Shi**y tail

[poiuytrewq]

And I mean really shitt* tail.
Not really sure why, it’s a pony who’s poo’s look relatively normal but all year round he gets a filthy tail. In the summer I hose it daily but it’s really too cold for that all year. If not done often it builds up and up. Now it’s bad so I’ll do it today as he’s being visited by his tiny rider tomorrow.
He’s pure white which of course makes it worse.
Very little grass, always muzzled. A handful of honey chop lite and healthy and small amounts of soaked hay.
I’ve tried all the usual gut supplements with no joy.
The only way to stop
It is keep him in completely and after about 4/5 days he will be clean but this isn’t an option!
Any good ideas?

 

[MotherOfChickens]

7 Day Mud Away or similar will help. some ponies just have really thick tails and it makes them dificult to keep them out of the way (I had an Exmoor like this, Fell is to a lesser extent).

 

[Esmae]

I have one of these so feel your pain. This winter I am going to plait his tail and see how that works. Mine is a nightmare for this.

 

[meleeka]

I have one that has fecal water syndrome on and off. I always plait her tail, all the way to the top without being too tight. It makes a big difference. I also spray mane and tail conditioner on her legs which helps if come off. Lastly I use a waterless shampoo in the winter every day, just spray and run off with a towel. I’m not sure it would work as well on a grey though.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

And I mean really shitt* tail.
Not really sure why, it’s a pony who’s poo’s look relatively normal but all year round he gets a filthy tail. In the summer I hose it daily but it’s really too cold for that all year. If not done often it builds up and up. Now it’s bad so I’ll do it today as he’s being visited by his tiny rider tomorrow.
He’s pure white which of course makes it worse.
Very little grass, always muzzled. A handful of honey chop lite and healthy and small amounts of soaked hay.
I’ve tried all the usual gut supplements with no joy.
The only way to stop
It is keep him in completely and after about 4/5 days he will be clean but this isn’t an option!
Any good ideas?

My mare does not lift her tail enough and the poo slides down leving grains of dried ride stuck in her tail and it goes black gross

 

[SEL]

Microcob is grim (I'm actually speaking to vet because she does rank smelling cow pats) and has a really, really thick native pony tail which she just doesn't seem to lift high enough to get out of the way. No electric on my yard so buckets of hot water aren't an option any longer so last week I cut the worst out (we don't need to look glam) and pig oiled underneath in the hope that it will at least stop stuff sticking.

Her foal (now 2) has a white tail and seems to have the same issue but its a lot, lot more obvious on a paler colour

 

[MotherOfChickens]

Microcob is grim (I'm actually speaking to vet because she does rank smelling cow pats) and has a really, really thick native pony tail which she just doesn't seem to lift high enough to get out of the way. No electric on my yard so buckets of hot water aren't an option any longer so last week I cut the worst out (we don't need to look glam) and pig oiled underneath in the hope that it will at least stop stuff sticking.

Her foal (now 2) has a white tail and seems to have the same issue but its a lot, lot more obvious on a paler colour

muddaddy-I've no electric either where they are just now, and I have an 8l one which will just about do feathers and easily do a tail.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Plait it in the winter and if you really want to keep it clean a tail bag.

 

[SEL]

muddaddy-I've no electric either where they are just now, and I have an 8l one which will just about do feathers and easily do a tail.

I keep getting posts off them on FB so the bots have obviously spotted I have muddy feathers and manky tails to deal with. Do you find it easy to use?

 

[tda]

All of the above, my mare (and her mum, both grey) don't lift their tails up enough, but also thick and heavy tails
7 day mud away or pig oil, mane and tail spray can help
Plaits do work to some extent, but only for a week at a time otherwise you end up with a sh*t stick of tail
I did get a tail bag but never used it

 

[Gloi]

Is it a heavy tail that gets beyond the weight he can lift it easily?

 

[nikkimariet]

Limestone flour. But also plait it and bag it away from mess.

 

[MotherOfChickens]

I keep getting posts off them on FB so the bots have obviously spotted I have muddy feathers and manky tails to deal with. Do you find it easy to use?

yes, it gets used on ponies and dogs. I bought the 8l one as I have to lug it a fair way sometimes and it does 4 Fell feathers no issues. It never has fabulous pressure but enough to tackle his tail, the end of which can of course be rinsed in cold water. I keep mine either at home, or at two other premises that dont have electricity (and one of those only has a burn, no other water) and its been a good buy for me.

