First off, I'm not positive this is the right place... lol. But here goes. Tail extensions. I haven't seen a thread, thought I'm sure there is some somewhere.
Anywho- I don't like em. I think they're super tacky. Could go on, but I'm really tired. :P
i like them, because it gives the horse a more appealing look to the judges, in pleasure classes where i show, i dont use one regularly because my horses tail is awesome, but i have to see if she care'd and she didnt
I personally think that fake tails/tail extentions are trashy to the max. I can see how they are appealing to people, the whole bigger is better thing, but alot of these tails are just too much.
A tail naturally flows behind a horse. Fake tails lack this. They contantly get caught between the horse's legs which is distracting and akward looking to me. They are also completly obvious looking. They lack any effort to make the fake tail look natural. What tail is really that thick and straight across at the bottom?
The tails are also soo heavy. I have seen tails falling out of horses tails dragging on the ground before eventually getting ripped out. Can you imagine the discomfort a horse feels as that tail is getting ripped out or just having to carry that weight around all day on those few hairs. It would be like someone taking a weight, tying it to a tiny chunk of hairs at the base of your neck and expecting you to not be bothered by it. Fake tails I believe are cruel. I would never put one into my horse's tail.
In the end though fake tails are going to stay in because they are so "nice" looking and what I have to say about the matter isnt going to change anything. What I do hope though is that more people begin question why they are doing this to their horse and how they are acomplishing their goals by using fake tail.
A tail should not be the difference between a great horse with out a fake tail not getting placed and good horse with a tail getting placed. The only way this is going to change is by more people choosing not to be cruel to their horses and leaving the fake tail at home.
A tail naturally flows behind a horse. Fake tails lack this. They contantly get caught between the horse's legs which is distracting and akward looking to me.
I have found a trick that prevents D's tail from doing this. Show sheen never have the tail cought in the legs problem ^_^. Also if people put the tails in right there shouldn't be any ripping or damage done to the tail (I suppose it could matter from horse to horse if they have slightly thinner or brittle tails?). It look me a good 4-5 shows to finally get my tail right :P
I use one on my guy, he's never had much of a tail. You can get them in differnet sizes, from single to triple, he has a double and to be honest its not that thick/heavy. If a falsey is put in properly you shouldnt be able to notice it. As for the cut straight across/banged look, that can be achieved with a natural tail also, and is often done, in what i compete in anyway. Often when you buy a falsey, they arnt cut this way, so the buyer can cut it how they like.
ETA: When shad has his tail in, and its not been plaited, its looks as natural as the next horse
I agree with the heavy- ness. And how it gets caught in their legs. I just don't find it appealing, and as for looking natural- it doesn't. Most of the time it is completely obvious there's a fake tail. 90% of the time the real tail hair gets separated from the extension. So when riding the real tail is flowing, and fake is bouncing. lol
Thatninjahorse- I think its great if yours looks natural. I know that some people can do it properly and it doesn't look bad. :P But maybe I'm sort of biased. I don't like people hair extensions either. ;p
Uh guess what? Braiding manes, banding manes and pulling them doesn't look natural, nor does clipping them up, or painting their feet black. It's a show, you're there to show off, and just like everywhere else, it's in fashion.
I use 'em, and I like them. It's like putting a nice polish on. Details matter in the ring.
When it all comes down to it, in the ring you can polish and glitz your horse up all you want, but the judges don't give a hoot, they want to see the horse moving as it should and obeying its rider quietly and competently. Sure they want it clean and dressed appropriately, but having a thick luxurious tail means squat unless you are in a halter class or other class based solely on looks.
I personally think they look tacky and can tell a fake tail from 100 miles away 99.9% of the time, though I was fooled once by a very clever and small well cut single...But of course to each their own, everyone has their own taste and I dont think they are harmful, annoying to have attached to their tail and when they get wrapped around the legs and painful to step on(usually those are the "bad ones" mind you, the ridiculously fake looking ones that are cut wrong and left too long), but just having one is not going to kill your horse.
here's my horse with a tail & with out...and another photo of her tail extension next to another horses my looks really natural while others can be done slopy
That yellow one looks terrible though uber tacky they could have at least straightened it lol. It does look fake in the first photo, but not too bad and it is only because it is sitting between her legs like most do, other than that it looks pretty good for an extension..
Yes, cause when she stands she leans, haha...lazy! but it's because they braided the tail when it was in, and she holds her tail up when she shows not up like an arabian but pops it a tiny bit
i really think tail extensions look fake and unrealistic. It's like a wig for horses. Im glad Phantom's got a long, natually thick tail lol (plus i got lucky alot of people think he's part appy...i dont see it though)
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