Mane Pulling

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kal40

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I have just bought a gorgeous Welsh Dxcob who has previously been shown and has a very long mane.

I don't plan to show him and decided I would tidy his mane up but I have discovered he hates it - to the point of almost pinning me up against the wall. He is ok if I brush/comb his mane but if I back comb it to start pulling he gets really upset.

I have solo-combed it a bit to make a start but I prefer the proper pulled look (especially as I want to have the option of plaiting for hunting).

Does anyone have any tips (apart from twitching) to help? Also, I have read about the mane comb used on a tail in the thread further down but would this be better than a solo comb?
 
Don't use a mane/tail rake on the mane otherwise your poor pony will end up looking like a hedgehog!
grin.gif
They are great for tails not good for manes.

Can I ask why no twitch?
 
Have you tried on a hot day (if we ever get another!) and/or just after he has been worked? I find the hair comes out more easily then.

I pull most of the manes on my livery yard and in most cases I find that the horses get grumpy at the very top and bottom of the mane. I guess the skin is less 'fleshy' at each end of the neck! I solocomb those bits and just pull in the middle where the mane is usually thickest anyway.

If I have a tricky horse I usually put a big bowl of chaff and sugarbeet in front of them hooked on a gate/door to distract and keep the head somewhere helpful. Then get cracking, pulling small bits at a time. If you are patient enough, you can just pull a few hairs which the horse usually doesn't notice. Also just doing a few inches down the mane each day can help to avoid the 'red mist' coming down!

I think I've also seen clove oil recommended on here, to rub into the roots of the hair - it numbs the skin slightly.

Alternatively, do what I did the first time I pulled my mare's mane - wait til she is sedated to have her teeth done, and get in there quick!
 
[ QUOTE ]
Don't use a mane/tail rake on the mane otherwise your poor pony will end up looking like a hedgehog!
grin.gif
They are great for tails not good for manes.

Can I ask why no twitch?

[/ QUOTE ]

dont i know it?!

thats one mistake i wont make again in a hurry!

is not too bad if you keep a long mane thats never plaited, and you go careful, but if you do plait dont use it
smile.gif
 
dont backcomb if thats what sets horse off and just take a couple of hairs at a time
ive seen a horse whos owner insisted was terrible/violent when having mane pulled, watched owner pull and she was taking socking great hunks of hair at a time, no wonder beastie was upset!
 
I have no problem with twitching I just can't do that alone and thought someone might have another option.

Apparently he is a little tinker to clip too. He gets his teeth done in October so with a little extra sedation, he might come out with a lot less hair than he went in with.

Thanks for the replies folks.
 
Just a quick tip - if you plan to clip under sedation too, get that done before you pull the mane! In my experience, some horses sweat up when they are sedated, so the clipping gets hard (and not great for your clippers) unless you are pretty speedy
smile.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
Don't use a mane/tail rake on the mane otherwise your poor pony will end up looking like a hedgehog!
grin.gif
They are great for tails not good for manes.

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree with that, I used one last year to thin my horses mane out and this year it looks awful - 1/2 (side) of it sticks bolt upright
frown.gif
I dont know what to do with it!! Mine also refuses to have it pulled and I wouldnt force him to either, must hurt like hell.
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Don't use a mane/tail rake on the mane otherwise your poor pony will end up looking like a hedgehog!
grin.gif
They are great for tails not good for manes.

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree with that, I used one last year to thin my horses mane out and this year it looks awful - 1/2 (side) of it sticks bolt upright
frown.gif
I dont know what to do with it!! Mine also refuses to have it pulled and I wouldnt force him to either, must hurt like hell.

[/ QUOTE ]

Mine's exactly the same and I have the same problem. Any ideas very welcome!
smile.gif
 
HI there,

I think this is something you have to approach very slowly and almost casually. As you brush his mane, just pull a few hairs out - just once in each session initially, almost so he doesn't notice! Even if you get away with it once, don't be tempted to have another go in that session. Do this every day for a few days and then slowly increase the number of times you take some out - always making sure you remove literally just a few hairs. Doing his whole mane will take longer this way, but at least you will get it done and won't upset the horse. It may well be that in the past his mane has been pulled too much in one session. leaving him sore. It should be quite easy to remove just a few hairs as you brush - give it a go and let us know how you get on!
 
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