 

[poiuytrewq]

I wouldn’t say it’s massively heavy, I guess it’s fairly thick so perhaps that’s the problem.
I do sometimes plait it, meant to today after washing it but forgot a hair bobble!
I’d almost thought of chopping it off for winter ?
It’s not so much me being picky about wanting it clean but it gets like fingers and balls like dreadlocks so vile for the farrier and the little girl who rides likes to brush him.
I actually have a hot shower ?‍ It ran out of gas ages ago and because my horse has been off work I forget it’s there.
It’s fab btw, doesn’t need plugging into power just a water supply and gas bottle.
I haven’t tried limestone flour. That’s cheap and easy to give a go!
I’m glad it’s a common thing and not just me with a minger ?

 

[Gloi]

If you aren't doing any shows this winter with him just crop it at the hocks. Saves a lot of work.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Thin it out by a good amount, wash very well and use copious amounts of baby oil on the underside of tail, much will slide off.

 

[poiuytrewq]

If you aren't doing any shows this winter with him just crop it at the hocks. Saves a lot of work.

I always do over winter, maybe not quite that short but pretty short!

 

[Cocorules]

Mine had issues with scouring but only when fed hay or haylage. On just grass and pony cubes she was fine.

 

[Iznurgle]

Thin it out by a good amount, wash very well and use copious amounts of baby oil on the underside of tail, much will slide off.

Baby oil will also get rid of any... dried accumulations on the hocks. We have a few school ponies with gloriously thick and heavy tails that they refuse to lift out of the way, and sometimes I swear it feels like it's on purpose!

 

[Fleece Navidad]

Thin it out by a good amount, wash very well and use copious amounts of baby oil on the underside of tail, much will slide off.

This, and a regular brush through ?

 

[Esmae]

Plait it in the winter and if you really want to keep it clean a tail bag.

Which sort do you use PB?

 

[Wheresthehoofpick]

I found the maxwell gut health supplement was brilliant.

 

[poiuytrewq]

I found the maxwell gut health supplement was brilliant.

I’ll have a google, don’t think I’ve tried that. Thanks

 

[Wheresthehoofpick]

I’ll have a google, don’t think I’ve tried that. Thanks

I had a ISH it worked wonders for in every way.
I had tried pink powder. Protexin etc.

Has good discounts on FB page

 

[Annagain]

Tail bag. Brilliant things. I use them for mud more than poo but they'll do either job, You plait the tail and then loop the velcro tabs between the sections of the plait at the top to hold it in place. The ones that double up are better than the ones that you just put on the tail. They seem to stay put better.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Tail bag. Brilliant things. I use them for mud more than poo but they'll do either job, You plait the tail and then loop the velcro tabs between the sections of the plait at the top to hold it in place. The ones that double up are better than the ones that you just put on the tail. They seem to stay put better.

Would they be ok to use long term? I’ve never even looked at them but always assumed they were for people who owned greys to use the night before a show!
Also this is a small pony, he is smaller than the measure stick starts at!

 

[Nasicus]

My companion pony can suffer with this, I started chopping the underside of her tail short to reduce bulk and give more clearance when pooping, seems to work and doesn't look awful as long as you leave the outer top layer of hair undisturbed.

 

[Annagain]

Would they be ok to use long term? I’ve never even looked at them but always assumed they were for people who owned greys to use the night before a show!
Also this is a small pony, he is smaller than the measure stick starts at!

Mine have worn them all winter every winter for years. They're designed to be worn for long periods of time. They recommend you take them out and brush the tail at least once a fortnight I think although I did it every weekend and sometimes in the week if I was riding and had time, although I'd also ride A & M in them if I was in a rush and not going to see anyone. I haven't with C as he's quite tail swishy and I think he'd frighten himself.
Tail Gaitors are the ones I like but there are several makes out there.

TailGator waterproof breathable tail bags for turnout, stable, arena and travelling. Exclusive design made in the UK from advanced technical fabric that is lightweight, stretch, waterproof and breathable. They provide the healthiest environment suited to hair protection and can be used in the field 24-7. Read our reviews to see customers photos and why they think they are the best