The beautiful manes and tails are the goal of almost all horse owners. Getting the manes and tails to grow long and shiny is a problem. Getting them to stay like this is completely different.
The longer and thicker a horse’s mane and tail become, the more work it takes to keep it groomed and free of mats and witch’s knots. Witch knots are those pesky masses of knots that seem to reproduce wildly until there is no way of knowing where the knot begins and ends.
Hair care between grooming sessions
There are many options for horses that are stagnant most of the day. There are any number of tail bags, braiding options, and tail systems on the market. But be careful; Just as there is no perfect mousetrap, there is no perfect answer to tail. If you invent one, you will be rich beyond measure. Good luck.
The manes and tails of horses that live in boxes or smooth tube pens are the easiest to maintain. Simply braid the mane and tail, securing the braid with an elastic hair band, and comb your fingers once a week. Be careful when picking out a horse with braided hair as they are very creative in catching braids on fences, trees, and door latches. Also recognize that braids are tempting chew toys for other horses, too.
If you are traveling with your horse, check all stables away from home for mane and tail predators. It only takes one pin or wire to pull a large amount of hair out of a braided tail.
Regardless of which method you choose to protect your horse’s tail, make sure the tail is clean and conditioned before braiding or putting it in a tail wrap of any kind.
To reduce breakage, finger comb the mane and tail until nearly tangle and knot-free. Brushes and combs are only used for a final touch up. For tails that tend to be more brittle, try finger combing only until just before entering the display pen.
Wearing sports socks to lift the tail
The easiest and least expensive method of protecting the tails is to make a simple braid, then put a nylon tail bag or old sports sock in the braid. If you decide to try the sock on, cut the top of the sock into four equal parts (cut top to bottom, cuff to toe), leaving four labels approximately four inches long. Pass one of the pieces through the braid (once the tail is on the sock) and tie it with a square knot to the sock tag on the opposite side. Repeat with the two remaining sock lengths.
Management of tangled manes and tails
Anyone with a lot of experience in personal care knows the challenge posed by tangled tails and witch’s knots in manes. Matted hair looks like a Shine pad, a tough mixture of strands that is almost a solid object. Unless you just want to cut all the hair, you will have to commit to removing knots and mats. However, it is possible, and the time you spend with your horse can be delightfully therapeutic.
To choose rugs and knots, try these products:
- Cowboy Magic Detangler
- Downy fabric softener and conditioner
- WD 40
Working rugs and knots
A list of hair care products doesn’t usually include WD40, but it works. To work the rugs, use one of these products generously. Begin to gently pull on the mat or knot. You’ll almost be massaging the knots, trying to encourage some loosening between the individual strands. You are on the right track if the mat or knot starts to slowly widen and get taller. Don’t be a hero, work for a quarter inch at a time. When the hair dries or the knot stops growing, add a little more product.
As you continue to gently massage and stretch the hair mass, there will be little opportunities to remove strands and strands of hair. Enjoy every victory. Really tough knots can take a few sessions to resolve, but with patience and a light touch, you can save most of the mane and hair on the tail.
Once the hair is down, wash it with shampoo to remove the product you used, especially if you chose WD40. Use a leave-in conditioner on manes and tails after washing. Wet hair breaks easily, so wait until almost dry to comb it with your fingers. To promote long, shiny manes and tails, only wash and style them when absolutely necessary. The shampoo removes essential oils, so it conditions manes and tails after each wash. Keep the tails trimmed to the length of the fetlock to prevent hair loss when the horse steps on its own tail.
