Pulling a mane without being killed!

Alf is perfectly happy to let me pull his mane with him loose on the stable/field, apart from the top 3 inches, so I use a comb and scissors. I pull the comb through to the length I want it, then cut diagonally into the mane up to the comb. Once I'm done, I use my fingers to whip out the stragglers.

I had a pony who hated it to the point of being dangerous - so I hogged her every winter. By the time the show season started, it was just plaitable, and it stayed short enough all summer.
 
My first horse I hogged (or roached as we said in the US) for the show season and then felt riddled with guilt for hacking off her summer fly protection, given to her by millions of years of evolution, for mere social convention.
 
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Foxhunter - handstripping a terrier is not the same as pulling a mane! That coat is ready to come out. The hair comes out very easy. A bit like brushing a horse in spring and getting out a load of loose hair. A horses mane doesn't moult like that, that hair isn't meant to come out and some horses find it painful.

OP if you're determined to do it only take a few hairs at a time. Not a big lump that you have to yank to get out. Do it after riding when the horse is hot so the pores are open, it hurts less, and only do an inch of mane per day. Make it a regular maintenance thing instead of leaving it to get long and thick then pulling it all at once.
 
I ride a few horses that love their mane being pulled, they seem to find it very relaxing.

My lad, on the other hand, hates it. I attempted it once, and gave up after 2 minutes. He used to suffer from sweet itch, so now I'm just grateful he has a mane, even if it is all long and scraggly.

I would say if your horse doesnt like it, don't do it. It's not worth it for vanity
 
georgiegirl said:
lolo do you not end up with loads of sticky out bits when you plait up when you have used a solo comb?

Autumn has a huge thick irish mane and needs sedating to have it pulled :( I tried solocombing it last year and it looked great unplaited when we plaited her we ended up with 'frizzy' looking plaits with little bits sticking out of them everywhere. Perhaps Im not doing it right??
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No, none at all- that was my concern too!

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These are old plaits, as I'd dne them the previous morning, hence the slightly scruffy look... But no sticky out bits.

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My sister's first plaiting attempt, but still no sticky out bits.

I wet the mane first, and do lots of tiny plaits usually. Now he's showing more, his mane is kept much longer- if her mane is very thick, it might be worth trying to keep it longer as it'll make plaiting easier...
 
Don't think he has had it pulled previously cos he came to me 3 yr ago hogged.....
Got a solo comb and a pair of those thinning sissors this morning , so here goes will have a little go tomorrow. That braid is fab, his mane is now so long and being a gypsy vanere cross ID it's also well thick with it. Must practice running braid.
 
Enfys said:
Scissors and a thinning comb.

I hate pulling manes, in fact I can't understand why horses allow us to do it at all to be honest. It must be flaming painful, I'd take someones' arm off if they tried to rip my hair out bit by bit. :)
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My thoughts exactly and I'm surprised the lengths people will go to do it! Get a mane rake and a pair of scissors. My mare loves her mane being brushed and I want to keep it that way.
 
Romany how did you get on?

I had a very quick go at pulling my new horses mane last night and he wasn't very happy about it! Just constantly weaved from one side to the other trying to flatten me agaisnt wall - also buried his head under his hay nets :D

YO lent me her mane rake/smart mane (same thing) which he was fine with. I was a bit worried about the results - ie breaking the hairs rather than pulling them clean from root. But his mane is very thick so could do with being thinned.

After looking back at some old threads on here I have just ordered a solo comb. So intend to rake first to thin it out a bit, then shorten with the solo comb.

Hopefully next week I will be able to post a photo of a beautiful mane rather than an "OMG I've butchered him - WWYD??" thread :D:D
 
My connie mare loves it and thinks it is a good way to get an itch. She does love an faffing about though as I am not much of a faffer so when it happens she loves it. The other three rarely lose any hair at all although some did say I should pull the dartmoors mane
 
I pop mare in the trailer as she just stomped all over you no matter what you use, mane rake, solocomb or pulling comb so I lunge her make her really hot and sweaty then throw her in the trailer and have at. She just puts the ears back no as she realises she cant go no where and she cant get to me :D
 
At work I don't have time for niceties so they get done in the lorry whilst it's moving so they have to keep their feet.

Of mine at home one loves it, one tollerates it, another tollerates it a little less but lets you do it and the other one - well let's just say it's easier having him look like a connemara pony than it is attempting to pull his mane :D

Personally I don't think you can beat a well pulled mane but there are always exceptions to the rule.
 
