nightmare mane - mane rake experiences?

[cob&onion]

My mare won't tolerate a mane comb with a blade, or a standard pulling comb. She will let me brush through it with a plastic curry comb and a plastic comb. As soon as 2 hands are involved she gets very irrate and it gets dangerous!!
I was thinking of trying a mane rake as its quite thick and needs around 2" off it in length. So do you think she will notice the difference with the rake?? i think it was the sound of the blade comb and using 2 hands that she didnt like.
Never used a rake before - is it the kind of tool i can use one handed so she won't notice ??

 

[ThePony]

if it's two inches and she is that tricky I would just cut it off and then 'feather' the bottom of the mane. You can either just comb as usual with a mane comb (only one hand needed!) or point the ends of the scissors upwards and take little snips along the bottom of the mane. Do it carefully and it looks just fine, certainly not like a horrid cut mane!! (if you cut towards the ears it seems to make a better job of it).

 

[cob&onion]

Always weary about using scissors but i suppose i could try *cutting into it* rather than straight across thus avoiding the soup bowl look

 

[Tr0uble]

Will she let you wash it? If so, when it's wet brush it down really flat on to her neck, and cut straight across...then when it dries you get a slightly less basin cut edge....you can also do the odd bit of feathering to thin the thicker bits if needed...this is how I do my boys manes...

I do like a longer mane, and it works for Rhythm because his mane is thick...snips looks fine shorter done with this method as his is less Afro!

 

[ecrozier]

Trouble - what a good idea!! Did you literally just cut straight across?
Op mane rakes work great for thinning but wouldn't rely for shortening. My big lad is the same and we go with a tube of sedalin and a pair of scissors!!

 

[Tr0uble]

Yep, literally straight across....on a thick mane I wouldn't cut dry, but wet gives a much better, but still crisp, edge.

At the top of this mane I might chip upwards with the scissors a little, occasionally, as it is thick there, but less so the longer it gets.

I had a mane rake and it looks fine when you first do it, but makes the mane a nightmare to plait if your not careful, and I found that each time I did it the mane looked worse.

 

[cob&onion]

Will she let you wash it? If so, when it's wet brush it down really flat on to her neck, and cut straight across...then when it dries you get a slightly less basin cut edge....you can also do the odd bit of feathering to thin the thicker bits if needed...this is how I do my boys manes...

I do like a longer mane, and it works for Rhythm because his mane is thick...snips looks fine shorter done with this method as his is less Afro!

looks like a prefectly pulled mane this is the length i want my cobs to be.

It was this:

Now its this: (not the most flattering pic of her but you get the general idea ) the forelock was no problem to do. Infact it prob needs more like 3 - 4 inches off it

 

[Tr0uble]

Looks to have a very similar mane to Rhythms....def worth a try!

 

[cob&onion]

Will try washing it tomorrow and get the scissors out thanks for that, i really hope it works aswell on her mane as it did on yours

 

[Tr0uble]

The trick is to comb it really flat before you cut, then when it dries and springs back you get the less chopped edge!

 

[Tr0uble]

Oh, and remember not to cut it as short as you want it to end up as when it dries it will shorten as the hair lifts, I normally leave an extra inch on, bit you might need to trial and error till you figure out what works best....cut cautiously and remember it's easier to take more off than it is to wait for it to grow!