What should a pulled tail look like?

[BeckyD]

I have a TB who I'd like to do showing classes on, and I know it's correct to pull his tail. I have no idea though what the end result should be. Does anyone have any photos of a neatly-pulled tail? His tail is very thin, so I am trying to pull out as little as possible (and be humane about it!). I have an Oster tail rake which seemed great, but what do I do about the top sides? (Still a bit shaggy/long). He keeps looking round at me nervously - I think he knows I don't know what I'm doing and is worrying that I'm butchering his tail!!

Thanks in advance for any light you can shed!

 

[AmyMay]

Why not lace it instead of pulling it? As it doesn't have to be pulled for showing classes. And to be honest, if he has a thin tail already, it will just look worse pulled.

 

[alicep]

yeah plait it. save the hair

 

[TGM]

[ QUOTE ]
Why not lace it instead of pulling it? As it doesn't have to be pulled for showing classes.

[/ QUOTE ] I can hear FMM hyper-ventilating now

!

Pulled is generally deemed to be more correct for showing, but if you are competing locally then you'll see all sorts - neatly plaited, badly plaited, unpulled, and pulled.

 

[AmyMay]

TGM - YO shows at county level also, and whilst yes pulled tail is more correct, I have seen more than a few with a plaited tail (especially when a tail is very thin). If the horse is good enough it will be placed whether the tail is pulled or plaited. As long as it is done well, either is correct.

 

[jnb]

Thin tails actually look better when pulled and cut to the correct length (just below the hock when carried).

A Cob tail (they are usually cut shorter than RH/Hacks):

 

[TGM]

[ QUOTE ]
If the horse is good enough it will be placed whether the tail is pulled or plaited. As long as it is done well, either is correct.

[/ QUOTE ] Personally, I agree with you - but a lot of showing people don't seem to. I've seem some very heated arguments over the pulled/plaited tail debate on showing forums

.

 

[AmyMay]

[ QUOTE ]
Personally, I agree with you - but a lot of showing people don't seem to. I've seem some very heated arguments over the pulled/plaited tail debate on showing forums

[/ QUOTE ]
You do want to tell them to get over themselves don't you?

 

[TGM]

 

[BeckyD]

It actually looked worse plaited (strangely!). For some reason (it's quite bushy at the bottom) it does seem to look better with a bit of shape at the top too, but as it does seem pretty thin up there, that's why I'm worried! I could plait it I guess. Not that I'm very good at tail plaiting...

Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[BeckyD]

Thank you - it is quite close at the top isn't it? I'm so worried about doing this wrong! Lovely horse BTW.

 

[jnb]

All I will add to this is that plaited tails do stand out at County level. But not for the right reasons!!

 

[custard]

[ QUOTE ]
I can hear FMM hyper-ventilating now

!

[/ QUOTE ]

LMAO! Sorry but I liked pulled better and plaited only seems to look right on youngstock. The grey cob doesn't have a very thick tail but cut to the right length and well pulled I think it looks spot on!

 

[Diane_Pepper]

COUGH i clip my ponio's COUGH

it's very thick & so it's do-able

i'll probably get people having a go at me now!!

 

[ColouredFan]

personally i prefer a pulled tail and it saves time plaiting! im lucky that my horse actually enjoys having his hair pulled out! i leave his tail a little longer as its so thick!