Native manes and hoods

[Adoni123]

Hiya all,

Looking for some tips to save the mane. I've not had a native for a long time and we didn't used to clip them at all.

My pony is clipped so when it's cold (which is most of the time) he has a rug on including a hood. I've been trying to take the hood off as much as possible but can't run up and down to the yard constantly when I see a speck of sun!

I am worried about the mane rub considering we will be out and about come spring and the mane will need to be natural and beautiful...

Any ideas to save the mane?!

 

[CanteringCarrot]

When my PRE had a long thick mane I kept it plaited and had no rubbing issues from his hood or his high necked rugs.

 

[catkin]

Does he actually need a hood? My clipped natives have rugs without necks/hoods.

As for mane care: use fingers to untangle rather than brushing daily, maybe hot-cloth the roots if scurfy, good nutrition making sure he has his vits and mins and some linseed and perhaps if he is OK with it rub a little olive oil into the hair every now and then.

 

[Snow Falcon]

Instead of a hood, try getting a half neck rug.

 

[Nudibranch]

My Dales does fine hunter clipped but with no neck. I show her so need her mane intact - there's no other way to do it imo!

 

[Annagain]

Another one who says ditch the neck cover completely. You say he only has a rug when it's cold so he can't have that much coat clipped off. He'll be fine.

 

[Gloi]

I've never used a rug with a neck on my natives apart from for ones with sweet itch

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Snuggy hoods are the only things that don't rub you can buy the headless ones which work well to keep them cleaner, but I tend to not use any sort of neck cover that often only in freezing vile weather on my Arab's and they are clipped and cope fine they are never cold.

 

[Nasicus]

Snuggy hoods are the only things that don't rub you can buy the headless ones which work well to keep them cleaner, but I tend to not use any sort of neck cover that often only in freezing vile weather on my Arab's and they are clipped and cope fine they are never cold.

Depends on the horse, rubbed a couple of mine terribly, where as another was absolutely fine with them! Definitely try get one second hand or on sale before investing in new, and get a couple so you can regularly wash them to prevent grease buildup inside them which causes friction.

 

[First Frost]

I do use neck covers on my Connemara's who are full clipped, however I have detachable necks and always use a no fill neck whatever weight rug they are wearing.

 

[teddypops]

Don’t use a neck cover. Even when clipped my horses don’t have them. The natives with their manes would roast!