Cutting his forelock.......

Two weeks ago, my wife's uncle gave me one of his horses. War is a 17-18 year old registered QH. He hasn't been ridden in about 3 years, but that will be a later post......I have taken the last couple weeks getting to know him, leading him on a halter, brushing him out, just letting him get used to seeing me. One question I have is in regards to his forelock. Uncle Pete (wife's uncle) said that soon, we'll trim his mane, tail, clip his bridle path, and get him all "purtied up". His forelock is another story though. It is all matted up close to his head, to the point that I am afraid it would greatly upset him if I were to try and work out all the matted hair. If I were to cut it all off, close to his head, is there any reason to worry that it won't grow back, or that it will grow back thinner? Thanks in advance to all your help.

By the way, I have been reading regularly and have found a lot of great advice. The one and only time I rode a horse was about 27 years ago when I was 13. I am soooo excited about actually owning one now.


The bottom pic is from the end of July, the other two were taken yesterday.

The forelock doesn't look too bad to me. If I gave someone a horse and they chopped off the forelock I would never speak to them again. Work on picking it out a little at a time and I'm sure he'll be fine.

Yeah he doesn't that high strung to me, and the forelock looks pretty tangle free. Just go about combing it like you would anything else, and because I don't think you're going to be braiding him for a hunter show any time soon you should be OK with putting a little detangler in it just to help you out. The key words here are A LITTLE. We don't want detangler anywhere near a mane as a general rule, so when you have to use some use it sparingly.

Good luck with your horse!!

Thanks for your input. It doesn't look bad in the pic, but it is really bad at the roots, real close to his head. Two real big mats about the size of you thumb. Can you recommend anything to lubricate with. I don't want to cut it, but I didn't see any real alternative to getting them out. Guess I was worried it would aggravate the heck out of him.

Try WD-40. Work from the end to the root.

Lol

You can also try Show Sheen which is a spray. Vetrolin shine, cowboy magic, etc also make a liquid detangler that is very good for stuff like mats.

I think his forelock is fine, it looks thin enough to comb out, a little at a time, But he sure does have a neck on him..doesnt he....wow....cant wait ti hear about the first ride:)

Haha! Is there anything WD-40 can't do?
Try getting a handful of leave in conditoner and put that in it and leave it for 10 minutes or so and then get your comb and start from the bottom and work your way up gently.
That's what I do for my gelding's dredlocks. I get them all out and they're back in 20 minutes!
I got a spray bottle and mixed a squirt of leave in UV protective conditioner and mixed the rest of the bottle with water and sprayed that on lightly and it works wonders.

I use baby oil when my horses get mats in their hair. A forelock that has been cut will grow back, but it generally grows back very slowly. He is a very handsome boy and congrats on getting back into horses.

I usually use the Cowboy Magic Detangler..Works great. Had a filly that had a softball size tangle in her tail and I thought this is hopeless but the stuff is wonderfull..Better than Show Sheen anyday..