Thinning out VERY thick tail?

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loulabelle

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I have a gypsy cob who I like to keep as natural as possible. The only problem is it his tail is SO thick its hard to manage, especially at this time of year when it gets mangled with mud! Is there any way to thin it out without without it noticing (if that make sense) I can cope with brushing out the thick mud but it takes a age at the minute
 
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Probably a daft question but have you tried pulling it?

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If left without brushing for a couple of days his tail is like hundreds of tight dread locks. Unfortunatly itts vertually imposible to get them out enough to pull his tail fully
 
Dont Pull or thin the tail.
What you need are Mega tek tail bags (I think thats what they are called.) Its basically a big tail bag that goes through the top of the plait.
You leave then on for 2 weeks. You turn out and ride in then. It just protects the tail.
 
I have a very similar problem! My boys tail is not only about 4 horse's worth of tails, its also white. White and winter really dont mix...
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I've never tried thinning it as such, what I've done this winter is to cut his tail short
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(which looks completely stupid on a heavy horse but keeps it out of the mud to a degree) and douse it in mane and tail conditioner (baby oil works well too). You really need to keep on top of brushing through it too - I start with all good intentions then give up when the weather is freezing and I want my tea!
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It also helps (if you dont want to cut it short) to plait the tail so it "shortens" and falls above the mud

I've found recently a metal dog brush (the really scratchy ones) are brilliant for brushing through big tails
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Only other thing I can think of is getting a tail bag - but I have absolutely no experience of using those so will end my little essay here! Hope thats been some help?
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Dont Pull or thin the tail.
What you need are Mega tek tail bags (I think thats what they are called.) Its basically a big tail bag that goes through the top of the plait.
You leave then on for 2 weeks. You turn out and ride in then. It just protects the tail.

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I did think of getting something like this but OH said it might matt in the bag? Might be worth giving it a go ny way
 
The seven day mudaway spray is brilliant. It greases the tail so mud just slides off, and while i never found it lasted a week, it usually kept tails tangle & mud free for 4 or 5 days.
 
I have a cob with a VERY thick tail too.... and shes a mare that makes it dirty as well as the mud so it used to get in a right old state....

I got a TAILGATOR, its a bag that you plait the tail and it has 2 loops that velcro back to the top of the bag once you've passed it through the top of the plait. They're a double closure system.It then folds up and attaches to the bag so halves the length (ypu can leave it full length too), hey presto....no more mud dreadlocks! Only thing is, make sure the tail is DRY before it goes in the bag as it will smell fusty. Easily remedied with a quick swoosh of mane/tail conditioner, but I still think a slightly stinky tail is better than the hours of brushing through a tail and pulling it by default. I have left the bag on a week at a time. I have ridden in it, but my mare when having a strop when asked to work whacks herself with it then uses it as an excuse to spook !! So i tend to leave the plait in, take off the bag and put it back on when I've finished.

The lady I spoke to at Tailgator (I've had 2) is brilliant and helpful as well.
 
I would say use one of those thinning rakes, My Shetland has a tail like a bush. It is too thick to brush out, and it grows incredibly fast. Each Winter I chop it really short and before you know it, it is dragging in the mud again. I use the rake on it and it thins it down to a more manageable thickness.
 
if you want him natural you dont want to start cutting and stuff personally i would wash it put loads of conditioner on it than plate it then every other day take the plate out put loads of tetangler on it comb it through and then re plate!
 
thanks guys i've just order a tailgator bag and just gonna keep putting loads of conditioner in it. Atleast i wont be spending hours getting mud out lol!
If this works i wont have to do anything to his beautiful tail. Love it in the summer buy dread the winter months! Now if only they did the same bags for his mass of feather haha!
 
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Now if only they did the same bags for his mass of feather haha!

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Seven day mudaway.... again
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seriously, the mud just slides off!
 
know that cutting doesn't help the thickness issue but I do cut it above the hocks in winter to stop dread locks and I groom it alot which seems to thin it....So happy thought Iwas the only one who lopped off half a tail in winter! Phew.
 
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