Take it off or leave it on, opinions?

[Vikki89]

I'm thinking of taking off his mane, forelock and feathers, what do you think?

(not a recent photo, he isnt clipped at the moment)

 

[nikCscott]

OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF!

Nothing smarted than a hogged and trimmed cob and it will be so much easier to keep clean in the winter- after picture please

 

[Paddy Irish]

Maybe just take off the feathers for ease through winter , i would keep the mane so that he's got a bit of warmth up his neck , unless of course you use a rug with neck cover. I know a hog looks neat but i love the softer look you get with a mane , how about pulling it a bit just to reduce the length and keep it manageable over winter?

 

[Pally]

Leave the mane and forelock on, he looks adorable.

 

[foxyroxy1]

Off, he'd look so smart either hogged or just pulled and trimmed up. So much easier in winter. And it will always grow back!

 

[ladyearl]

I like his look but take it off - it will grow back if you don't like it! Although I do think feathers are good leg protectors in the mud in winter so if he's going to be to be out in mud then wait till next summer

 

[rossiroo]

Feathers off for definate, especially in the winter.

 

[beehorses]

Off defo! He will look so smart.

 

[cob&onion]

OFF!! am hogging and clipping my cob when her new rug arrives. I will be trimming down the legs but not taking too much hair as she will be out this winter


Before and afters please!

 

[Black_Horse_White]

Leave hairy as nature intended ;-)

 

[MrsHutt]

au natural!

 

[Always_A_Moody_Mare]

Leave it on, he is lovely, i love his mane

 

[OldNag]

I agree - I'd say leave it all on. He is really lovely!

 

[rascal]

Hogged manes ae a nightmare to grow back if you dont like it. All ours have long thick manes and we dont trim feathers, i think they look lovely.

 

[Black_Horse_White]

I took the feathers off mine to treat mites and left his long mane. To me he looked odd, couldn't wait for them to grow back.

 

[VioletStripe]

Leave it on! My overgrown Connie's always trimmed and tidy, but I love a hairy cob xx

 

[Ditchjumper2]

Take it all off. He will look so smart and SO much easier to keep clean.

 

[brucethegypsycob]

why have a beautiful traditional hairy cob then strip him of his beauty. the mane will help keep him warm through winter;the feathers help to protect from mud fever; the forelock will provide his eyes and face with protection from wind and rain (and flies in the summer.)PLEASE LEAVE IT ON.

 

[texel]

I agree with brucethegypseycob and others, why buy a traditional cob in the first place and then remove the aspects of his body which define his type ? he is hairy for a reason.

 

[Vikki89]

Mixed opinions then I do like him all natural, its not the easiest to get a brush through as it curls and as my oh says it looks like dred locks
He isnt to difficult to keep clean really apart from the stable stains but he will get them whatever i do.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

why have a beautiful traditional hairy cob then strip him of his beauty. the mane will help keep him warm through winter;the feathers help to protect from mud fever; the forelock will provide his eyes and face with protection from wind and rain (and flies in the summer.)PLEASE LEAVE IT ON.

I couldn't have put it better!

IMO there is nothing smart about a horse with no natural protection from the elements.
If you are concerned about his 'dreadlocks', spray with a good conditioner every other day. This will help to straighten the mane and help the mud to slide off.
We once bought a mare with a hogged mane, it looked like a toilet brush as it was growing back.