Tails - to cut or not to cut?

[happihorse]

My horse's tail is lovely and thick, except for the bottom six inches, where it goes a bit thin. His tail is just about down to his fetlocks at the moment but I don't know whether to leave it as it is or cut it off just before it goes thin (which would make it the 'correct' length). I prefer my horses to have long tails, but it just loks a bit scrawny!

Any suggestions?

 

[the watcher]

If you don't need to leave it natural I would give it a little trim

 

[Foxford]

I would cut an inch or so off, just to make me happy! I'm a trimmer, but not a puller

 

[piebaldsparkle]

Cut it now, then it will have grown back by the time summer/flies arrives.

 

[kerilli]

i'd cut it now, agree with sparkle, then it'll be lovely and thick for next summer. i always cut my horses' tails shorter in winter, as then they don't get so muddy, and they're not needed as flyswats anyway.

 

[Spot_the_Risk]

Cut it, my cobs was looking cr8p,I took about 8 inches off it, which was probably 2 inches too many, but it looks fuller and stays cleaner too.

 

[pottamus]

I always leave my boys tail as his was the same as you descibe. Eventually over time the thick park grew longer so the whole tail looked better. I always prefer mine to be natural as the tail helps as a wind buffer in the winter...but then I noticed my horse stood on his tail recently because it is so long...perhaps I should trim it!

 

[clairencappelli]

I have never been able to bring myself to cut my tb's tail.

She has a beautiful long thick tail ( dont worry tho her mane is kept tidy and not long ) and its down to her fetlocks but never grows anylonger than that and it does get thinner at the end and goes to a point but it doesnt look whispy.

Heres what i mean, it is stuck to a tb bum honest

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v410/claireandcappelli/?action=view&current=sexybotty.jpg

 

[air78]

I always cut my TB's tail- I'm not keen on long tails on non natives.
He has a good hind leg, so it suits him. Also, it keeps it cleaner in winter, and we do lots of hacking so it doesn't get as caked in mud.

 

[the watcher]

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I have never been able to bring myself to cut my tb's tail.

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That is a nice tail, but I think would look so much healthier and neater for having 4" lopped off it and being squared up - just my opinion though

 

[Gentle_Warrior]

agree with the_winter !

 

[vicm2509]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I have never been able to bring myself to cut my tb's tail.

[/ QUOTE ]

That is a nice tail, but I think would look so much healthier and neater for having 4" lopped off it and being squared up - just my opinion though

[/ QUOTE ]

I would cut it and pull it

Thats just me though, I am just scissor happy

 

[rabatsa]

I would shorten the tail, it will then grow down thicker and be careful not to over brush it as that is a sure way to break the hairs and end up with too thin a bottom.

 

[happihorse]

I have cut it! I took about 4 inches off and it still looks nice and long, but also really thick and glossy!

Thanks for your help.

 

[Moggy in Manolos]

my native type has hers full thick and long, i dont tend to touch it, last time i cut it was a very long time ago, and it was a tiny trim :_

 

[Vicki1986]

just my personal preference but i cant stand long tails!!

i think short tails make the horse look better turned out, the tail looks thicker and healthier, stays cleaner... i could go on and on but i wont ;-)

*chants* CUT IT CUT IT CUT IT!

look at the difference in my ponies tail from when i first got her, i kept it long for a while and so many peope said to me what on earth are you doing cut it so i took a little off at a time and now its cut to roughly the correct length for her type (whp)