Plaiting mane for the heat

[Fruitcake]

This might be a really daft question, but I’m going to ask it anyway...

I thought I might put my little hairy cob’s mane into little individual plaits for the next few days in an attempt to keep him a bit cooler. What should I use to secure the ends? He’s turned out with our others and spends a lot of time grooming and playing with one of them. I’m a bit concerned that if I use plaiting bands they might end up in the other horse’s mouth. Is there anything safer I could use or am I just overthinking it?

 

[milliepops]

I love me a bit of overthinking...i am semi professional at it. but that does sound like overthinking to me! even if they do end up having a munch on it, i don't think the odd plaiting band going down the hatch is going to be a disaster

 

[Snow Falcon]

They may get itchy and pull, a running plait could be a better option perhaps?

 

[planete]

I normally keep my hairy coblet's mane plaited but I took the plaits off at the beginning of the week. I got worried he would catch a plait on something and yank a whole one off when he started rubbing as he has started doing in the heat. I am also surprised to find that he is not sweating under that amount of hair and his very long and thick mane falls on both sides of his neck and seems to protect him from the sun (his neck is cooler than his exposed back). I now feel the hair may act as insulation against both heat and cold.

 

[little_critter]

Probably a no-no for ‘proper’ cobs but I’ve pulled my mares mane. She’s retired, I don’t do it for looks….she has a lot of mane and I assume it’s hot under there. So each summer I give it a bit if a pull (still 2-3 times longer than a proper pulled mane, but probably more comfortable for her)

 

[Sir barnaby]

Saw on her website cooler for neck if in plaits when very hot so here goes?

 

[milliepops]

I used to put kiras mane in bunches rather than plaits, I think it was more comfortable bit still allowed air flow to the neck. I'm leaving it down now though as the field girls need the fly swats

 

[Cowpony]

I thought the latest research showed that their manes kept them cool?

 

[Fruitcake]

Well, I attempted a running plait, but my rubbish hairdressing skills meant it wasn't staying in anyway so gave up and just brushed it through really thoroughly in the hope it might blow about in the breeze and let the air circulate better.

 

[pistolpete]

I was told a running plait more likely to cause a problem if a hoof got caught in it. So I do individual ones. Deffo cooler for him than his chonky highland mane!

 

[ponynutz]

If you want them to stay in and they're staying in for a long time than I'd say rubber band and then sew around the rubber band for extra protection!

 

[pistolpete]

I use human hair bands. Don’t like elastic bands. They pull the hair out.

 

[southerncomfort]

I used to put kiras mane in bunches rather than plaits, I think it was more comfortable bit still allowed air flow to the neck. I'm leaving it down now though as the field girls need the fly swats

I might do this with Bo's mane. It's so long and thick that he gets really sweaty underneath it.

He hates having it in plaits and ends up rubbing chunks of hair out though.

 

[Fransurrey]

I thought the latest research showed that their manes kept them cool?

To a point, they do. I did feel under my cob's mane on Saturday and it was boiling, so I put in a running plait and he's much more comfortable. I guess when the external temp is above body temperature they need the extra surface area to allow heat to dissipate. As for how to tie it, I sacrificed my hair band!!

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

My very dark brown cob is cooler to the touch under her full mane and she hates having her mane restricted in any way, so she usnt plaited.
I am very pleased that neither she nor her Appaloosa friend have been sweating over the last few days. I stood in the shelter yesterday evening and was surprised how hot it was. Its back is to the prevailing wind, which works brilliantly in winter but not so well ATM. It's still cooler than the stables, though.

 

[Sir barnaby]

The other liveries are putting in today and ? when I said I wasn’t. Mine will just scratch and rub and itch on walls or door frames till they sore in the stables which are much hotter and stuffier than outside.
mine have fresh filled troughs so nice clean water. Wet hay as grass burnt off and some trees where they can stand in the shade (which the rarely do) they stand in the middle of the field head down fast asleep by lunchtime. YO keeping an eye on them and will ring if anything untoward. I will go up earlier this evening to replenish wet hay. Luckily there are no flies either so no fly rugs or spray needed at the moment.

 

[Red-1]

Rigs has plaits when it is very hot, he is certainly cooler with them. I hate doing them as it is a faff! I do them once a week.

This week's...

 

[NinjaPony]

My Welsh has big loose plaits in his mane and it does seem to help when it’s very hot.

 

[Fruitcake]

My very dark brown cob is cooler to the touch under her full mane and she hates having her mane restricted in any way, so she usnt plaited.
I am very pleased that neither she nor her Appaloosa friend have been sweating over the last few days. I stood in the shelter yesterday evening and was surprised how hot it was. Its back is to the prevailing wind, which works brilliantly in winter but not so well ATM. It's still cooler than the stables, though.

Our field shelter is much the same. It’s a real sun trap under the overhang. It’s much cooler in the shade behind it. One of ours (thankfully not the one with the really long mane but a black horse, nevertheless) insists on standing there for a doze.