Opinions over mane length

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rachk89

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So recently I have been getting told that I should pull my horses mane as it's too long apparently. It's maybe about 5-6 inches long on one side and 3-4 on the other (it refuses to all stay on one side).

I don't see the big deal. He isn't going to any competitions any time soon so what's the problem? I quite like it long anyway haha. Plus someone tried pulling it a while ago (without my permission I asked them to clip my horse and they tried that too so I wasn't happy) but my horse made it very clear he didn't want that done.

Anyone really picky over manes/tails? I just don't care not when it's not necessary to keep him looking smart. A lot of effort for nothing to me.
 
Ahahahahah you just do what you want with your horse's mane or tail ^^
That's not their business, if you want it long, short, with holes in it, or perfectly well cut .... ;)

Mine, I try to keep in at the same length everywhere and that's all.
 
Unless the mane is getting tangled in stuff or catching there isn't any particular need to pull it outside of wanting to look nice. Some natives have wonderful full manes and tails. My last Sec A had a magnificent mane which reached right down his legs. However we did a lot of work to keep it clean, free from tangles etc. And he did get warm under all that in the summer so we kept it in a loose running plait for him.

But if you don't mind what he looks like and the length isn't difficult to keep clean, untangled etc then its no-one's business but yours.

But don't ask someone else to clip your horse if you don't want them to finish the job!
 
Your horse .... you do as you please :)

I do like a short mane and I am forever cleaning/tidying/clipping/pulling my horses, but that is my choice :)
 
Once upon a time an old man and a young boy set off to market with their donkey. On the way, they passed some people who remarked how stupid it was to lead a donkey when that poor old man could ride. So the old man got on the donkey. A couple of miles further on, they met another group who tutted and hummed saying that it was very hard for a full grown man to ride a donkey while the poor young lad had to walk. So the old man got off the donkey and the boy got on. Two miles down the road, a group travelling in the opposite direction stopped and laughed at the pair. How stupid for only one to ride when they both could do so as the donkey was obviously strong enough to carry them both. So both the man and the boy got on the donkey. A bit further on, they met some more people who were totally shocked to see two people on one poor little donkey. "Why, those cruel brutes are the ones that should be carrying the donkey, not the other way around", they shouted. So the old man and the boy got off and carried the donkey the rest of the journey. At the fair, they were a laughing stock -- which just goes to show you can't please all of the people all of the time. Whatever you decide is going to upset someone.
 
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Why are you worrying about what other people think? Either ignore them or tell them to mind their own business - it's your horse. As for the comment about not asking someone else to clip; I would have thought that most horses would have stood for long enough being clipped without being expected to stand to have the mane pulled. Anyway it is good practice to pull the mane when the horse is warm after exercise.
My cob's mane comes down to her knees and it is my business whether it is tangled or not. I certainly wouldn't be shortening your horse's mane unnecessarily at this time of the year.
 
rachk89 said:
So recently I have been getting told that I should pull my horses mane as it's too long apparently. It's maybe about 5-6 inches long on one side and 3-4 on the other (it refuses to all stay on one side).

I don't see the big deal. He isn't going to any competitions any time soon so what's the problem? I quite like it long anyway haha. Plus someone tried pulling it a while ago (without my permission I asked them to clip my horse and they tried that too so I wasn't happy) but my horse made it very clear he didn't want that done.

Anyone really picky over manes/tails? I just don't care not when it's not necessary to keep him looking smart. A lot of effort for nothing to me.
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Personally I hate short manes.



I am HUGELY picky over my manes. Like you my mares mane was on both sides, I have plated and put a turnout neck cover on all her rugs now as I sold this one in picture and every time I see a bit on wrong side I move it back. Now my mares mane is 99% all on one side and I am really happy.

Don't let anyone tell you different, but if it is as lovely as you say I would try tame it on one side with gels or neck cover.

This is my mare the day I moved her here as you can see mane on both sides


IMG_1270_zpstxr0knmd.jpg

Last week when I lunged her it is all over the other side and this is after 20 mins lunging the mane stays put
IMG_2401_zpskqzyiii6.jpg
 
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See i ain't worried about what people think just getting a bit confused as to why it's apparently so necessary to pull a mane when the horse isn't going anywhere special haha. I don't care if he is 'scruffy' for his breed I mean he is an oldenburg X Connemara so he has the nativeness from the Connie side but he looks like an oldenburg. So i guess it looks stupid for his breed but meh.

On the comments about clipping I asked them to clip him i said nothing about doing his mane or tail. Also he has to be sedated to be clipped and he just got his neck and belly done as he came round from the sedation quicker than normal so his clip is scruffy too but again he isn't going anywhere special so i don't care. Main thing is he is no longer too hot haha. I know it would wind some people up though.

It's never got tangles in it though i do brush it regularly and keep it clean. He loves me brushing it but hates it being pulled. Or maybe he just didn't like her pulling it he might be alright with me but i have never tried.
 
rachk89 said:
just getting a bit confused as to why it's apparently so necessary to pull a mane when the horse isn't going anywhere special haha.
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It isn't necessary! Just enjoy your horse and ignore the comments or as pearls.....singer says tell them to mind their own business.
 
Your horse, your choice. Personally I hate long manes and like mine pulled nice and short. Same with tails - tails banged short and properly pulled. Ears clipped out, whiskers off.

Just personal preference.
 
I prefer to keep my boys' manes short, tails and bridle paths trimmed, and whiskers off.

One of mine is currently sporting long flowing locks and I have to admit I am rather tempted to take the scissors to them (!)
 
