So it just seems standard your supposed to have a bridle path. I always took it to the most literal translation..bridle PATH not super highway. I have always trimmed a halters width that's it. I know some people bend back the ear and use that as a guide. And then Arabians are even further back sometimes. But I have to wonder what's the benefit of having that chunk of missing mane?
All I can come up with is convenience for rider. Surely it isn't comfortable to have a buzz cut then have a halter/bridle pressing down on it, especially as it grows out. It just seems unnatural and unnecessary. I understand it looks neater and tidy for shows but thinking purely of the comfort of the horse.. I think I'll stop clipping mine..
Does everybody do bridle paths? Or are there others who've questioned them as well. Posted via Mobile Device
I trim mine with scissors, personally, and only wide enough for the halter/headstall and fly mask. I think its uncomfortable for the mane to get pulled on or tangled up with the headstall. But that is just me.
i don't do them. it gets a we bit messy with the thicker manes because you have to adjust the hair. but its preferance. my one gelding with really thick hair hates clippers so i dont bother. my new arabian gelding already has it clipped. my other gelding could care less. so i do it based on my horses. but it is convienent.
Arabians have such a huge chunk taken from their manes to emphasize the curve of their neck, which is why it's usually only done to show Arabs rather than your average, everyday one.
I personally don't cut a bridle path because I don't like the look of it, especially when it's growing back and there's a couple inches of mohawk. :lol: However, Abby has had her halter on 24/7 lately and its rubbed it's own spot off her mane..
I cut Lacey's with scissors (she'd be fine with clippers but I keep my clippers at home as opposed to the barn) just because, and I only make it wide enough for her bridle/nylon halter.
If I had to choose a reason for cutting it, it'd be mostly because her forelock is already so long and thick that adding more hair to figure out after she's bridled is just a pain.
I just recently started trimming a bridle path for Sour. I'm in the process of bridle training her, and with a thick and long as her mane is (she's a miniature horse), it was a pain to try and weave her hair out of it as I'm trying to get the bit in her mouth as I'm trying to adjust everything, as I'm trying not to poke her in the eye or nose, as I'm trying to keep her holding still
I cut about an inch, so you really can't even tell that she has a bridle path unless she's completely untacked. It's just enough room for her bridle and halter to go on, and that's about it.
LOL I knew there was probably a reason Arabians have longer ones. I don't really like the look either so I don't know why I've done it -_- probably because "everyone else does it" but not anymore. My paint has a thinish mane. I uses to keep it trimmed but decided to stop and see how long it will grow. I completely understand show horses. And I only ever do the area for a bridle on sale horses. Haha I tell the BO if he wants it cut differently he can do it himself. . And I understand about it getting cauggt in the mane.thankfully his mane is thin and not like big drafty manes or minis Posted via Mobile Device
I don't like my horse's mane getting stuck in his bridle and his halter lays down in the spot and doesn't move back when I razor a little strip. I never do more than what is needed though.. I want him to keep as much of his mane as possible.. good defense against flies.
I cut the width of the bridle, and then another inch back. So it ends up about a two inch bridle path (I own a Paint).
My other retired horses I don't bother with, and every time I put a halter on them, I find myself wanting a bridle path cut, instead of a long lock of mane in the way.
I don't think either way is more comfortable than the other, but it just depends on what it easiest and preferred for the person.
i do it 3/4 of their ear so i can have a bridle, and a tie down on them. or a halter and flymask and i think it looks nicer then a little one that fits a halter adn thats it. i use sissors because my horses would flip from the razor.
I like the look of a well trimmed bridle path on a decent mane, so I cut Indie's back a little more than what you would for just keeping the hair out of the way (just a little longer than her ear). But any horse I would own would have a clipped bridle path because I hate pulling on their hair when taking bridles and halters on and off. I use scissors too- it's just quicker and easier if you know how to cut in a straight line xD
Mine would look nicer if my gelding would stop popping his head up to look at something every time I try to trim it. Eventually I just get tired of it and ask him if he really WANTS to get stabbed in the head with the scissors? He usually doesn't answer that.
Raven has never had her bridle path cut and has the most beautiful flowing mane that I wouldn't dream of cutting it. I just pull it out from under the bridle before we ride.
I cut it with a pair of scissors and my gelding loves it. He sees me with the scissors, put his head down and waits. He likes to have his ears rubbed while I trim.
Alli has a bridal path about an inch wide purely because she tosses her head about if herr mane is tangled up underneath her bridal, and its easier to separate mane from forelock when quickly bridaling half and hour before dark
My new Arabian came with a growing out long bridle path. It was finally grown out when I decided to show her at halter for the experience.
I didn't want to clip it for one show so I didn't. I showed her with a 2" bridle path & won the class. I didn't clip her ears either.
This was just an open show, breed shows would have different requirements to be competitive.
I also cut mine just wide enough for the bridle to fit. Not only does it make bridling easier, but it looks neater because I can never get the mane parted in the right spot on a horse without one LOL.
Plus, with one cut, I know that my bridle will always fit the exact same and won't be effected by how much of the mane I happen to get under it on that particular day.
When I bought my horse, I was twelve. His prior owner taught me to bend his ear back and clip to that length. I have been doing that, but lately I've discovered that it is more of a western thing and I will go back to only doing an inch or two
I have always cut 3" paths with the clippers. (I have Quarter Horses, Thoroughbreds, Draft Horses and Minis) I think it looks cleaner. Even my brood mares are buzzed a bit. I hate pulling on there hair to get it under the bridle and it still looks like a mess. I also prefer the look of "THIS is the forelock, THIS is the mane". I think it makes for a groomed look, makes the horses throatlatch area look cleaner conformation wise. I have never shown - just always prefered the look and the hassle free bridle process.
Definitely agree on the easier bridling process. My draft girl has enough hair and is just tall enough that separating mane from forelock is the last thing I want to worry about. We havent made it to clippers yet so i just use scissors. I like the cleaner look and I usually do a bridle path the same time I take scissors to her ugly beard. I think it makes her big 'ol head look less dopey
I generally use an ear length for mine, but for the show horses we also trim more or less depending on what's most flattering to the neck & throatlatch area. I just automatically trim the path about once a week when I'm grooming. I keep a pair of cordless clippers in my back pocket while grooming so it's handy to do it and that way we never get a mohawk. I HATE that more than anything!
I have always clipped a bridle path at least the length of an ear on any arab I've had. I like the look better and I like that his mane never gets tangled up and mangled up in it. Posted via Mobile Device
I clip a bridle path in springtime and may do touch-ups throughout the warm weather, but over the winter I allow it to mohawk-out again.
The horses are all TWHs and have long/natural manes, so it just makes a better fit for the crownpiece of the bridle/halter when there is a bridle path. One of the horses in particular has a very thick mane - oddly enough, he just has a little "sprig" of a forelock - so I've been trying to let his bridle path grow itself out, to use as kind of a forelock comb-over.:lol:
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