My youngster isnt keen what so ever on having his pulled, so I just cut it. In a few days you cant tell, and his manes not particularly thick so looks fine!

lol :D
 
Regarding pulling manes the best thing to do is to get one of your mates to pull your hair out by the roots. When you object to the pain, get your mate to barricade you into a space so you cant move and then stand there while your hair is pulled out of your head. Maybe then you'll understand why horse objects to having its manes pulled.
 
sandy3924 said:
Regarding pulling manes the best thing to do is to get one of your mates to pull your hair out by the roots. When you object to the pain, get your mate to barricade you into a space so you cant move and then stand there while your hair is pulled out of your head. Maybe then you'll understand why horse objects to having its manes pulled.
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Not all object to it though, as per my previous post my old pony was fine. I was quite suprised at how much my new horse objected to it last night so I'm hoping the solo comb I've ordered will make it easier for him. I'm certainly not going to peservere with pulling his if it's going to end up being distressing for us both. I suppose as with everything they're all different and need to be treated accordingly :)
 
ROMANY 1959 said:
Big lad will not have his mane pulled, even tied up tight with hay net he will try best to knock me off step or squash me against wall or fence where ever he is tied too. Bucket feed only distracts him for few pulls then its off again flattening me, stargazing, head shaking you get the drift...
It needs doing, any tips twitching sounds barbaric.
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I do not pull any of mine, I like the natural look. Don't like the pulled look but that is me.

Well I can give you 2 used ways

1 sedation
2. used on another horse they just thinned the mane with thinning combs then used scissors cutting upwards with the ends of the scissors snipping little bits off so not a straight line.


these are extreme case solutions I have seen used and used myself with horses so bad you would seriously get injured if you wrapped the hair round the comb.
 
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EKW said:
At work I don't have time for niceties so they get done in the lorry whilst it's moving so they have to keep their feet.
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It is difficult to believe that this statement has been written about live animals with feelings. What a shame that any horse has to live in an environment where no-one has time for niceties.
 
I normally pull my horses mane and I dont enjoy doing it as he gets fidgity and I have to be really patient with him. Ive used a sol comb in the past on him but his mane just goes really thick. Am I doing something wrong?
 
My mare won't tolerate it either, it must be painful or very uncomfortable and it's not like can explain to them to keep still and bare like we would a tatoo for example, so why have the battle?
Thinning rake, thinning scissors, ordinary scissors, solocomb (personally can't stand the things but each to their own) or use above and just work on a small section at a time when the horse has been worked thus easier to pull out and less painful. Or another easy way of thinning a mane is sticking a full neck cover on, that tends to work well providing it fits well and doesn't rub out just one area.
 
cptrayes said:
It is difficult to believe that this statement has been written about live animals with feelings. What a shame that any horse has to live in an environment where no-one has time for niceties.
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Very true.

Those working in these environments must feel under great pressure to get the job done... :(
 
ct1 said:
I normally pull my horses mane and I dont enjoy doing it as he gets fidgity and I have to be really patient with him. Ive used a sol comb in the past on him but his mane just goes really thick. Am I doing something wrong?
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My understanding of the solocomb (not gone one yet so only started researching today) is that you back comb as if you were pulling - then snip at the required length...so you're not pulling from root and therefore not thinning - just shortening. I'm planning on using mine in conjuction with a "smart mane" (see ************ website - other brands are available!) which will thin it out first :)
 
Many don't like it done because people leave the mane until the whole mane needs doing and then try to pull the whole mane short in a short time. If you take several weeks to pull the mane pulling only a few hairs each time then the horse barely notices.

I used to be able to pull one of mine standing loose in the paddock - I actually think it is something that they eventually tolerate so long as it is done regularly and in small amounts.

At work I was expected to pull the manes with the horse in cross ties so that they can't move around as much.

I plait for people at the Horse of the Year and you would be surprised at the horrendous manes I have to work with - all of them ones that have had their manes scissored or solo combed. The only ones that plait up really nicely are the ones that have been pulled.
 
Leo's solocombed mane, excuse the section from start of his shoulder to his withers as hes had a neck on and its getting thin :(

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Our cob trys to stamp on your foot by stamping his feet and striking out, shaking his head violently and- i just don't pull it! Have to admit to cutting bits (i.e. half hogging bits!) and it looks great plaited up and well gelled down. have suggested hogging but this met with as much resistance from daughter as mane pulling does from cob!

He does not like having his legs clipped due to, what we presume to be feather mite damage.-very wrinkly and hardened skin, so i use scissors and comb and make sure i have alot of time - he's got big legs! But it works, we are all happy, and all survive and look good. (Well, him, more than me!)
 
sandy3924 said:
Regarding pulling manes the best thing to do is to get one of your mates to pull your hair out by the roots. When you object to the pain, get your mate to barricade you into a space so you cant move and then stand there while your hair is pulled out of your head. Maybe then you'll understand why horse objects to having its manes pulled.
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like the example! :D
 
I use a mane rake on the underside and then solo comb in small sections to the right length. Still means I can plait up with no whispy bits.

(I love auto-correct! The first time I typed that, it changed it to 'whisky bits'. It knows me too well...:D)
 
I must admit I was a bit cautios of using the mane rake for the first time last night. It comes off in quite big lumps so I didn't want to get carried away! Like when my Mum use to cut my fringe when I was younger and she couldn't get it straight so it would get shorter and shorter!
 
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