I don't know a single person who doesn't romanticize a horse with a long flowing mane and tail. Think 'Andalusian' or 'Friesian' and you instantly think hair. Well Roxy is part appy, and her mane reflects that.
Appaloosas can have two kinds of hair. They either get short wispy hair, or thick nappy hair.
Short Wispy hair (yes this horse doesn't even have a side with mane)
Thick nappy hair
Well as you can see, Roxy got the nappy hair gene. Which by all means is better then the wispy hair! I keep her mane pretty short, in a quarter cut. The shortest it's ever been was about 3inches.
Looking back, this was too short, it makes her neck look even fatter then it is (like we need that on the cresty beast). So I prefer to keep her mane about this length:
Since I have given up the fantasy of growing out Roxy's mane, I started to work on her tail. She has always had a long beautiful thick tail. I love it. It was so long, I started braiding it, to keep it up.
I would wash it, and then french braid it all the way down.
Then I would go one step further and bag it so it would stay extra clean. Then the other day something magical happened. I came out, and her tail was down (it sometimes falls out on the bag and braid. And when I saw it, I realized that it was dragging on the ground.
Now I am left with this awful situation. Roxy is a gymkhana horse, can you imagine how dangerous it is for her to be running full speed and possibly step on her tail? UHH! Now I have this beautiful long tail that I have always dreamed off, AND I HAVE TO CUT IT OFF! What the heck. Now what will I do? I can never grow out her awful mane long enough to do this:
It's official my life is over. Now Dolly, she has a little tail... Maybe she'll be my next growing out project.
What are your horse hair fantasies?
Shyloh has a beautiful tail. I wish I could french braid like you! I do put a simple braid in the back to keep it up. I have to trim a few inches off every few months because it does hang on the ground.
ReplyDeleteHer mane is another story. . .when I got her, another horse had feasted on sections of the mane. It is growing out now. I just wish her hair was a bit softer.
Baby oil will help soften up her mane! I was also suggested to use 'African American Shampoo' on Roxy since that's the kind of hair that she has! haha. I also really like show sheen, it makes hair suuuper soft, cowboy magic works well too though.
DeletePippi has a full beautiful tail but the white at the top wouldn't grow out bc she always rubbed it out. Before I broke my leg I was braiding it like you did Roxy's and it had grown a bunch but now that I am on bed rest I am sure it as all gone to hell. Same with my mini Chance. Pippis mane is four or five inches probably.
ReplyDeleteI am so glad none of my horses are very white, I think it's so gross when they get yellow tails- yuck! I'm sure you keep Pipi's long and beautiful, and it'll give you a new task once you're all heeled up. It's always nice to have something to work on!
DeleteI have to cut Max's tail every few weeks because his drags on the ground also- I only trim it just enough so it doesn't drag around. I'm pretty sure I'm the only person at my barn with this problem (every month or so!)
ReplyDeletePoor you! haha You should see how long it can get! We had a pleasure horse that the ranch with a tail that was dragging like 6inches. He was a pretty tall horse so his tail was suuuper long.
DeleteI live my horse hair fantasies every day. Dixie has the beeeeutifulest mane and tail ever. I eventually got used to whacking 4" off her tail every couple of months. It would hurt so much more if she stepped on it and ripped a chunk out.
ReplyDeleteI think a straight-across cut makes the tail look fuller, btw.
I've always rounded my tails, I'll have to try a straight cut next time- thanks for the advice!
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