Thinning a mane...

[wench]

New horse needs its mane thinning to plait up. (thank god I tried at the weekend before planned show!)

Whats the best way of doing it - thinning scissors, mane comb or a mane rake?

 

[Weezy]

Mane rake for me - just make sure you comb the mane to the opposite side before you start raking otherwise you will have a bushy mess After raking I pull to tidy and sorted

 

[ecrozier]

I find I get loads of really short bristley bits when I thin with a rake? Maybe I'm doing something wrong?!

 

[Weezy]

Maybe you are not raking high enough? I do short strokes up high, right in the mane line. TBH I have never plaited Ted up, but Porridge had a ridiculously thick middle section of mane and I raked it and plaited her for hunting OK with only minimal sticky up bits

 

[AmyMay]

Mane raked used to work brilliantly on my horses thick old mane. I used it combined with pulling, and had fantastic results.

 

[ecrozier]

That might be it - so you aren't getting cut bits further down the length of mane? Will try that another time. Can't plait my boy anyway as he has a stupid phobia type thing going on, panics completely when you try to plait.

 

[kerilli]

tbh the only way to get a really nicely thinned mane is gradual pulling, a tiny bit a day. it can't all be done in one go because then the regrowth is all the same length.
i love tail rakes for tails but they don't do a good job with manes imho, i've tried but i end up with a bristly result that's a nightmare to plait perfectly.

 

[Weezy]

Sometimes I drag it all the way down, but if I know I am plaiting I just do short, sharp strokes at the top so as not to break the hair - works for me! I use a medium one, if that makes any difference...

 

[Weezy]

a nightmare to plait perfectly.

This is a good point - I don't plait for showing or dressage, just hunting, and I don't care if it is perfect, just tidy

 

[kerilli]

ah right, you see i hate bristly sticking up bits, i want my plaits to be as pretty as possible so i want the mane soft and even in length so i can keep it all under control! (control freak, moi?)

 

[ecrozier]

Hmm yes I thin to plait - and kind of rather have a thicker tidier plait than a thinner one with bristles! Ahh well will keep working on the plaiting - can't see him ever letting me pull it tho!

 

[Sarah2207]

I second the mane raking making the plaits messy, if the mane is really thick, I would spend about 5 mins after each ride pulling to keep it under control. Its no good trying to do it all in one go with a really thick mane!

 

[Santa_Claus]

I gave up trying to thin Fleurs so just plait it on both sides instead not suitable for showing but absolutely fine for eventing/dressage

 

[ecrozier]

Now there is an idea santaclaus! If he let's me plait again at any point I might do that!

 

[MissSBird]

I've used the mane rake with great success to thin my connie's mane from something equivalent to a highlands to something presentable. However, I don't plait so I really couldn't comment on that.

I make sure to rake from the underside, getting in right at the roots then dragging down slowly to the tips.

 

[Bug2007]

All old fashioned here, just use a good old mane comb.

Mind you anyone fancy doing mine as it really needs it but really can't be bothered!

Mind you xc this weekend might leave it until after that, half of it might be pulled after her first time out!!!

 

[Mildred]

I can second how dreadful Porridges mane is, I use a rake and remove at least 70% of her mane, then level it with a razor. I am a stickler for neat plaits, and as long as you rake the underside of the mane it doesn't look bristly.