Pulling Tails?

vikkiandmonica · 17 February 2011

How do you do it?

Can someone please give me really simple, easy instructions on how to pull Wings' tail? I'm going to do dressage soon, and fail at plaiting tails, so think pulling would be better. I have a pulling comb and can borrow a rake, so instructions with either of these would be great!

(BTW, he's a WB, not sure if this changes things?)

Thanks

vikkiandmonica · 17 February 2011

Like, how far down should I go? It has previously been pulled but has completely grown out, should I just pull it up to where it was pulled last time? (not sure if you can see in the pictures, but there is a section of his tail that is half the length of the rest of it where it has grown out)

Thanks

Tiffany · 17 February 2011

I never pull I cut my mare's tail. It takes some getting practice to make it appear pulled but I really don't like the thought of pulling. Makes my eyes water having my eyebrows plucked

vikkiandmonica · 17 February 2011

So I should use a rake? Or scissors? How do scissors work?

Would prefer to use a rake, am guessing I just do the sides and possibly pull a little from the middle?

millitiger · 18 February 2011

imo if you want a pulled tail you have to pull it properly as scissors/rakes etc just make it look awful (I know, I have tried!).

I usually pull to just level with/slightly below the point of the buttock- a few hairs each day and it will take around 6 weeks without much fuss to you or the horse.

If you need to do it quicker and the horse objects you can twitch and back the horse up to a stable door and pull it over the safety of the door.

A little pair of pliers or similar will save your fingers and imo as the pulling it quicker it is nicer for the horse too, rather than you yanking with your fingers.

horsedreams · 18 February 2011

we either use thining scissors or the smart tail comb (you can get them in fine or course expensive but a lot quicker) imo they do a good job as to pulling the tail itself

OneInAMillion · 18 February 2011

i hate cut manes/tails!

do you pull manes? if so obviouslly do it the same way.
I would only pull the sides of the tail so it fits between the buttocs, it tends to look messy if you start trying to do the top of the tail

sazzle44 · 18 February 2011

I think a well pulled tail always looks the best

I'd go with the suggestion of pliers, it's sounds mean but it's nicer than dragging at it by hand. As for it hurting, some appear to quite like it

my pony stands and holds his tail up to the side you want to do and shuts his eyes and goes to sleep...at least I hope he's sleeping, not wincing!

If you just do a little at a time (say a bit a day or something) then you can keep looking at what you've done and where you think is best.

vikkiandmonica · 18 February 2011

Yep, I pull manes, and Wings doesn't mind too much, so guessing he wouldn't object massively to having his tail pulled?

As for taking your time, how much would you do a day? (needs doing for a dressage on the 6th)

vikkiandmonica · 18 February 2011

Oh, and also, when you pull their tails, is it not completely bald on both sides?

sazzle44 · 18 February 2011

You should be able to get it done by then, he doesn't look like he has a massive tail

and you've got where it's been done before as a vague guide. And yeah, it would be pretty much bald on either side xx

kerilli · 18 February 2011

well, going against the grain, i use a rake now, and get really neat results with no pain for the horse. yes, some don't mind it, but some do, and that's no fun for them or me...
i do just the sides, repeatedly, down to about 8" from the top, until it is really neat and tidy, short and smart, and will stay lying perfectly flat. if the horse lifts its tail, i want all the short pieces that would hang down, gone, so from the side it looks smooth and neat along the dock and then the whole length is the only bit that hangs down, if that makes sense...

vikkiandmonica · 18 February 2011

kerilli said:
well, going against the grain, i use a rake now, and get really neat results with no pain for the horse. yes, some don't mind it, but some do, and that's no fun for them or me...
i do just the sides, repeatedly, down to about 8" from the top, until it is really neat and tidy, short and smart, and will stay lying perfectly flat. if the horse lifts its tail, i want all the short pieces that would hang down, gone, so from the side it looks smooth and neat along the dock and then the whole length is the only bit that hangs down, if that makes sense...

I was at the stables doing it when you psoted, but I did basically what you've explained, except pulling with my hands rather than using a rake!

