Shetland manes.

Kafairia

Kafairia

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Hello!

I was just wondering what is 'correct' for Shetland manes. I ask because my mini's is absolute natural, wild, etc. It hangs on both sides and never has seen a thinning comb in its life. Up until now, he has been a leisure pony, letting my sister hack, learn to ride, and it hasn't been too bigger deal as he is not in work regular enough for me to worry about his thick mane, and I just wondered if it was okay to be left feral, and if it isn't to be pulled or thinned is it okay to be on both sides?

Just curious I guess, what do you guys do? He gets a lot of dandruff in it too which is annoying as he is completely black, and it shows up! I think in summer next year I'll get him some Head and Shoulders for it haha. :lol:
 
One of mine has a rubbish mane! Its really thin and frizzy, like mine haha. The other one though more than makes up for it! His is so thick and long, it's beautiful. I let it be wild, I think he looks gorgeous like it. I've never trimmed or thinned it, the only time I ever do anything with it is in the summer when it's boiling hot I'll plait it just to get it off his neck!
 
dont pull it or thin it eek. If it’s scurfy then yes an anti dandruff shampoo will work well but Id avoid washing it at this time of year unless we get a mild enough day for it to dry as it will take forever. oil etc is great for certain things but if it gets dirty, clogged up and scurfy it may also get itchy so just bare this in mind. Being on both sides is fine :)
 
One of my Shetlands suffers from sweet itch and so unfortunately has rubbed his mane and it has never fully grown back. The other, a mini, has a thick, luxurious mane that I wouldn't mind on my own head. I don't do anything other than groom them in the summer but leave them completely wild in the winter.
 
Leave it well alone. If it needs grooming wash it condition it well and use your fingers to seperate the hairs. It may take hours but it will only remove the dead hair without damaging the good too much. The more mane the better in my view on a Native of any sort
 
In showing terms, it is perfectly acceptable to have a shetland mane on both sides of the neck, unlike in most other breeds. Personally, if it only falls on one side, I try to make sure it's the right, as that's the side a judge will mostly see them, and they do look better with the manes down. If it's on both sides, I try to make sure there are no big gaps in the mane on either side - I like it to be even.

Shetland manes should not be pulled, cut or trimmed, they should be natural. Having said that, I do tidy them if they go showing, to make sure it's all even, but it has to look natural when it's finished. Shetlands are shown with unplaited manes, but if I have ever plaited them for other reasons, I use a running plait.
 
Thanks everyone, as I say I'm just curious as I was thinking of bringung him along with the pony to do some little fun showing classes - probably should have stated!

And he has sweet itch so I was wondering if this could be worsening it, but he certainly wont get bathed in winter, I wouldnt want to take any of his oils out! Having said that I bring him in on the really bad nights with his buddy. :)
 
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