Ultra thick mane on both sides of neck - help

[Twinkletoes]

My ShirexTB gelding has the thickest, densest mane I have ever come across. He is now well handled and enjoys our grooming sessions, and has no problems with his mane or tail being fiddled with.

I would really like to see it thinned or at least tamed, as although our winter is just around the corner these blazing indian summer days were are getting at the moment mean he is literally matted with sweat underneath his mane and is soooo relieved when you take it off his neck.

So, should I just pull it, or use thinning scissors, or just leave it, as he isnt doing any showing at all over winter and is only a youngster. Any product/technique help appreciated lol.

 

[kerilli]

tbh i'd leave it, or just thin it with a tailrake to tidy it up. if he's living out without a neck cover he'll appreciate it through the winter!

 

[Scheherezade]

Well, in danger of being called all sorts of horrible names, I'd leave it to grow longish as the weight pulls it down and makes it less 'fluffy' and then thin it out a little.

 

[ha903070]

I agree with Kerelli leave it for winter, in sumer plait it we used to with our horse stopped her neck sweating.

 

[PapaFrita]

I'd pull it. I had a pony on my yard with a lovely thick mane and tail but it got so matted and muddy in winter! You'd have to stay on top of it to keep it clean(ish) and if you start pulling now, you'll have less work come the warm weather.
I've seen people use thinning scissors on horses on the mane right up close to the neck and when it grew out it grew like a hog; straight up like a toothbrush. It's not how I would've used the scissors at all and if it'd been my horse I would've been a bit

 

[Miss L Toe]

My boy is the same, he is kept au naturelle, he hates thinning, so i gave up in the end, it makes him weatherproof, i do a braid type plait, which looks great and takes only two minutes to do.

 

[Sarah Sum1]

I would leave until after winter. I'm coming to live where you live if you have 'blazing indian summer days!'

 

[CrazyMare]

If it were mine, I'd be starting to pull and thin it now, so a) he gets used to it and b) you don't have such a chore come the warmer weather to get him ready for any parties.

 

[Sarah1]

I'd pull it but perhaps use some clove oil or something on the roots to numb it a little so it doesn't sting so much and cause him to dislike having it pulled!

 

[CazD]

Hubby's horse was like this - but absolutely hated her mane being pulled. He used to find the mane got in the way when jumping etc too. As the horse is a heavy cob we solved the problem by hogging it LOL

 

[Kallibear]

Like this?

This is AFTER a bit of thinning! She's a Tbx Clydesdale. Must be something with the breed cross!

I'd leave it, He's not showing, he needs it for the winter and he's not going to like it being pulled. Apart from getting sweaty (plaiting it keeps the neck cool) it's just human vanity to want it pulled.

Kalli had her severly thinned (scissors/solocomb/rake)constantly over the summer and now it's so spiky, uneven and stupid looking that she's getting the whole thing hogged off. She'll be rugged in a full neck this winter however. Plus it grows so fast it'll be 6" long by the spring.

Next year we've decided we're going hog down the middle, taking the right side of the mane off. That'll leave the left side to be plaited and flipped over to cover it. And it'll be easy to redo before every show. Her manes so thick and strong all the way down that that should work.

 

[ofcourseyoucan]

if the horse has a nice neck with a crest i would hog it! easy to keep and maintain