Pulling Manes

B

bumblelion

Well-Known Member
Joined
11 March 2008
Messages
1,962
Visit site
Any ideas how to pull a mane on my TB who I know would have reguarly had his mane pulled in the past but won't let me near his mane with a solo comb? I'd use a solo comb to do it! If I tie him up he pulls back and snaps the twine and otherwise just runs around his stable. Should I sedate him or put him in his chifney? He's obviously got issues from the past (he has with his legs too!) but not sure what to do!
 
Rub some Oil of Cloves into the roots of his mane, it'll numb it so it won't hurt. Wear rubber gloves though or you fingers will go numb too! Do a test patch the day before
 
I think I may have to use scissors that's if I can get them to his mane. He's such a plonker at times! Ever since I combed the solo comb through he's become really wary, even backs off with a brush now! thanks for the advice, maybe if I can get to him one day I could try the clove oil!
 
[ QUOTE ]
use scissors to trim it to the right length, avoid the pain and the battle. sorry, but that's what i do now with the ones who hate it and really feel it.

[/ QUOTE ]

Ditto. I don't pull Thumper's mane, he really hates it - even though the hair comes out very easily. Can's see the point in upsetting them unecessarily....
 
Smart Combs from Clippersharp are the answer to this problem. My old mare hates having her mane done & she has passed this on to all three of the foals we have bred from her. However with the smart comb I recently did the homebred mares mane in about 10mins, & her mane hadn't been touched since she injured herself as a yearling (not touched as in not pulled or anything - obviously it had been groomed).I also used it to do her tail - took about five mins to achieve a passable pulled effect.
 
I would forget pulling for now but i think you need to deal with the 'pulling back' issue first. I have a couple of horses like this and i would put him in his chifney clip a lunge line onto the chifney then thread it through some string with you holding the other end so when he pulls back you can release him slightly but don't let him battle so it breaks alow it to slip through (ware gloves) then stroke his maine with your hand and if he stands, give him a treat and work on his trust with you just brushing it then maby in time try clove oil. The neck is a very sensitive place i had a mare that was terrible i've had her three years now and i can pull her maine but not all at once!
 
Sorry have not read through the rest of the posts so apologies if I've repeated what anyone else has suggested.

We have mare (TB) on our yard who I do her mane for, she's a nightmare too, hates it, pulls back, bites you etc. So rather than battling with her (I like both my arms!) I cut the length of with scissors which she's ok with, then I used a thinning rake underneath the main to thin it out, which she doesn't really like but I can manage to do it as she thinks it the same as having a mane combed, anyway only takes a minute of two, then I finish off the ends with a thinning scissors so it does not look like you've cut it...or quite as bad.

Takes a bit of practice to get it right but the end result is the same as the others on the yard that have been pulled (unless they cheat and tell me they have pulled the manes)
grin.gif
 
Sounds like my boy except I know mine is taking the piss because I've had him for five years and he still behaves like this. I don't pull his mane because I feel sorry for him. I've found that it is definitely a two person job. I have someone hold him with the leadrope round his nose as then he can't pull back and get loose. I've use a razor comb rather than a solo comb as I find them quicker, easier and generally I prefer the overall effect. I'd give your horse some time and I wouldn't bother trying to pull it but get someone to hold him whilst you solo comb. Maybe I'm wrong but sometimes these horses just take the p*ss I know mine certainly does!
 
I have the sam problem....could you cut it with normal scissors and then thin it out with thinning scissors like hairdressers use...?

I had this idea the other day..would it work do you think..?
 
[ QUOTE ]
Rub some Oil of Cloves into the roots of his mane, it'll numb it so it won't hurt. Wear rubber gloves though or you fingers will go numb too! Do a test patch the day before

[/ QUOTE ]

What a great tip - Never heard this but will remember it for the future!

BTW where you can you get this from???
 
I can't even pull one of my horse's mane one hair at a time, he just goes beserk. and he has a really thick mane so just shortening it with scissors is no good. The only way to do it is to twitch him and pull it properly. It only takes 5 minutes and it doesn't do him any harm.

My old tb had a really thin mane so I just used to shorten it with a serrated knife. If any bits needed thinning then I slid the knife from the base to the ends whilst pulling the hair against the blade (hard to explain but very easy to do). You never would have known it wasn;t pulled properly.
 
Use scissors - I've done it very successfully before and its looked like its been pulled - nobody could tell the difference.

Just backcomb as if you were going to put and then cut the longest few hairs ON AN ANGLE. Then it looks natural and you don't get the pudding basin effect!
 
i use a mane comb (the ones with blades in) on my pony. She hates it being pulled and so would i!! So i use the blades instead. She stands for so long then needs a rest. I usually do it over a few days, so she doesnt learn bad behaviour to get out of having it done.
 
I think I may have to use scissors and then try the thinning scissors after! Hopefully he won't freak. I haven't managed to even pull one hair out cos as soon as I put a comb through it he just goes beserk!! I'd stand no chance backcombing!! Since I put a comb through he's freaked even when I use a brush, I can do about half then he just goes mental. He's an exracer so I know he'd have had it pulled and I presume they just got on with it and it's obviously put him off! The trouble is he looks a bit gay as TB's look silly IMO with long shaggy manes!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top