a very long set of sissors to get the best look oh and a spirit level and at least six hours!!!..
 
If it also needs thinning you could try the Olster (not sure if that spelling is correct?) you just comb mane over to wrong side and then comb through
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