Manes and thoroughbreds..

[mrsk29]

My boy has quite a long mane for a tb but I like it long, how do you prefer your tbs?

and more recent...

 

[Ginger Bear]

When I first got him he had quite a long thin messy mane but it quite suited him and I kept it for as long as I could get away with it, but once it needed doing I had it short and have kept it that way..

 

[flying solo]

I like it short, looks alot neater.

 

[Capriole]

short, or she just looks scruffy

 

[Holzdweaver]

I prefer it short, even if it does stick up in the air sometimes xD

Length when i first got him:

How i keep it now:

 

[starryeyed]

Your boy is gorgeous (as is yours ^^ !!)
When I first got my loan horse her mane was a little bit longer than it "should" be as it had outgrown it's pulled length, but because its quite fine and she's a delicate little thing I actually think it really suits her like that. I do keep it "neater" now that we go out & about a bit more but i think she's lucky enough to pull off both looks, so i don't have to stress about it getting a bit out of control

 

[Lolo]

Short and all the same length so if plaiting time is limited it doesn't matter as they still look smart enough (only for local dressage!).

It's usually a bit shorter than this though...

 

[Bosworth]

my TB has the mane of an exmoor pony, honestly I have never seen anything so thick. And the width across the top of his crest is about 2.5 inches. Not fat/ laminitic or anything like that, he is just very wide across his crest. So i have to leave his mane longer than i like. I prefer short manes, so i pulled his all to about 4 inches, big mistake, his crest was so wide the plaits were really short. So now I leave his mane at about 5.5 inches which allows me the chance to plait. Pulling his mane takes days, there is just so much of it. I would love a nice fine thin mane that just lies on one side and looks neat. I have a bog brush, lying all over the place and upwards.

 

[FowlerstoneArizona]

Mines kept short as its very curly and very fluffy, when I bought him it was very long and resembled an afro!

x

 

[KVH]

Short-but top half slightly resembles a bog brush..

 

[debsg]

Jasmine's is long atm, but I will pull it in the Spring. Would never EVER touch her tail though! How many people pull TB's tails? I was always taught never to touch them. But I am knocking on a bit maybe times have changed!

 

[tonitot]

Ethels is long at the moment, mainly because I haven't summoned up the courage to attack it again. She's horrible to have her mane pulled and to me it always looks uneven so I keep going until it's beyond ever being straight and then I have to leave it to grow out before I attempt it again

 

[mrsk29]

I'm going to smarten him up in spring but it will still be long, it's very straight usually too so I think looks quite smart.. I don't touch tails either..

 

[monkeybum13]

Short, cannot stand long manes on TBs



Lolo, he is gorgeous

Short and all the same length so if plaiting time is limited it doesn't matter as they still look smart enough (only for local dressage!).

It's usually a bit shorter than this though...

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

I perfer mine short. Depending on the thickness of mane as to how short they go as I show and need to plait them. Laurel and Kyle both have very thin manes so theirs stay slightly longer so there is more to plait. Gray's is very thick in the middle of neck but he get's pulled to a normal length and then thinned slightly where appropriate. And then you get Jeff who has THE most fantastic mane! Just the right thickness all the way along, always lies plat with a slight wave in it and it pulls to the perfect length for plaiting without even trying

All of my manes are really long just now as it is winter and they need them for warmth - that's my excuse and I am sticking to it! Lol! In the spring they will all be pulled and kept neat until next winter.

 

[GypsyGirl]

I like mine pulled nice and short, she doesn't like it pulled and I'm no good at it so I have to wait for my YO to come down from newmarket to do it for me lol she does it really well. I don't like long manes on tbs ESP mine (she doesn't have much neck muscles ATM so long mane would look awful on her)

 

[domane]

I normally have hairy, feathered cobs so when I had my TB I let his mane grow. But it really didn't suit him so I pulled it and he looked SO much better. So I'm surprisingly myself by saying "SHORT"

 

[GypsyGirl]

Debsg: I don't pull her tail I leave it, but I do cut it at the bottom so it's not long, I like that short (not as short as racehorses) but just her neat and tidy

 

[Lolo]

Jasmine's is long atm, but I will pull it in the Spring. Would never EVER touch her tail though! How many people pull TB's tails? I was always taught never to touch them. But I am knocking on a bit maybe times have changed!

Reg's tail is pulled and banged so it is immaculate at all times. Think sister is mildly obsessed with keeping it neat- he won't stand for a tail plait so it gets raked very carefully.

monkeybum13- thank you I'm very biased in my agreement, but I always thought plain brown faces were boring until Al got him. The mane is all done with a solo comb and a thinning rake though. If he thinks you're going to pull it he has a meltdown so we don't pick that battle!

 

[C&C]

Pulled short, neat and tidy. Dont like long manes.

 

[Beausmate]

Both of mine have thick manes and tails and they're roughed off at the mo, so looking a bit dishevelled. One has a nice, even mane and the other, well, I really can't do a thing with it! It's very thick and grows up his neck towards his ears, pulling it is a big no vote from him and I value my life too much to argue! So if we're doing anything where he has to be smart, I hog him. He's a chunky sort and carries it off rather well, the other one will have his pulled and looks really smart with it short, but in more of a showjumper style than event horse-if you know what I mean. Long manes just make them look scruffy and a bit old.

 

[Meowy Catkin]

Look away long mane haters!

She is retired and lives out, so she doesn't need to be smart anymore.

 

[Chestnuttymare]

Mine has a nice short mane, it gets done regularly, really because she likes having it pulled. She is a bit weird, loves her tail being done but i just really take away the side bits that tend to fan out. I cut the bottom to keep it neat looking and brush it daily. I don't mind other people with long manes on their tbs, their choice really.

 

[mrsk29]

Love all the pics... I don't do any competitions or anything so I have no need to plait, i can see why some keep short though..

 

[Mare Stare]

I like long manes. I actually dislike the pulled look.

 

[caramel]

Mine hates his being pulled so I just trim it when it begins to get too long. Just tidies it up a bit. We don't compete so doesn't matter about plaiting. I don't like him too scruffy!

 

[Carefreegirl]

My mare has a the mane of a Shetland on acid ! She hates having it pulled so it's either twitch and 30 mins or no twitch, an hour at least and bruised toes. Her tail is not pulled as she will kick you but she loves the Oster comb on it - bit bizarre but she'll lift her tail and curl it over for you and then back into you if you stop. I can pull out stragglers but it is literally one at a time. By the time you've finished you need to start again as it's grown back. Her tail is also kept quite short, prob about 6 inches below the hock.

 

[jesterfaerie]

I prefer short manes but his is rather long at the moment and desperately needs pulling but suits him as he is lacking topline, may be a job for tomorrow if it is icy again.

Shorter

He has an awkward mane, it lays forwards and I don't find it the easiest man to pull straight.