Source: flickr.com Author: Wolfgang Staudt
Grooming your horse is a very important matter. Just like grooming a dog, a cat or other living organisms. The very basic treatment is cleaning your horse daily, namely, cleaning its coat and the whole body, supporting hoof health and combing its mane and tail. Horse's tail and mane ensure the animal's healthy and beautiful appearance. Keeping the horse's hair in proper condition is a challenge, but we provide suggestions on what daily grooming should look like.
Horse mane and tail - grooming tips
If you do not comb your horse's mane and tail regularly, namely every single day, the hair will soon stick together forming something resembling dreadlocks. This is a common problem especially with long manes. In order to prevent tangles from forming, you should regularly comb your horse's mane and tail. You should be very careful with the latter, so you don't damage the hair's structure. Instead of using harsh cleaning products, take a look at preparations dedicated to sensitive horse hair.
Before you start combing your horses tail with a brush, it is good to run your fingers through the hair and separate any clumped hair and wind knots. Before combing, it is good to spray your horses tail with a detangling spray or a preparation that will make it easier for you, e.g. Effol Superstar Shine, Veredus Super Sheen or Absorbine Show Sheen, which also has stain-removing properties. Do not start combing at the base, but from the bottom - take small portions of hair and hold it while combing. The best are hard brushes or those designed to brush manes and tails. We do not recommend combing your horses tail with a regular comb, because your horse's hair is very thick and instead of combing it you might only make more tangles and cause a lot of hair to fall out.
Braiding is a great way to keep the effects of a well-groomed mane and tail for longer. Braids are excellent at preventing hair breakage and wind knots from forming.
Horse's mane
Your horse's mane should be taken care of in a similar way as its tail, namely sprayed and combed. For your horse's to have a beautiful, long mane, you can separate it with a special comb for mane-pulling. It is a pretty toilsome job, but it makes a difference. Starting from the horse's head, separate the longest hair strands from its mane, then wrap them on a comb and pull them out with a strong pluck. This activity should be repeated with other strands heading towards the withers. Some riders prefer not to lose time for mane care and cut it short. Well, short mane doesn't require long care routine, but horses with no mane lose their natural weapon against flies.
1. HKM mane and tail brush 2. Busse alu mane comb 3. Absorbine Show Sheen 4. Veredus Super Sheen
Tail growth and tail care
The tail and mane can, and even should, be cleaned regularly. It is worth using a special shampoo for horses, e.g. Veredus Shampoo Sheen, which is gentle, does not irritate the horse's skin, smells nice and if used regularly, softens the tail and mane. Due to that, they will be easier to comb and less prone to tangle. Wash the mane and tail in warm water. Rinse the shampoo and air dry the horse's mane and tail. In order to speed up the drying process after a wash, you can take your horse for a walk. To boost tail growth, you can regularly rub the dock of the tail with a dandy brush.
Tail bag
Many equestrians use a tail bag after brushing the tail and using a conditioner. The tail bag will keep the tail clean, tangle-free and protected. Braiding serves the same purpose - many owners braid the tails to prevent them from getting tangled and and keep dirt out.
Dandruff in tail and mane
Some horses might have dandruff in their mane or tail. This problem must not be neglected, because apart from its ugly aesthetics, your horse feels discomfort in the form of itching and rubbing. When the dandruff shows, you need to fight it. An excellent anti-dandruff specific is Veredus Sanix. Dandruff is a fungus, which easily spreads from one horse onto another, e.g., on a brush. In order to prevent it, you need to remember just a few very simple rules. First, each horse should have their own brush set; avoid using your brush on other horses. It is also good to clean the brushes regularly - plastic ones can be washed with hot water. Second, there is a way lesser risk of dandruff in horses whose manes and tail are often and thoroughly brushed. Third, crucial is also the horse's diet; dandruff often affects horses whose diet is too rich in high-energy fodder. To keep its hair healthy, provide your horse with B vitamin biotin.
Horse's hair growth
Depending on your horse's genetics, your horse may have an unproblematic, long mane, but it could be that you need to help the mane grow. Preparations that encourage hair growth and prevent breakage come to the rescue. Black Horse Keratin Bath is a strengthening horse shampoo that prevents hair loss and stimulates hair follicles. It protects horse's coat, mane and tail from harmful UV rays and other external factors. Black Horse is the perfect complement to regular grooming.
Summary
Remember that genetics play a big part when it comes to hair care requirements of your horse. Above all, get a proper product for the horse's mane and tail, which will make combing easier. If your horse's hairs are thin and break easily, braids or another hairstyle will help keep them in better condition. If you're dealing with difficult tangles, use your fingers to detangle them first. Horse tails tangle easily and catch dirt. Braiding the tail is one way to protect the hairs.
And remember - regularity is the key! Don't let the knots keep you from thoroughly combing out your horse's hair.
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