Grooming Options for a Thick Mane

Thick and long manes add elegance and appeal to your horse's appearance, and they are a trademark of certain breeds such as Gipsy Vanners, Andalusians and Haflingers. Many horse owners try to help their horses grow impressive manes, but keeping those massive strands of hair nicely groomed can be a time-consuming task. It is well worth the effort, though, as you will be rewarded with a healthy-looking, well-kept horse.

  1. Washing and Wetting

    • Shampooing your horse's thick mane twice a month will rid the long hair of dirt and dandruff, that simply brushing can't get out, and it may relieve the horse of related itches. For thick manes, use an all-in-one equine shampooing product, that contains a conditioner and untangling aid. Make sure to thoroughly rinse out all shampoo. Between washes, you may treat your horse's mane with a wet brush every day.

    Brushing and Combing

    • A thick horse mane should be brushed daily to prevent matting. Divide the horse mane into sections. Take a mane comb or quality brush, and start brushing or gently combing each section from the bottom. Brush out the bottom part first, then progressively move up towards the mane roots. If you encounter severe matting or knotting, carefully untangle the critical section of the mane with your fingers before continuing with the brush. A detangler or some fabric softener can help you eliminating serious knots. Be patient: Serious knots and matting may take hours to resolve.

    Mane Training

    • If you participate in rated horse shows, such as dressage or show hunting, your horse's mane should fall to the right side of the its neck, and only to the right side. Some breeds like Haflingers tend to have double manes, that part on top of the crest and fall on both sides of the neck. Should the mane not naturally fall to the correct side, train the mane by wetting it mane, then brush all mane hair to the right side of the neck. Divide the mane into a few wide sections, braid a few simple and thick pigtails, then use elastic bands or braiding tape to fixate the braids. Leave those braids in for at least a couple of days to train the mane to fall to the right side.

    Pulling and Thinning

    • Horses with extremely thick and long manes tend to sweat underneath all that long hair during summer months. Thinning the mane by pulling may provide some heat relief for such horses, while horse showers often prefer a thinned mane, because it is easier to manage and to keep clean and neat-looking. To properly pull a mane, take a pulling comb, wrap a rather thin strand around the comb all the way up to the roots, then gently pull the hair in a downwards motion. Don't yank out the hair, but just wait a moment until the hair follicles will just let go. Make sure to only pull a few strands at a time to keep your horse's discomfort to a bearable minimum. Pulling is also used to eliminate stray coarse hairs. Another option to thin thick manes are thinning shears. If you trim your horse's mane with these shears, though, you will be confronted with rather stiff, unmanageable strands that are difficult o braid once those clipped hairs grow out.

    Braiding

    • An effective way to keep a thick horse mane from matting is keeping the mane braided. A running braid, also known as "french braid" is an easy way to keep a thick mane in check. Start braiding your horses mane behind the horse's ears. Continue braiding the mane along the right side of the neck by adding a small portion of hair at a time whenever you cross over from the left side of your braid. Make sure to braid the mane tightly to keep it from unraveling quickly. You may also create the running braid on top of your horse's crest, which will particularly emphasize a beautiful neck. Fixate the end of the french braid with elastic bands. If you decide to braid the mane along the crest, consider standing on a step ladder or mounting block to keep your arms and shoulders from tiring.

    Consideration

    • Stay away from regular scissors to trim thick manes. Scissor trimmings will make the mane fall in clumps and create a rather unnatural look. If you must trim the length, try using regular body clippers or a razor blade instead to maintain the mane's natural appearance.