I would honestly refrain from braiding it. When it's braided, it's harder for the natural oils to run down the length of the mane, therefor making it brittle and breakable. JMO.

But if I had to, I would brush it out wet, and then do big loose-ish braids.
If it's kept braided, then you're probably safer just undoing them and brushing her mane out weekly or so.

 

Well right now it's dry and brittle - that's why I was considering braiding it, so I could get it conditioned and healthy. I forgot to mention that, lol. I have a special conditioner to wash it with and then some leave-in conditioner - I was going to wash it, condition it, and braid it while it was damp so the moisture would lock in. I did something similar the day I brought her to the new barn. I left the braids in for a few hours and when I took them out her mane was still damp. I just wonder what the long-term effects of doing damp, loose braids and conditioning it would be ... I really want her mane to be healthy!

 

aww, she is so pretty!

I just started using that "M-T-G" stuff that I hear so much about...you know what I am talking about? Mane Tail Groom?? I just started with it, so I cannot vouch for it, but about once a week I put it in the roots of the mare's mane and also rub it into her tailbone real good. I spray leave in conditioner on her mane and braid it in a running braid (see the thread I started a while ago, it is just a few threads down right now...called "braiding horse's mane just to keep cool?") and sometimes I let it out for a few days, then I braid it up again.

 

Mtg is really good for daily use. Put gloves on when you do it or your hands will smell like old bacon grease for days no matter how often you wash them, lol. keep an eye on the mane for a few days after you start using it because it made my boy's roots really flaky, but works great in his tail.
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Mtg is really good for daily use. Put gloves on when you do it or your hands will smell like old bacon grease for days no matter how often you wash them, lol. keep an eye on the mane for a few days after you start using it because it made my boy's roots really flaky, but works great in his tail.
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I have a bottle of Wen hair solution (by Chaz Dean). It's too heavy for my hair, and I thought I'd try it on Savanna. The person who created it even uses it on his dog. It's supposed to preserve natural oils and keep the scalp moisturized. I looked up MTG and I might try that too if the Wen doesn't work. I also have a leave-in conditioner by Wen. I use Mane-n-Tail detangler. I am going to take some photos of her mane and tail and do a "progress" thing.

 

****...SEAmom...yes yes yes! old bacon grease! It is so gross and I could NOT get that smell off of my hands!!! Barf!

 

For the tail, Wash it and plait it, works an absolute treat and the tail DOES get thicker! - I leave mine in for 1 week and they take it out, brush it and plait it back up.

As for the mane, maybe do the same thing in sections, loosely?
I always have my horses rugged (hoods, the lot, head to toe) and never have a problem with manes, long or short!, I am not much help!

 

You actually helped me a lot! I washed Savanna's tail yesterday and started to braid it, then decided not to because I wasn't sure if it would help. I think I want to wait till I get a tailbag though, since I don't want her to get the braid caught on something and rip it off! What a nightmare that would be!

Here is Savanna after one day of "work". Yesterday I thoroughly washed her mane and tail and braided her mane in loose braids. I left them in until this evening, and then I removed them to wash it again. Thoughts?

Ignore the forelock. It needs some individual attention. LOL

 

I wouldn't worry too much about the plait getting caught, In the 10+ years we have done it, never had an issue! I use tail bags when i can be bothered but always have the tail plaited inside!

The mane in the new photos looks more under control, I'd keep it plaited for 4-5 days and then take it out and see how you go, don't be upset if hair comes out (natural shedding) it just doesn't have anywhere to move while it's plaited.

Always loose plaits too

 

The product I use is water. No conditioners, no detanglers. Water. I started this thing about five weeks ago, and my geldings mane is like, all glowy and soft. His tail, has grown a lot already, and what was once brittle, feels pretty darn close to human hair.

The truth of the matter is, you're not going to get an cleaner, or more natural than water. (Unless of course, it's bad water. 0.0)
I think think cleaning it out with water, then some conditioner, will do it good.

You say you try not to brush her mane- A little tip, if you ever have to brush her mane or tail- do it when it's wet. The hair gets stretchy when it's wet, so there's much less risk of splitting and breaking the hair. It'll just stretch.