Instant Tail Makeover
I designed this routine to leave even the rattiest tails looking nice. Good luck!
1. Soak your horse's tail in water. Make sure the tail is really seeping wet, so that when you begin to actually wash it, it will suds up well.
2. Squirt about a half dollar sized amount of soap into your dominant hand, then take your non-dominant hand and rub the soap together until it begins to suds. Beginning at the very top of the tail, massage in the soap. Make sure to really lather up the soap and to clean the whole tail, including the tail bone.
3. Completely rinse the soap out of the horse's tail. If any soap sits, it could be very uncomfortable for the horse and result in an itchy tail.
4. Repeat step 2, but with a conditioner. Also, don't worry about the conditioner sudsing up because it won't.
5. Repeat step 3, but rinsing out the conditioner instead of the soap.
4. Use a detangling spray to spray your horse's whole tail with it.
5. Take a human hair brush, and starting from the bottom, work your way up your horse's tail by combing through all of the knots. Be very gentle during this process and careful not to pull out too many of your horse's tail hairs.
6. Let your horse's tail dry and it should look great!
I Use:
Soap- Ultra Dawn Dishwashing Liquid (original)
Yes, I use dishwashing liquid! I have found it to be extremely cheap, and to work just as well, if not better, than horse shampoos.
Ultra Dawn Dishwashing Liquid
Conditioner- Head & Shoulders Classic Clean Conditioner
Once again, I use this conditioner because it is cheaper than horse made ones and work great. I also love it because Head & Shoulders is a dandruff preventing/treating shampoo so it keeps my horse's tail dandruff free.
Dry Scalp Care Collection for Dry, Itchy Scalp & Dandruff Control - headandshoulders.com
Detangler- Vetrolin Shine
This product is made for horse's, but mainly to shine up their coats. I never use this on my horse's coat though, only to detangle his mane, tail, and forelock. I swear by it and it's amazing!
Vetrolin Liniment, Bath, & Shine Grooming & Conditioning Products
Brush- Grooma Double-Sided Mane & Tail Brush
I know this isn't a human hair brush, and it is a little more expensive, but I ended up buying it anyways. I think any hard bristled brush would do fine for this step though.
GROOMA Double-Sided Mane & Tail Brush | petandhorse.com