Here are the pictures, I took them to show how I progressed! Any criticism or ways to improve are welcome

(remember this is my first ever time, and I cut 2 fingers in the process, whereas wings fell asleep while I did it

)

And finished:

kerilli · 18 February 2011

looks very good. you can make it narrower and/or give it a real 'waist' about 6-8" down, some people do that, but the way you've gone it is about how i do it.

vikkiandmonica · 18 February 2011

Thanks kerelli! I might do what you've suggested, but in all honesty, so long it is obviously pulled and neat enough looking, that is fine for me

BigRed · 18 February 2011

I think you have done a really good job. Wrap some tape (sticking plaster) around your fingers, it stops them getting sore.

kerilli · 18 February 2011

wearing rubber gloves really helps too, you can grip the little short hairs easily with them on.

vikkiandmonica · 18 February 2011

Thanks for the advice, will try this next time I do it, although I think I'll just keep ontop of it and tidy it up every week. Will invest in some gloves though

KatB · 18 February 2011

My mare won't tolerate hers being done at all, so I use scissors! It can look very neat, my YO who is very much a "proper" horsewoman commented on how beautifully my mares tail was, and was

when she learnt it was scissored!!

I just cut the hair down the side of the tail as short as possible, and leave the middle of it. You can experiment with how far in you cut, but if you do it well you can trim the hair at the side ontop of the really short bit so you get a really neat shape

vikkiandmonica · 18 February 2011

Not sure I trust myself to use scissors, would probably go completely wrong

kerilli · 18 February 2011

yep, scissors work too, esp if you hold the blades parallel with the tail so you don't get any unsightly lines across. i've cheated like this for years...

marmalade76 · 18 February 2011

I've only had one horse that objected to having his tail pulled and agree with Kerilli, why put them through it if they hate it so much you have to twitch them? With this horse I used thining scissors and trimmed up both sides, then parted the tail in the middle and trimmed what was sticking out but moved the scissors down the hairs with each snip to lessen the cut look, if that makes sense.

All my other horses have not minded having their tails pulled, some minded having their manes pulled more!

applestroodle · 18 February 2011

It looks really good and you have inspired me to give my horses ago. I have never touched his tail before but feel it might make him more grown up looking and easier to look after. Wish me luck!

vikkiandmonica · 18 February 2011

applestroodle said:
It looks really good and you have inspired me to give my horses ago. I have never touched his tail before but feel it might make him more grown up looking and easier to look after. Wish me luck!

GOOD LUCK!!!

marmalade76 said:
All my other horses have not minded having their tails pulled, some minded having their manes pulled more!

This is Wings, he doesn't like his mane being done, likes his tail being done though

I would use scissors if necessary, but as he falls asleep when I pull his tail, I might just stick to pulling

vikkiandmonica · 18 February 2011

Can any of you guys explain how to create a "waist"?

Steeleydan · 18 February 2011

Here goes but proberbly not a very good explaination. Look at the pics of the Jonty tail and look at yours, your is the same thickness from top to bottom of pulled bit. It needs to waist a bit.
So dont pull any more from the sides at the top, gradually pull more from the sides that are half way down the pulled bit, and come in a bit but not too much.
Sorry not a very good explaination I could show you easier.
Basically the horses' dock is thicker at the top and tapers off as it goes down, you are aiming to accentuate this natural shape.See the Jonty picture in the other thread and you will see what Iam getting at, sorry again for poor explaination-anyone else know how to put it a little better?

vikkiandmonica · 18 February 2011

I understand what you mean, thanks! So basically I take more hair as I get further down, but only slightly, following how the width of the dock changes?

Steeleydan · 18 February 2011

Yes thats it, if you do it slightly you can always do a bit more if you think it needs to taper in a bit more.Good luck, we want pictures of the finished article.

kerilli · 18 February 2011

yes, exactly, you want it to be a bit of a V shape and then open out again for the long hair at the bottom. just keep taking it away from about 2/3 way down the dock, ish...

vikkiandmonica · 18 February 2011

Thanks Steeleydan annd kerilli, will tackle that tomorrow, if my fingers are up to it (have managed to slice 2 of them

)

Pulling Tails?

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