How to Make a Horse's Tail Thick & Long

Flowing tails add beauty and appeal to any horse. Breeders, buyers and show riders value horse grooming -- especially manes and tails -- because the natural flow and grace of horse hair boosts the value of the animal. Making a horse's tail thick and long is possible with several tricks -- although if the animal is genetically predisposed to short or thin hair your options are limited. Appaloosa breeds, for example, are genetically bound to thin tails. Nevertheless, you can incorporate a few new grooming tips to enhance a horse's look in no time.

Things You'll Need

  • Horse shampoo
  • Water
  • Horse tail brush
  • Self-adhesive vet wrap
  • Soybean meal, alfalfa and other foods high in vitamins A, C, D and E
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Instructions

    • 1

      Purchase horse hair shampoo emphasizing contents of B-carotene and vitamin A. B-carotene and vitamin A enhance a horse's nutrient levels and boost both the thickness and overall growth of hair. Try a product such as Mane-N-Tail, a horse shampoo high in vitamins B5 and E.

    • 2

      Wash the roots of the tail once every two weeks. Rinsing and washing dirt and grime from the skin and roots near the tail base keeps the area clean and free from bacteria and infection. Horses with dirty roots will naturally scratch this area on a wall or fence to combat irritations or infections due to grime or fungus. The scratching results in hair removal and breakage.

    • 3

      Brush the horse's tail. Clutch the top of the tail where the hair meets the body of the horse. Grip the hair with medium to firm pressure. Brush downward one to two feet from the hair hanging just below your hand. Reposition your grip where the brush stopped, and continue the brushing in the same manner as before. Continue this step and repeat several times until the horse tail is brushed all the way through. A firm grip is important to prohibit fresh hair from snagging and pulling free from the roots. Brush a horse's tail only on special occasions -- before a show, for example -- as over-brushing can result in removing too much healthy hair.

    • 4

      Braid and wrap the tail. Lightly braid the tail at the top -- continuing to tighten the braid as you move down to the tip. Never pull the braid excessively tight. Secure the very end of the tail using a hair tie. Wrap the tail in self-adhesive vet wrap. Begin at the top and wrap downwards. The tail should be in the shape of a pole or baseball bat at the end. Wrapping prevents the horse from chewing on its tail or scratching it on a fence -- thus promoting thick and long hair growth. Change the wrap every seven to 30 days, depending on the type of wrap you use. Consult a horse veterinarian, if necessary, for additional wrap details.

    • 5

      Feed your horse soybean meal, alfalfa and other foods high in vitamins A, C, D and E on a regular basis to ensure a beautiful, full coat of hair. Horse hair -- like human hair -- is comprised of keratinized protein; thus, a regular intake of protein is essential for healthy hair growth.