To pull or cut?

[My_breadbagel]

Do you log pull or cut your manes? I’ve always cut as i find it easier, better on my (once headshy) horses, and I can get it looking neat. What do you do and why?

 

[AmyMay]

I’ve always pulled. It just looks better imo.

 

[Orangehorse]

Pulling will always look better. I use a solo comb on mine as his mane isn't thick and he looks appalled if I try to pull it. I also use a thinning comb on his tail to get a pulled look and it works quite well enough.

I was told that if you pull upwards it is less painful for them, and obviously only pull a few hairs at a time and don't go on for too long. I have known horses that had their manes pulled short in one session and from then on no-one could get near them to pull it again. I suppose if you need a neatly pulled mane at all times it is better to do a bit regularly.

 

[Bernster]

Cut! But I try to feather it so it doesn’t look so stark. I don’t mind the cut look if it’s not too blunt.

 

[fetlock]

Long time since I’ve pulled anything (including men) but I would always pull a mane (and a tail, using fingers - my pet hate was a grown out loo brush tail).

 

[Barton Bounty]

I cut mine, then tidy up the bottom with a solo comb ? my boys mane grows like mad, and only a fortnight ago and needs done again ?

 

[Squeak]

I used to religiously pull but after having a horse who hated it I’ve got used to cutting them. I use a rake First on the tail and then tidy up with scissors and then for the mane I do the bulk of the shortening with scissors and then use a rake to thin it and give it a more natural finish.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Pulling does give a neater finish, but is an inhumane practice which should be consigned to the history books.

I can do nearly as good a job with backcombing then using a solocomb or angled cuts with scissors.

My mare came back off loan having been forced to endure having her mane fully pulled in single sessions. They paid someone to do it. It took many months after that before I could even begin to backcomb her mane to scissor or solocomb her mane short - she would hurl herself against me and try to pin me to the wall if I tried. She's fine to solocomb now, but will never have her mane pulled again.

 

[JBM]

Cut! I’m horrible at it and it looks bad but they don’t go anywhere ?
Both of them would be horrified if I pulled it
I don’t generally cut in summer to help them with flies

 

[Barton Bounty]

Pulling does give a neater finish, but is an inhumane practice which should be consigned to the history books.

I can do nearly as good a job with backcombing then using a solocomb or angled cuts with scissors.

My mare came back off loan having been forced to endure having her mane fully pulled in single sessions. They paid someone to do it. It took many months after that before I could even begin to backcomb her mane to scissor or solocomb her mane short - she would hurl herself against me and try to pin me to the wall if I tried. She's fine to solocomb now, but will never have her mane pulled again.

Thats what i do cut then backcomb with the solocomb

 

[ponynutz]

I have never got a cut to look nice on my girl but she loathes having her mane pulled.
I think someone told me once that using thinning scissors and then cutting/pulling the loose ends is a good middle ground and works nicely but I never tried it.

 

[Zoeypxo]

I use a thinning knife or levelling knife it could be called its brilliant, even the ones who do not tolerate mane pulling allow me to do this

 

[ycbm]

Pulling does give a neater finish, but is an inhumane practice which should be consigned to the history books.

I've owned more than one horse which adored having it done.
.

 

[Roxylola]

Cut, I trim up so it doesn't look as cropped
I used to be adamant pulling was a better look but I've met too many horses who are upset to believe it doesn't hurt them. And I rake and thin tails to a pulled look

 

[ycbm]

Do you log pull or cut your manes? I’ve always cut as i find it easier, better on my (once headshy) horses, and I can get it looking neat. What do you do and why?

I cut mine but he's appaloosa and has a mane 10 hairs thick ?

I would never pull the mane of a horse who won't stand untied for it to be done.
.

 

[AmyMay]

I've owned more than one horse which adored having it done.
.

I have to be honest, none of mine minded it either.

 

[meleeka]

I don’t trim mine as they are all native and retired, but I used a comb with a blade in. I wouldn’t pull, I think it’s cruel for most horses, but then I wouldn’t ever pluck my eyebrows either. Others say it doesn’t hurt, but to me it does so I guess horses manes are the same

 

[My_breadbagel]

Cut! But I try to feather it so it doesn’t look so stark. I don’t mind the cut look if it’s not too blunt.

That’s what I do…. Unless I’m in a funny mood and want to give him the pony equivalent of a bowl cut for a laugh

 

[sjdress]

Always cut. Wouldn’t want someone pulling my hair out!

 

[Lois Lame]

Pulling does give a neater finish, but is an inhumane practice which should be consigned to the history books.

Agreed.

I neither pull nor cut manes because I've never had a need to. They seem to keep to a certain length. (I like a long mane and a bushy wild style.)

 

[Cowpony]

I'd hate to have my hair pulled out by the roots, so I don't see why horses should have to endure it. I cut, then chop up into it so it looks natural, and use thinning scissors on the thick bits

 

[Cragrat]

As others have said, some horses really do seem to love it - IME usually TB'S with fine manes - they either fall asleep with a droopy lip, or pull ecstatic faces as if they are mutual grooming.

But if they dislike it, I would definiltely use a combination of scissors / trimmers etc to get a pulled look . My current older TB doesn't dislike it, but his mane is quite fine, so I just plait to the length I need and chop the rest off before I roll up. When I unplait, it usually looks quite acceptable.

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

I solo comb takes the hassle out and gives the same look of done right

 

[asmp]

Mine hates having his mane pulled so I use a Solo comb.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

Have you tried plaiting a solocombed mane?!?! It ends up looking like spokey golf balls!

I always pull and pull to the off side. The boss pulls it whichever side it lays too which makes it horrible to plait.

 

[Red-1]

I have one au natural. It is thick and plentiful so if his ever needed tidying, it would be hogged as neither pulling or cutting would do the trick.

The other stands untied to be pulled. He seems OK with it. I only do a bit at a time, when he is warm.

I had one who hated it so I used thinning scissors. He had a very thin mane, so it still plaited OK.

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

Never had an issue plaiting Kia’s mane after I solo combed it. Plenty of plaiting gel then trimmed any strays as normal. His mane lay on the wrong side so I was always plaiting it to the right side which helped.

 

[minesadouble]

Pulling definitely gives the best finish. In my experience some object and some don't. Bizarrely we once had a gelding who would go ballistic if you tried to pull his mane but would stand and go to sleep or devour a haynet while i pulled his tail with pliers!
If something violently objects to pulling I would use a comb and scissors but the finish is not comparable to pulling.

 

[Fluffypiglet]

I cut my horses mane as he was subjected to a violent mane pull at a dealers yard and wouldn’t let anyone touch his mane for ages after. Luckily he has a nice straight mane which is not too thick. I feather the ends so it doesn’t look cut and must be successful at it as someone complimented me on his neatly pulled mane and then looked horrified when I said I’d cut it! ? I pulled some tail hairs the other day and whilst he couldn’t have cared less I felt really uncomfortable about doing it. I’d always pulled manes previously but definitely prefer not to these days. I did buy a solo comb but just couldn’t get on with it.

 

[scats]

Millie has the type of mane that needs pulling, but she hates it, so I solo comb it. It’s far too thick for a solo comb but needs must. Polly’s mane is so beautifully straight and thin that the solo comb does just as good a job as pulling.

As for some horses enjoying it, I can vouch for this. The hooligan used to stand with lip hanging all relaxed and fall asleep.