Saving the last few strands of mane from being rubbed out by full neck! HELP!

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Trot_On_Dressage

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I'm looking for long term and short term ways to save my horses mane! His full necks are rubbing out a patch of mane 10 inches from his withers, he has a few strands left so if I act now I may be able to save them!

I can't afford to buy him a no neck rug for turnout at the mo and he has a no neck rain sheet he will start wearing once the day time weather goes up to over 10 degrees. Any ideas what I can do in the meantime to save it?

I had thought about plaiting the mane but will that just pull out the few hairs he has left?

HELP!!
 
Could you put a spray on conditioner - it might make the mane more slippy so less likely to rub? Come spring and the neck cover comes off try Megatek mane rebuilder, fab stuff and smells gorgeous!
 
Cut the neck off the rug. I've done this before with a Rhino (see photos) which luckily had a seam between the rug and neck section so I didn't need to sew binding on it. I have a couple of other full necks that I will de-neck when I have some time.

I personally believe that it's the pressure created when the horse puts it's head down to graze that rubs out the mane.

Before.
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After - The rug is now on the chestnut.
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Do u not have a no neck fleece or other rug that you could later with his rain sheet to keep him warmer but with no neck??
 
Unfortunatley Faracat I can't do that as the outdoor rug he is currently using has been lent to me as he trashed his old one (completley ripped to shreds!) and I don't have the funds this month to get a new one.
 
I don't like leaving fleeces on for long periods of time as they always seem to slip back and cause pressure points on the withers, his horse ware one does anyway!! Sorry, it's a difficult one isn't it!
 
I've had same problem with our cob mare. I've had to hog her which we can get away with as she is show quality so cob classes here we come. I've been selling off her full neck rugs and buying no neck rugs, is this something you could do to get some funds in?
 
I will definitely be doing that Passtheshampoo but again I need an even shorter term plan as I really don't think his mane will hold up to another few weeks if it takes a while to sell his full necks and then get replacements. :/ I'm sorry I don't mean to be difficult!!

If only I could hog him but he's a TB!

Does anyone think plaiting it if I smother it in main conditioner will help it?
 
I used to ride past a horse (ex racer) who had the brick red full neck Rambo. The neck part was never done up and he seemed happy/calm etc... I've not tried it with my own horses though.
 
Yup. Just fold it back. Shoudnt move :) believe me nothing stops neck rugs rubbing out mane, just use neck as little as poss.
 
I grew up in the pre necks on horse rugs days! Have tried necks on horse rugs - it looks oh so cosy. I have lost oh so many manes and they take ages to grown back so now it is no necks on rugs at any price. When I have to use neck rug I fold the neck back and put another rug without a neck on top.

Incidentally I read somewhere recently that it is the hair follicles getting too hot that weaken the structure of the mane and makes it eaier to rub out. I think nature actually gave the horse a mane to keep flies off in summer and add warmth in winter?
 
Yep, i hate neck rugs the only thing i use up ponies neck is a duvet and its not fastened underneath the neck which seems to help.
The other thing that helps is keeping the mane really clean and the rug really clean. When i do have a duvet on i have a cover and wash every few days. Also if its to cold to shampoo mane (which it usually is when neck rugs are on) i hot cloth with dettol regulary.
I am ocd on have a clean pony rugs ect though.:o
She still has a full mane its not even thinning though so must be working.
 
I have a very wussy and completely clipped tb with the same problem. He has a duvet type stable rug with a neck, and a heavy mw turnout rug with a neck over the top and he still makes a fuss about being cold. So can't undo neck straps :p So interested in the answers

Maybe a snuggy hood?
 
My girl had the same problem last year when she wore an stable combo rug. This year she's got a stable rug on with a L/W turnout over the top with M/W detachable neck and so far so good :)
 
Last year I used a snuggy hood turnout (on a grey mare mainly to keep her clean)and she kept her mane. This year I didn't ride so much so didn't used snuggy hood and she has lost mid section of mane. Now she is out with standard neck. The grease on the rug and man is what pulls the hair out so you need to clean both - warm water and dettol used regularly helps. Also fold the neck back.

Good luck!
 
A snuggy hood is very good, they are great for long manes. I have a PRE and he has a very long mane, I keep him in lots of plaits and re-do them every 4-8 weeks (when I can bo bothered!!). ALL of his rugs have hoods and they do not effect his mane at all, although I know a lot of people say they do. I have a trick for this.......buy a rug a size bigger for a combo rug. That way it is loose and will not restrict the mane. My horse is a 6 foot in length but they are then too snug or sometimes depending on the make too tight around his big neck and shoulders, so I buy him a 6ft3 so it is nice and loose. He literally lives in hood rugs.

This is him with plaits and loose mane..........

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Just fold the neck cover back underneath the rug inside. I do this all the time with mine when the weather starts to get a bit warmer, lets their neck 'breath'

No need to take drastic options like cutting it off - this way you get 2 rugs in one :)
 
Buds_mum said:
Yup. Just fold it back. Shoudnt move :) believe me nothing stops neck rugs rubbing out mane, just use neck as little as poss.
Click to expand...

This. I have a thin-skinned, fully-clipped sport horse with a weedy mane at the best of time and the only way to preserve his mane in the winter is to let him go "neck naked" as often as I can/when the weather's kind enough.

Roll on Spring.

P
 
Thanks Everyone.

I folded the neck back and tucked it under today so hopefully that will prevent further rubbing of his last few hairs!

My full necks are definitely going on EBay when I have some dosh to get some standard necks!
 
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