Using a tail bag in the field?

[Dreckly]

My big chap has a lovely thick tail, but in the winter I hate it as it is the only part of him I can't get clean on a daily basis. It is so difficult getting the mud/knots/bits of straw out. So, I was wondering whether anyone had tried using one of those tailguards with a bag on in the field. Good or bad idea??

 

[eggs]

Personally I haven't and wouldn't. You could try plaiting the whole of his tail.

 

[saddlesore]

I've just bought a tailgator one to use in the field. It has breakaway straps.

 

[Highlands]

I know people who do use tail bags , carefu if you plait and leave and don't ride often plaited as I alters horses back

 

[Lyle]

Very, very common in Aus. I have a light denier one for winter and several cotton ones for summer. Makes managing mid so much easier! And tails always look lovely!

 

[WelshD]

I personally wouldnt use a tail guard one but one of my ponies practically lives in the non tailguard versions in the winter

I plait his tail just a few times below the dock and fasten with a plaiting band the post the tail in to the tail bag, pass the velcro through the middle of the plait and fasten. If he gets snagged on anything the velcro pulls apart quite easily but he hasn't run in to any problems yet. I have another version where a tie passes through the plait but I wouldn't say they were as safe as the velcro ones.

Some people plait all the way down the tail and I used to but I don't any more as a looser shorter plait fastened with a band would also come undone in an emergency

 

[FfionWinnie]

Loose plait leaving a good gap below the tail bone and in a tail gator bag made for the purpose.

 

[Pinkvboots]

My horses live in tail bags they are Arabs so there tails are very long, I only use the tie on ones so you plait the tail then tie the bag into the plait, they rarely come off and never get caught in anything and are about £13 each.

 

[NZJenny]

Could one of you please post a link as to where you can buy the tail bags please? The only ones that seem to be avabilable here are the ones that velcro onto covers, which means you need an attachment on all your covers. The ones you are all using sound so much easier. Thank you.

 

[WelshD]

http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/161489778426?nav=SEARCH

 

[WelshD]

The sort i use only cover the bottom half of the tail and attach below the dock.

Many of the ones on ebay are from Australia where they seem to be very common

 

[Lyle]

I use the full length bags which velcro onto the rugs. My horses always have a cotton sheet on, either as the outer layer in summer or the bottom layer in winter under a HW. It's simple to have a bit of Velcro attached to the cotton sheet. I don't like the tie in bags as they can break the hair at the dock and I can't stand how they make the tail hair crinkly

 

[Prince33Sp4rkle]

bruce wears a tailgator one all year round. if it got caught on something the velcro would give for sure, its not *that* strong.

 

[saddlesore]

Google tailgator

 

[Pinkvboots]

Arabian emporium do the tie on ones, am off to google tailgaitor ones now though

 

[Annagain]

I use the tailgator fold up ones in the field. They're great. I occasionally have to go on a bag hunt it that just shows they come loose rather than getting caught on anything.

 

[Wiz201]

I'm sure a horse could rip a tailbag apart if it got caught, the bag won't be stronger than the horse

 

[Dreckly]

Thanks everyone, going to give a Tailgator bag a try

 

[MyBoyChe]

Ditto the tailgator ones. My highland wears one when the weather is wet and the fields are muddy, tail loosely plaited from below the dock to the end and the velcro tabs passed through the plait. It saves his tail from being trodden on in the heavy clay mud and keeps it reasonably clean. It is strong but not so strong that it wont pull off if he gets caught up anywhere. Love it!

 

[Jericho]

I use a tailgate for my grey mate - never had any issues with it and does a good job of keeping tail clean

 

[Alyth]

I have a grey mare so you can imagine the tail if left unprotected I use a square of old sheet, about 1m square with a shoe lace threaded through the hem at the top and 2 rips almost to the top so you can tie it around the tail then wrap 3 sections of tail in the 3 sections of sheet, plait not too tightly and fasten at the bottom with a scrunchie....works really well It does need undoing and washing usually each weekend..

 

[Moya_999]

My big chap has a lovely thick tail, but in the winter I hate it as it is the only part of him I can't get clean on a daily basis. It is so difficult getting the mud/knots/bits of straw out. So, I was wondering whether anyone had tried using one of those tailguards with a bag on in the field. Good or bad idea??

I also would use a tailgator and have used it over a year, providing you check the tail regularly and specially when it rains, they are brilliant. Make sure you get the right size for him, in fact i may start using mine again as his white tail is hard to keep clean.

I def recommend them, rarely came off - never had a problem with him worried about it . The tail also gets very long in it as breakage is limited

oh I use the fold up one as his tail is down to his fetlocks,

 

[Moya_999]

Could one of you please post a link as to where you can buy the tail bags please? The only ones that seem to be avabilable here are the ones that velcro onto covers, which means you need an attachment on all your covers. The ones you are all using sound so much easier. Thank you.

http://www.tailgator.co.uk/tg/pages/tailbagorder.html

 

[Tnavas]

In New Zealand every self respecting show pony wears one all the time. They Velcro to the top of the rug.

If you have a horse with a white or a scrawny tail they are a must to keep the tail clean and free of tangles.

A piece of Velcro is fixed to the end of the rug and the tail bag attached. Far better than the short version that's plaited into the tail as it doesn't damage the tail

 

[TTK]

Tailgator are a lifesaver with long tails. No problems ever but I do take it off to ride but still leave tail plaited.

 

[FellOutOfFavour]

I keep my boys tail well pig-oiled and plaited. It reaches the ground and we have thick clay mid (mid-cannon depth in the gate at the moment) so the bottom of it does get caked in wet clay every single day. I just ignore it during the week and unplait, wash and re apply pig oil once every couple of weeks.