Rubbish mane: how can I improve it?

[CinnamonChristmasCookie]

Creature is remaining traditional this year: next year, I'd like to get back into showing. His feathers and tail are fab, but his mane is rubbish! It's quite thin and never really grows. Comparing it to a traddy cob who won the ridden class today at a show, it's pathetic. Any ideas on how to make it grow and get thicker?

 

[Kenzo]

Mega Tek Rebuilder, not used it myself but it's supposed to be good for hair growth and thickening main etc
Someone on our yard uses it on their traditional cob, I'll warn you though, it smells delicious!!!

 

[hayinamanger]

Coconut oil is supposed to be good for encouraging hair growth, not tried it myself. Would be best tried when the weather is cooler to avoid sunburn. (I know that you know this) ;-)

 

[cobs and carrots]

Feeding biotin encourages healthy hoof, mane and tail growth - certainly helped my ISH filly My traditional currently has her mane conditioned with baby oil once/twice a week (rub it into a dry mane to condition and prevent knots - I find that the next day her mane looks a lot thicker and healthier) and I brush it almost daily with a very soft bristled mane brush. It's doing very well, we get regular comments that she looks fab Second the comments on mega-tek, I'm thinking of trying it on mare's tail, which has been a bit rubbish recently due to itching it on the wall - flies are relentless where we are

I was told by a traditional cob breeder that in winter it's important to keep manes and tails plaited with plain pig oil (I wouldn't recommend pig oil and sulphur for manes and tails personally, only for feathers) to prevent the hair shaft breaking due to damage from mud and cold temperatures - I'd recommend making sure your horse won't react to the oil by patch testing first, if you haven't used it before. And of course, make sure that if you're using a combo rug that the neck cover fits your horse well and won't rub any mane out.

Hope this helps - I love to see a nice traditional in the show ring, definitely my favourite class to watch

 

[hayley.t]

Agree with Cob and Carrots.

Personally though I don't use a combo rug. If you do make sure you keep the neck bit clean and free from grease as this can rub the mane out.

Megatek rebuilder is brilliant stuff.

 

[nikkimariet]

No neck rugs + mega tek or a caffeine enhanced shampoo.

 

[tilly49]

I'd give organic coconut oil a try. Works wonders