Those with smart short manes....

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Vodkagirly

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Due to natives, hogged and being a sharer, I haven't had to do a mane properly for years but now with my own something needs done by me. He is TB cross ID but with a think mane that stands on end at the top, rubbed in the midde then yes to the wrong side at the bottom. Had a go with thinning scissors yesterday but stopped as it was just looking spikey so stopped before I made a massive mess.
How do you do yours? I'm open to suggestions, I hate pulling but if thats the answer...
 
I let mine grow really long and tame it to the side I want it, then trim with scissors. I never pull anymore.

I trim when wet....set the mane, comb it really flat and cut straight, that way when it's dry it's less blunt along the cut edge....sometimes chip upwards into it to thin ends a little and break up a too straight line.

If yours has an uneven, spiky mane then I'd let it grow a while
 
Would def let it grow out for a while. Let it get at least 2 inches longer that you actually want it, and then thin it out and either pull it or trim with scissors depending on which method you prefer.
 
If his mane is thick then I think pulling is really the only answer as it will help to thin it out. I would pull it quite short if he has a bit missing in the middle to help it to blend in easier. My boy currently has half a mane due to the bottom half being rubbed out from neck covers in the winter. :( I have pulled it quite short and then, when the rest of it has grown to a decent length I will pull the top half so that it blends in and is level. As for getting it all on the same side, after you have pulled his mane get a damp water brush and 'lay' his mane onto the correct side and then plait it over. Don't turn out with plaits in though as if he rubs his mane he will rub all of his mane out! :eek:

Hope this helps. :)
 
I am a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to my horses mane. Let it grow and train it over daily with a water brush it should start to lay over on the correct side, also if that area is well groomed it may help prevent rubbing. Dont pull it short as this will not help with keeping it over and personally i think it looks better slightly long. I use a blunt thinning knife to take it to the length i want it and then (shocking!) i use scissors just on the straggling hairs and to neaten it up. I now do all the horses on the yard i keep mine on because people like how this looks :) x
 
Grow it longer (I always go atleast 1/4 of the way down the neck if it's a mess, plait it over the right side to train it over (doesn't always work, and he might have a nice rub to get them out however :P), leave it for a week or so, then take the plaits out and wash it and groom it, leave it for a day do settle then get the solo comb on it. It creates a pulled look that you can't get with scissors, esp on a thicker mane!

Easiest thing ever to use. Good if your horse hates pulling too!
The inside of my manes are always just under cm shorter then the outside (if that makes any sense) as you get a neater line that way. However, with a bushy mane it doesn't tend to work as well, and makes it stick up, so you just need to be extra careful with your chopping :)

My lad has a nice mane now, after last year rubbing the bottom half out!
 
Mane rake - I only just got one this spring but it really is great and you don't get the spiky edges - I also pull a little bit .... by this I mean 6 strands when shes not looking other wise she'd deck me one !!
 
My friends horse had a really thick mane, she got a rake thing and it worked really well.

I would defo let it grow and train it over, my horses is on the wrong side anyway but I don't care, he's 32 and we just hack. You could then either pull it as you would normally which would thin it at the same time. Or if you use a solo comb, back comb it to the roots and cut instead of cutting it to the length you want, that way its thinning it like pulling would. Don't try and put too much in the comb.

Or I know someone who does as a few above, and cuts it but then you'd have to use something else to thin it so ......whatever method you prefer
 
It doesn't matter what side your mane is on. Wouldn't worry yourself about training it over..

I pull to get thickness out in spring but use thinning knife and mane-rake throughout season to make plaiting easier. I rake on the underside so you don't get spikes when plaited.
 
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