What to do with a mane that grows in the direction of the ears?????

RubyFrench

RubyFrench

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The first half of my geldings mane (from ears to middle of neck) was always thicker and longer than the rest and I had never really got round to giving it a good old pull, I noticed that it would lie in the direction of his ears. Gave it a proper good tidy up, it is now a nice length and much thinner than before and looks ABSOLUTELY BLOODY AWFUL lol as it is still pointing towards his ears but as it is now short it just sticks in the air or looks like a mohawk :mad:

He has a very corse mane, and spray conditioners don't seem to make any bit of difference. I dampen it down with a wet body brush before I ride, but it is back in the air before long! Please give me some tips how to get it to lie flat!!!
 
I sympathise!! I thought I'd sussed ours by putting loads of tight plaits in for 10 days - 2days after taking them out it was back to how it was!!

Sorry no help but will watch with interest!!! xx
 
Plaiting down is normally quite successful. I woudln't go for loads of plaits- just the same number as you would use to plait up normally, depending on the horse's neck length.

For conditioners, go to your local hairdressers who specialised in afro-caribbean hair, as strange as that sounds. I've had conditioners and conditioning sprays from a salon that do wonders, and are still cheaper than the actual horsey stuff. I think Boots do an afro-caribbean haircare range too :)
 
Like this

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No solutions but I feel your pain and what's worse is mine's a tb who you'd expect to have a soft silky floppy mane.
 
the only thing ive found that helps is to put on a lycra hood (snuggy hood) the night before you need them to look smart! Dont make the mistake i did though of leaving it on 24/7 as despite following all the instructions, my mares mane fell out at the roots in early Jan and is still growing back:mad:
 
Stable plaits. Same as for a show but without rolling. The trick is not to pull them tight near the roots, otherwise when you take them out, they spring back worse. Dampen the mane, then start the plait with the underside at least half an inch from the roots, the plait can be tight enough to stay in but leave it hanging down naturally at the base. Plus stops hair breaking. Then after 2days take out for a few hours, or even 24hrs & plait again. Gradually it will stay down.
 
NeverSayNever said:
the only thing ive found that helps is to put on a lycra hood (snuggy hood) the night before you need them to look smart!
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I don't actually "need" it to look nice, I don't do shows/jumping/anything at all other than plod around the lanes, I just want him to have a nice silky mane that lies flat lol!

Would shaving a bridle path help do you think????
 
Ooh, that looks just like my TB's mane! Same colour too. His used to be seriously thick (getting thinner in his old age ;)) and he will not let me pull it.

So I hogged him :D

It's got quite long now he's just doing the happy hacker thing and no longer grows up his neck. Well, not so much.
 
My boy used to have a lovely mane that laid beautifully to one side - then I changed to him living out 24/7 and it now looks the same - I have definitely had to put my desire for a nice clean, smart horse on hold since!!
 
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Bit like this?

It's not coarse though, just really thick. I tried plaiting it but it still stood up, it's only now it's longer that it lies mostly over to the side. He looks like a right scruff though
 
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Now mines a little cob type with a thick course mane. I can plait him for shows & he looks fab but for jumping I don't always plait him, would just like his mane to lay flat!! I put loads of small plaits in because normal size ones still stick up near the top of his mane!! I've dampened it, gelled it but still no joy!!
 
Who knew there were all these punk tbs out there.

If I do smooth it over to one side, he puts his ears back and as soon as I finish gives his head a good shake to get it back how he likes it.
 
Glad I'm not the only one with this problem!! I plaited my boys mane tonight for the same reason, for the 2nd time in bout 6 weeks!!!
 
If you are not showing or anything why not let it grow? My boy's mane is like the photos above so if I'm not competing I let it grow and the weight of the long hair makes it fall down to the side rather than point towards the ears. Then keep the ends looking tidy by pulling the uneven hairs.

Having said that, my boy's mane falls to each side as it is Very thick, but it looks tidy and nice and glossy and black when it's groomed. It never looks nice when it's short and I have done the weting and plaiting thing before shows and it will lie flat on one side after that for a few days only.

Plus, you can do some interesting things with a long mane that you can't do with a short one, like the plait along the end, or divide the mane into sections and patterns with plaiting bands. :)
 
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Same horse, different 'do. Still grew up his neck though ;):D

He does spend a goodly amount of time with his head down, so maybe he's trained it that way? Well, it's not like he's a big fat pig or anything. Hehehe.
 
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Let it grow long and do a running plait to make him smart for riding. With practice you'll be able to do one neatly in 5min. Or hog it, any horse with a decent topline looks ok hogged IMO.
 
I always think long manes can make tbs look a bit lanky necked and hogging them makes them look like polo ponies - sorry Beausmate.

Punk look it is then, I can always plait if I do want him to look smart.
 
Tinap555- if you leave them loose at the roots it does work. I did it with a welshxtb who had a mane to rival a county standard sec d stallion, who's owner liked the showjumpers cut style mane. It was too thick to get in a stallion plait even at a nominal length. Long term plaits did it. Short term its first comp a week after its trim, I admit to blow drying it with straightening cream & using hair straighteners. Then I finished with the gel used to keep mohicans in place. Looked pretty good especially considering owner had basically cut a long thick frizzy mane to a few inches. And I was inspired by the fact it was a)my job & b) owner gave out expensive bottles of wine for excellent turnout.
 
criso said:
I always think long manes can make tbs look a bit lanky necked and hogging them makes them look like polo ponies - sorry Beausmate.
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No need to apologise-he's built like a Welsh cob and looks nothing like a polo pony. Hogged or not :D

Totally agree about long manes making them look lanky, my big TB looks rubbish at the mo cos I haven't been a**ed to do anything with it. I'm a shocking disgrace!
 
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My Tb's is like this, I tried everything as a youngster but nothing worked! Having rugs with necks on all winter works & it lies down,nearly straight!
But once the rugs are off in spring it just reverts back! Gave up with it years ago,life's too short!
 
I do always have a bridlepath( gets rid of some of it!) I keep it short & it will plait up nicely as well.
 
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