Why do showjumpers cut their horses manes with scissors?

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rolsterlady

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As title says.... :) I think it looks smart but it is considered incorrect most of the time to use scissors near a mane!

I wouldn't trust myself.... think my horse would end up hogged the amount of times i would try to get it straight! :rolleyes:
 
Ummm...I'm going to admit that I always used to cut my pony's mane. And actually it's got so long I cut it again. I only do a little at a time until it's a length that's manageable for pulling. Looks fine. No one would know it was cut.
 
Fashion, and if not done well can look awfull (i failed miserably the first few times!!!!!) but on a nice mane it looks fab :)
 
ttt said:
Why not ?:confused:
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Because as far as i am aware it is traditional in this country to pull manes, cutting them is a very european sj style! I dont seem to remember the likes of Milton, Ryans Son etc having cut manes, though i may well be wrong:)
 
i don't have a problem with it, it's what they like and think looks nice so they do it. just because it is not tradition or is said to be "incorrect" doesn't mean it is, thats just someones opinion.
 
Some also use straighteners, let alone scissors, I use scissors but I also pull it as well to thin it out, if it looks ok and it saves time and is more comfortable for the horse...why the hell not I say.

When I've done it properly, people comment on how nice it looks, so it can't be that bad lol
 
horsey mad matt said:
i don't have a problem with it, it's what they like and think looks nice so they do it. just because it is not tradition or is said to be "incorrect" doesn't mean it is, thats just someones opinion.
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I completely agree and like i said i think it looks smart!

Its totally up to each individual what they do with their horses manes, i was just curious :)
 
Its easier and quicker and I prefer to use scissors rather than pulling. Just personal preference really (and a touch of laziness???) :)
 
I showjump and would love if I could pull my horses main as it gets so thick but he hates it so much it isn't worth it (or my safety!) so end up cutting it, it still looks smart for his job though and looks like everyone else's. My other horse has his pulled and then cut to finish, I feel it looks smart :)
 
Ithink it's just fashion. Show jumpers are very rarely plaited up so as long as the mane lies on one side it doesn't matter if it's thick. We only pull manes so that we can plait them up.
It is funny how fashion varies in each discipline. Show jumpers-cut manes, full tails which tend to be fairly short. Dressage horses have the full tail sometimes almost sweeping the floor. Eventers- pulled manes and tails.
 
Yes, I've come round to the scissors method too. Only one of my horses actually liked getting his mane pulled..the rest hated it. So instead of inflicting an unnecessary trauma on them, out come the scissors and really the result looks pretty good! i don't really care if it's 'correct' or not. My horses are tidy and like me better for it!
 
When I was a kid the Police horses used to come stay at the stables during events held in the town. They used to screw there horses mane flat between two pieces of wood, that ran the length of the horses mane. And then leave them with it on to get the mane to lie flat.
 
Looks super on horses with fairly thing manes, just dont do it on anything with a super thick mane as it will look horrible when the mane is ruffled around and there is diffrent cut pieces everywhere! I do tend to used sccisors once I've thinned it with a mane rake.
 
Interesting, I have just cut my old girl's mane with scissors as I figured, whats the point in pulling it, thats cruel because she doesn't go anywhere etc etc. I felt so awful after I'd done it though, :eek: I rang my friend in a state of shock, but it looks pretty damn good actually!! :D

Yet have a 3 yr old who i'm currently working on him letting me pull his mane, because I wouldn't have dreamt of cutting it, however the scissors may well be coming out! lol :rolleyes:
 
i do not trim/cut my horses manes with scissors - i do tend to get 'scissor happy'

I also prefer to do things properly/traditionally and pull the mane - but over a few days, so they dont get sore and resent you!
 
The joys of having a traditional, no more mane worries!
I had a TBx mare in my teens who was lethal when i tried to pull her mane (in the '80's we used to plait to go jumping!). Luckily, my mum's a hairdresser and, although non-horsey, she used to do a lovely job with thinning scissors and a blade. Sadly, I never managed to copy her, but I can use a twitch now if I was ever in that situation again!
 
I too have resorted to scissors and, if I am honest, I think it looks just fine. I never thought I would cut rather than pull but pulling is just tradition and can be painful for the horse. That is my excuse anyway!
 
My boy's mane is so thick and he lives out a lot, so I allow the mane to fall both side, and plait up both sides or on the near side, with a Spanish plait for special occasions, the offside looks as though the mane is pulled, but I cut the near side [for various reasons], then brushed and combed, it so it looks pulled, but still very thick.
I can also do a Continental braid or an Andalusian braid as there is plenty of hair!
For general riding I can just quickly tie up in loose plaits.
 
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I mix scissors and pulling - with the aim of getting the mane the same length and thickness all along the neck.

I snip upwards so that I don't remove big chunks at a time. Done well it looks really smart.
 
I have been using hairdressing thinning scissors for years. One yard I was on was horrified but I did notice a few months on a number doing the same. My mare at the time hated combs and pulling even pinch pulling.
 
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