Pulling mane

[baleofhay]

Have a nice little mare and would love to plait her up for shows but she has horrible common thick mane (loads of it) . Have always used solo comb on my sons show jumpers as we did not plait. If I solo comb it wont i get bits sticking out when I plait?? She will tolerate it being pulled for a short while but then really objects and I would have to take so much out in order to plait it properly???? Any ideas please???

 

[Racing_Gal]

I'd say pull it, looks allot more natural and will thin it out so you can get good plaits out of it. If she will only let you do a bit at a time do a bit each day or every other day for a week or so until it's all done. Something else you can try is rubbing oil of cloves into the roots to numb it before you start...wear rubber gloves though or your fingers will go numb to and you'll have no chance!!

 

[scotsmare]

No you should be fine with the solocomb - alternatively, if you have a vet visit shortly, get them to sedate the horse and then rip the whole lot out whilst she's sedated - then make sure you keep it short!!

 

[Evadiva1514]

Have you tried the Oster tail rake?? I bought one recently to pull my babies manes and they are fantastic! They strip the hair away without causing any pain or discomfort (my two just thought they were having their manes brushed) and make them look thin, neat and tidy.

Definitely easier than traditional pulling!!

 

[scotsmare]

I tried one of those and obliterated my daughters sj pony's mane - best not to be too enthusiastic till you get the hang of it! I'm old fashioned and still prefer to pull them.....

 

[Parkranger]

I used a mane thinner on oscar after solocombing it - looks great!

 

[baleofhay]

I have got an oster rake but the man on the stand that sold it to me said that it may leave bits poking out when you plait? Does a great job of her tail though.

 

[conniegirl]

I find solo combs and tail rakes leave you with short bits sticking out of the plaits

I prefer traditional pulling, if your pony wont let you do it for very long then do it bit at a time every night,
Do it after exercise when the horse is warm as the hair comes out easier.
Oil of cloves is good for numbing it.
If all else fails bribery normaly works with ponies and some horses, put a bucket of feed under thier nose and pull it whilst they eat

 

[hellybelly6]

Solo combs leave short sticky out bits if you are going to plait.

I have a thinning comb and had good success with that.

 

[hellybelly6]

Sorry not a thinning comb - I mean thinning scissors.

 

[spottybotty]

I think thinning scissors and solo combs leave bits that are hard to plait in.If i have one with a thick mane pulling small amounts everyday works best,poor horse will not get a sore neck then, i also use clove oil, just rub it into the neck when pulling and it numbs it so horse does not feel any pain.