Need help with mane

[NagsEquestrian]

I need some help with my Appy youngsters mane. I've already had hog her, keep her hooded, let it stick up and that's just how Appies are, and I reject those answers, so some proper practical advice needed please!

My girls mane is about 10 inches long, it's been trimmed a handful of times since she was a foal. It's naturally very thin and she has a dorsal type stripe in teh middle of her mane that has slightly shorter hair in it. At the moment I'm pretty sure it's only the length that's keeping it over on one side and not in the air.
I don't want a horse with it's mane sticking up (I would have bought a Fjord if I did), so does anyone have any ideas on how I could get it looking neat and flat?
I'm aiming her at western and endurance and won't be plaiting up very often or at all really, just want a nice neat mane.

A bit of a useless pic but all I can find that shows off her mane

 

[AmyMay]

Why not just stop trimming it, and allow it to grow out for a few months?

 

[NagsEquestrian]

10 inches is 5 years worth of mane growth. I've only ever taken the end off it a handful of times since she was a foal.

 

[AmyMay]

10 inches is 5 years worth of mane growth. I've only ever taken the end off it a handful of times since she was a foal.

You've stated in your op that she's been hogged, and hooded - neither are great for mane growth

But I suspect the real problem is messing with it when she was a foal. Usually guaranteed to ruin a good mane.

 

[NagsEquestrian]

No, I've had suggestions of hog her, hood her and let it stick up

I need some help with my Appy youngsters mane. I've already had hog her, keep her hooded, let it stick up and that's just how Appies are, and I reject those answers, so some proper practical advice needed please!

 

[AmyMay]

Sorry, I totally misread that.

 

[NagsEquestrian]

Anyone got any ideas?

 

[POLLDARK]

How about the regular use of a hair gel, just on the top few inches, which would condition it at the same time.

 

[Eriskayowner]

Biotin is good for hoof growth, but as hoof and hair are both structural proteins then it might encourage hair growth?

I'd also keep plaiting it over with some gel or something on, keeping the plaits in for a few days, then keeping it brushed over.

 

[partypremier]

Had similar problem when growing out a hogged mane. It was very fine & wispy.
Wet mane small bit of gel then lots of narrow plaits 1.5 inches wide leave them in for a week then redo if necessary. If you keep them narrow it limits hair breakage. Our horse took about 6 weeks to stay over nicely. I trimmed the bottom with a pulling knife to keep it level which made it look thicker & tidy.
Rose always had a thin mane but if you keep it level it will appear thicker.

 

[kirstykate]

Try MegaTek Rebuilder, works wonders on rubbed manes.

 

[NagsEquestrian]

Managed to get a much better picture of her mane this weekend