[Arksly]

Why do so many people tell you to never brush a horses tail? Same thing for cutting manes.

I've done both to all of my horses and have never had a problem. I cut my horses' manes because I detest pulling them. All of their tails and manes have been manageable, thick and healthy.

 

[Tianimalz]

Err... I don't cut Indies mane because I love how long it is... and I only soft brush her tail, and detangle with my fingers- so that I don't risk breakage. Could it be combed with a actual comb? Sure, but I personally don't like too risk it.

 

[Arksly]

Err... I don't cut Indies mane because I love how long it is... and I only soft brush her tail, and detangle with my fingers- so that I don't risk breakage. Could it be combed with a actual comb? Sure, but I personally don't like too risk it.

I usually just put in Cowboy Magic then brush it from bottom to top (like how I'd brush my own hair) with a mane and tail brush like this:

I haven't found that there is too much breaking.

 

[Tianimalz]

I usually just put in Cowboy Magic then brush it from bottom to top (like how I'd brush my own hair) with a mane and tail brush like this:

I haven't found that there is too much breaking.

I'm the sort of person who never buys anything unless I would suffer without :lol: I've used those brushes before on a friends horse, they do work pretty good! But I just never saw the real point. Wash and condition the tail and mane once a month and hand pick it clean (which doesn't take that long when kept up) every day, and I don't have any problems. Indie's tale is long and groomed, and I get next to no hairs pulled out, so I don't ever bother to get all that mane and tale spray and special brushes.

Long story short; I'm a cheapa** :rofl:

A lot of people do things their own different ways, I'm sure some horses lose hair MUCH easier than others, and others have so much hair that no one cares if they lose a few plucked from brushing. Guess it depends on preference and the horse in question.

 

[CecilliaB]

I pick my mares long mane so I don't pull it thin I brush her and my geldings tales and I cut his with sheers cuz he is super sensitive to pulling.

 

[its lbs not miles]

I'll admit that it takes longer (boy does it take longer), but I brush the mane and tail on my girls with their curry brush. Seems to work ok, since their mane and tail stay full and long. Almost tempted to thin the mane some before it gets so thick that I have to part it so it lays on both sides of the neck (the top several inches prefer the left side anyway). Their tails are so long that they almost sweep up whatever is on the ground. But while the brush does eventually untangle the light tangling (starting at the bottom) it is time consuming, so you need a horse willing to put up with it (feeding does wonders for keeping them busy) :lol:
I probably should use a good condition so they don't have to endure the length of time it takes for their weekly (or more often) grooming sessions.

 

[natisha]

In answer to the question.
Because if not done right your horse could end up looking like this guy

 

[DejaVu]

In answer to the question.
Because if not done right your horse could end up looking like this guy

^:rofl: That answers the cutting manes question.

As for brushing tails, it can cause breakage on dry tails. I pick out the big stuff and do a loose brush through on the tail with no problems. As long as you don't go crazy and start like, at the top, it's fine. I wouldn't consider my geldings tail dry though, so breakage isn't really a problem.