what to do with this tail?

[Jericho]

Ever since I have had my mare she has had a pulled / stripped tail (2 1/2 years) I kept pulling it only because we were competing and it looks awful if I let it grow. It looks particularly bad because it was short on top/ allover rather than just down this sides. Anyway since she has had the winter I have left it alone to see if it will start looking decent but this is what it looks like now - blooming awful!!!

So what do I do with it? (and how do I do it properly!) Shall I just pull the sides and perservere with the top flat bit ? We will be doing mostly prelim dressage / clinics etc this year nothing major but I do like my horses to look neat!

 

[mulledwhine]

I would persevere , as it gets longer it will start to lie flatter

 

[be positive]

That tail will pull well enough, just do a little at a time, leave the middle alone and bandage regularly until it is the shape you want. It looks as if it was all done at the same time before so the regrowth is very thick and all the same length, if you do not want to pull it is not going to be long enough to plait for some time.

 

[Wagtail]

I would just thin it with a mars coat king. Just a bit down the sides. Keeps it looking neat but doesn't give that pulled look (though you can get a pulled look if you thin it a lot).

I have only one horse on the yard that has a fully pulled tail. I use the mars rake and solo comb and scissors. Looks just like it has been pulled properly but without the pain. It has taken a few years to perfect my mane and tale pulling without pain to the standard I could do it in the traditional way. At one time I thought it wasn't possible, but with a great deal of practice it is. I really hate the practice of using pliers to pull tails too. Ouch!

 

[PooJay]

let it grow!

Personally i hate pulled tails i think it looks silly and i don't understand why anyone would do it

 

[AmyMay]

I'd let it grow out now too. If you cut the tail short now it will look better, and they will grow out nicely together over the rest of the winter.

 

[Becca-84]

When I bought my mare in Spain, her tail had been kept clipped all over the top, like yours. I let hers grow out. Yes, it did look bl**dy awful for ages - think bogbrush lol!! But then I wasn't competing so the look didn't bother us. I agree with be positive - gently pull the sides and bandage so it starts to lie flat.