Manes - how to thin without cutting as such?!

[MagicMelon]

My horse has a DREADFUL mane. He is half Luso and seems to have taken on their naturally thick mane

He events & BSJA's so must have a short/thin mane to plait up. He refuses to have it pulled - makes a massive fuss (he's very woosy). To shorten it I used to use a solo comb but found scissors are better (cut up the way to feather it, not straight across). Last year I used one of those smart tails gadgets, the comb thing which you comb the mane with on the wrong side and is basically cuts the hair to thin it out, however this year its growing back in and stick bolt upright!!! Its looks awful. Ive tried using the comb again but it doesnt seem to cut the upright bits. HELP?!

 

[AmyMay]

I have a similar problem. Thumper hates having his mane pulled - to the point he'll throw himself on the floor (prat!!).

I use a combination of the tail rake you mention and a pulling comb. But I don't use the rake on the wrong side as it were.

What I do is use the rake to shorten the ends only on the correct side - and ocassionaly and sneakily pull little bits as well. It's all a bit time consuming - but I did it again yesterday actually - and he's looking very smart.

I love a short 'punky' mane and agree this can be a problem with using the rake. But think it's very smexy!!!

 

[Simsar]

Can you not twitch him/her??