Using clove oil to pull manes

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now_loves_mares

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A few people on here have suggested using clove oil to numb the pain a bit before pulling a horses mane. My TB hates having her mane done (think crushing me against the wall with her teeth bared
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) so I fancied trying this.

Can anyone advise how to use it. Looks like quite a small bottle for a big wild mane
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Do I dilute it then just rub in to the roots? Any tips welcome!

BTW I will of course cut it down first and do it in small goes, but it's never been properly pulled and it's wild
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She's 7/8 TB and 1/8 mane
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Diluting will dilute the numbing effect, part the mane and rub it directly onto the skin and don't forget to wear gloves!
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That's what I have been told, never used it myself though so I can't say how effective it is.

 
Hi Brighteyes, her mane is super-thick so I want to try to pull it properly at least once. I've heard that you can't plait properly if you use the rakes to thin them?

Enfys thanks, just wondered if there was some secret application method
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- clearly not, I think I can follow your instructions
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Take great care hun because oil of cloves can burn the skin. That's why you need to wear gloves. Have you tried all other methods eg just pulling an inch a day? Doing it when she's warm? Sedalin? Hogging? I suppose you have to decide whether hurting your horse is justified if you get a neat mane. I don't think it is. You can get just as good results with a solo comb or mane rake.
 
Tried this. horse had an allergic reaction and it didn't numb it at all (or t lest his behaviour didn't improve)
 
Pull after work is the best option.

My lad hated it. I used to have to twitch him. I then used a mane rake and the results was pretty awful. So i left it to grow and then after he was worked i pulled about an inch a day.

He will now stand for me to do as much as i like. I still only do about a third of his mane at once as he is a bit sensitive, but he now lets me do it. It took about three weeks for him to let me do this and now i have a lovely mane
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I use a Magnetic Back Pad when I pull my horses mane.
He will pin me up against the wall and lash out with his back legs when I am pulling the bottom of it. With the Magnetic Back Pad on he has absolutely no reaction whatsoever!
Twitching him had no effect and I never tried Oil of Cloves, but the Magnetic Back Pad works a treat!

I tried thinning it once with a thinning blade, it was awful!
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I honestly don't understand how people can note that pulling their horse's mane clearly causes distress but they still do it. It's not as if it's necessary for the health of the horse - it's just fashion. I challenge anyone to get a friend to pull handfuls of hair out of their head and see whether they enjoy it.
 
Clove oil can cause severe allergic reactions/burning- I would strongly vote against trying it! Why not get a solo comb? Thats what I use for my mare as she dosnen't like having mane pulled. Or scissors and thinning scissors- if you take your time it will look exactly like a pulled mane.
 
Thanks everyone for your posts. Lots of differing opinions so I will consider them all before I carry on.

T_H - v interesting about the massage pad, I was considering one anyway for another reason, is it the equilibrium you have?
 
[ QUOTE ]

T_H - v interesting about the massage pad, I was considering one anyway for another reason, is it the equilibrium you have?

[/ QUOTE ]

It's not a massage pad, basically just a row of magnets down the spine of a numnah. It's an Aerborn one, I got it in their sale for £20
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What works for me is a small use of mane rake combined with thinning scissors and normal pulling to soften up the edges. Never had dodgy plaits, do it small bits at a time on a warm day and or after exercise and my mare will accept this whilst 100% pulling no chance!!
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Mane and tail rakes are excellent for thinning a mane intended to remain long, but are well known for leaving the spikey bits when plaiting.

Mane pulling distressed Star as well. I had a go with oil of cloves and it didn't appear to do anything except make her smell like the dentist! Luckily, I had the option of allowing her to become a hairy coloured, rather than plaited and pulled (she's a coloured native). Her tail was just as sensitive (it would bleed!) but the tail rake was a magnificent piece of kit! Superb results here. Magnificently full and hairy now though.
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