Your horse, your decision to do with your horse as you please. I love long manes and do everything I can to get them longer!! ;)
 
Haha you guys would freak if you saw my boy. Long mane long tail bridke path not trimmed whiskers long he kind of has a beard too and has long eye lashes. None of it bothers him but he doesn't look well trimmed haha.
 
I don't like long manes and feathers, unless it's breed standard - when it tends to look right. I particularly hate manes that are neither long or short, and feathers that are half way house-ish, on horses who are not bred to pull a plough. I think it makes an attractive horse look very common, so mine are kept trimmed.

I don't care what other people do with their horses - different strokes for different folks.
 
Dry Rot said:
Once upon a time an old man and a young boy set off to market with their donkey. On the way, they passed some people who remarked how stupid it was to lead a donkey when that poor old man could ride. So the old man got on the donkey. A couple of miles further on, they met another group who tutted and hummed saying that it was very hard for a full grown man to ride a donkey while the poor young lad had to walk. So the old man got off the donkey and the boy got on. Two miles down the road, a group travelling in the opposite direction stopped and laughed at the pair. How stupid for only one to ride when they both could do so as the donkey was obviously strong enough to carry them both. So both the man and the boy got on the donkey. A bit further on, they met some more people who were totally shocked to see two people on one poor little donkey. "Why, those cruel brutes are the ones that should be carrying the donkey, not the other way around", they shouted. So the old man and the boy got off and carried the donkey the rest of the journey. At the fair, they were a laughing stock -- which just goes to show you can't please all of the people all of the time. Whatever you decide is going to upset someone.
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:D Perfect
 
Three of mine have long manes, I might tidy them up a bit in the spring but other than that I leave them alone and they look fab. But my old gelding has a short mane - it's thinner than the others and just gets straggly so I keep it short and tidy.
 
Since mine have retired from proper level competition they've not had their manes pulled and they're not moaning! I also don't clip out ears or take off whiskers, even competing and showing at county level ;)
 
I think it depends on what is right for the breed and what you do with them, plus whatever you can manage.

You wouldn't pull an iberian horse's mane or tail, but you would a tb (if it suited you).

As I've grown older and had a family, I find the faff bothersome and these days if I could shave the whole bloody lot off I would! However, due to lack of time, all are as nature intended. I can't even be bothered with rugs anymore.

If you asked the younger me, I would probably have have said pull and trim to perfection but that person has left the building! :D
 
Mine are all different, I don't really have preference! I have two retired, one is hogged around April for his sweet itch, it's just starting to lie flat now, I think he looks smarter hogged but don't do it over winter so he has a bit of protection (mine all live out)

The other was hogged when I bought him, when it grew out and I thought it wanted shortening to tidy up, I discovered why he was hogged - he would not tolerate even a solo comb. The action of back combing had him on his back legs and I haven't tried since. He's a tbx and I didn't think a long mane would suit him, but it really does! He did look very cool when it was growing out and sticking straight up though :P

My riding horse is a heavy cob, he has all his feather for protection from wet/mud but I keep his mane at 4/5 inches as it tangles in the reins and looks scruffy imo if it's much longer. I usually don't like a medium length mane, but it works for him.

I don't care how others choose to keep their horse's manes/tails, the horses themselves don't care so why should anyone else?
I would have been furious if someone had tried to pull my horse's mane when I'd just asked them to clip him.
 
there isn't a *need*, your horse, your choice. All of mine are breeds that should be kept natural anyway but even if they weren't I am the sort of terrible person who just doesn't care and I equally don't care whether mane falls to left or right or both. For my natives its an important part of their weather proofing and for the lusitano, its an important part of him being pretty (and sometimes thats all he's got going for him when he's being a **** to catch ;) ).
 
I have a warmblood who should have a short mane but she doesn't because she looks pretty with a long mane, she doesn't allow pulling or solo combing without a massive argument and its a really good thing for holding onto through shenanigans. I couldn't care less what people think, she's all mine.
 
Mine's left to its own devices because he doesn't wear/won't tolerate wearing a neck rug and it keeps his neck dry since it's so big, thick and doublesided.
I used to keep my old horse's mane almost short enough to stick straight up because it improved the look of his neck line. I took him out a lot and therefore wanted him to look his best so I could show him off :)
 
For me, what many others consider 'smart' turnout is not aesthetically pleasing as it looks artificial - too primped and preened. I find long, flowing locks, fluffy ears, whiskers and hairy heels/feathers (with all the mud and stains removed) much more becoming on a horse and that includes my old TB, who looked smashing IMO with a long mane and tail.
 
Personally I like a tidy, short pulled mane - my boy looks awful if I let it grow - and we jump so I like him to look tidy.
I do admire full manes and feathers etc on traditionals and welshies but I wouldn't choose to have one.
It's your horse so what does it matter what anyone else thinks though!
 
Phemme said:
Mine's left to its own devices because he doesn't wear/won't tolerate wearing a neck rug and it keeps his neck dry since it's so big, thick and doublesided.
I used to keep my old horse's mane almost short enough to stick straight up because it improved the look of his neck line. I took him out a lot and therefore wanted him to look his best so I could show him off :)
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Yeah i mean i would make it neater if he was actually going somewhere but he isn't. He isn't ready for showing he can't stand near another horse without wanting to go and say hello to it which i doubt the judges would appreciate. He also isn't ready for dressage until he learns to bend on the right rein and not nap and spook to get out of work haha. I am just lazy really not gonna spend time on it when i don't have to.
 
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