Thinning out heavy manes?

little_S · 06-10-2008, 02:52 PM

Hi,

I'm new here with a quick question. How does one thin out those heavy long manes on minis and ponies?

A lady I know will just clip half off at the base of the mane but I don't think that's the way to do it. You'd be needing to trim it every few days.

My mare Scarlett (aka Little S) is 39.5 inch 8yr old. She's Registered with the WCMH association as a show pony. Which for as little as I know seems almost a knock off registry from the other two? How her parents were smaller and she came out large has me baffled.

She was sort of an impulse buy after my old mare died in 2006. I wanted something to keep my Qh mare company.

So far she's been a great little mare and is working out well for her intended purpose. Hopefully she'll be getting some harness training and can have a job to earn her hay. (She's a little muzzled mare from April-Oct.)

Her mane is so thick that it will almost lay down her neck if brushed to one side. Right now it is braided on both sides due to the heat. She also has a very long thick tail that drags.

I'd like to try to thin out some of her mane but even really thinned a mane that long before.

Any good tips? Sissors, pulling comb or clippers?

Will try to get some photos of her listed.

kaykay · 06-10-2008, 05:03 PM

I use clippers on the show horses but you probably want something not so extreme for at home.

I would use a thinning comb and do it that way. Or you can hand pull it but that takes forever. The plus of hand pulling or using a thinning comb is that it doesnt grow back in funny like clippers.

Slim Pikkens · 06-10-2008, 06:46 PM

Flip the mane to the "wrong side" and pull the top hairs. It's easier than trying to work on the side it naturally falls on because the mane is so thick.

horselady · 06-10-2008, 07:33 PM

I agree with Slim flip the mane and with a clipper go along the mane from bridle path to base. For heavy forlock, I usually clip around the hair just touching the ears, leaves a nice long forelock.
Or You could pull with a comb one piece at a time, takes forever but I do it over a period of days.
Sounds like oversized but still nice little horses to drive
and yes WCMH is a spin of the other two..

little_S · 06-10-2008, 10:12 PM

Here is a photo of her before I bought her. She was drylotted in a backyard by herself before I got her. She'll never win a halter class but I think she'll make a fine driving pony.

Here is a current photo of her after I tried getting some of her mane up. I think she's muscled up pretty well from what she was 2yrs ago. The 24/7 muzzled pasture time does her good. She tries her best to keep up with my QH, Sky.

Please excuse her long feet. She's about 2 weeks overdue and is to be done this week. She loves to be groomed but is a bit herd bound amd fussy at times without her "big sister" nearby.

I'm thinking I'll have to pass using the clippers on her mane as I'm not sure she'd stand well and I'll end up losing chunks of it.

horselady · 06-11-2008, 06:37 AM

I think she is beautiful, If you do not want to use a clipper, try using a scissor.
I have a mini stallion that his mane is to his knees and tail drags and it comes out great..
love the braides and what a beauty of a tail.

DDD · 06-11-2008, 06:44 AM

Yep, flip the mane over and work from the underside.
I just use a scissors and cut real close........... Even under the forehead. Flip it back and you can't see the cuts.

horselady · 06-14-2008, 06:45 AM

Well, did you do her mane and tail yet. How did they come out.?

MichelleOlguin · 06-14-2008, 06:55 AM

She is gorgeous. I just bought a gelding Shetland pony. I love them. I agree pull it. We do it to all the horses i take care of.

ToveroMom · 06-14-2008, 02:14 PM

Sorry I do not like shaving it underneath for when it starts to grow out..yuck.
I use the thinning shears judiciously and do not pull the minis manes at all. leave them long and just clip a bridle path.
JM way

little_S · 06-16-2008, 03:14 PM

I didn't have a chance to do anything with her mane over the weekend.

Had some friends come over and they gave her a good brush out Sat.

I was thinking about taking her to a little local show on Sunday but decided that it was too much last minute work. Also she'd have had to show against stock horses as there is no pony classes.

I do not think she'd have been able to be in the mini division with the 1.5 inch overage.

Oh I did get her hooves trimmed Sat. and then Sunday evening we worked on standing for the clippers. She's pretty good for her face, neck, and bridle path and not too bad with her ears.

I have trouble when trying to clip let legs. I'm not pushing her as she's more a pet than a show animal.

Another lady at the show also said to use the clippers on the underside of the mane but I'm not sure I can get myself to do that quite yet. I think I'm going to hack at her with the thinning shears first.

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06-10-2008, 02:52 PM
little_S Newborn Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Chambersburg PA Posts: 15	Thinning out heavy manes? Hi, I'm new here with a quick question. How does one thin out those heavy long manes on minis and ponies? A lady I know will just clip half off at the base of the mane but I don't think that's the way to do it. You'd be needing to trim it every few days. My mare Scarlett (aka Little S) is 39.5 inch 8yr old. She's Registered with the WCMH association as a show pony. Which for as little as I know seems almost a knock off registry from the other two? How her parents were smaller and she came out large has me baffled. She was sort of an impulse buy after my old mare died in 2006. I wanted something to keep my Qh mare company. So far she's been a great little mare and is working out well for her intended purpose. Hopefully she'll be getting some harness training and can have a job to earn her hay. (She's a little muzzled mare from April-Oct.) Her mane is so thick that it will almost lay down her neck if brushed to one side. Right now it is braided on both sides due to the heat. She also has a very long thick tail that drags. I'd like to try to thin out some of her mane but even really thinned a mane that long before. Any good tips? Sissors, pulling comb or clippers? Will try to get some photos of her listed.

06-10-2008, 05:03 PM
kaykay Yearling Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 555	I use clippers on the show horses but you probably want something not so extreme for at home. I would use a thinning comb and do it that way. Or you can hand pull it but that takes forever. The plus of hand pulling or using a thinning comb is that it doesnt grow back in funny like clippers. __________________ Breeding AMHA/AMHR/ASPC horses in pinto colors! http://www.baxterspaintedpasture.com Visit our newest site! www.americanshetlandpony.com Miniature Horse Conformation Book by Kay Baxter

06-10-2008, 06:46 PM
Slim Pikkens Started Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,948	Flip the mane to the "wrong side" and pull the top hairs. It's easier than trying to work on the side it naturally falls on because the mane is so thick.

06-10-2008, 07:33 PM
horselady Greenbroke Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: albany new york Posts: 3,307	I agree with Slim flip the mane and with a clipper go along the mane from bridle path to base. For heavy forlock, I usually clip around the hair just touching the ears, leaves a nice long forelock. Or You could pull with a comb one piece at a time, takes forever but I do it over a period of days. Sounds like oversized but still nice little horses to drive and yes WCMH is a spin of the other two.. __________________ www.rainbow-horse-retirement.com We love and take care of your companion for the remainder of his lifetime

06-10-2008, 10:12 PM
little_S Newborn Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Chambersburg PA Posts: 15	Sounds like I'll be getting out the pulling comb and thinning shears Here is a photo of her before I bought her. She was drylotted in a backyard by herself before I got her. She'll never win a halter class but I think she'll make a fine driving pony. Here is a current photo of her after I tried getting some of her mane up. I think she's muscled up pretty well from what she was 2yrs ago. The 24/7 muzzled pasture time does her good. She tries her best to keep up with my QH, Sky. Please excuse her long feet. She's about 2 weeks overdue and is to be done this week. She loves to be groomed but is a bit herd bound amd fussy at times without her "big sister" nearby. I'm thinking I'll have to pass using the clippers on her mane as I'm not sure she'd stand well and I'll end up losing chunks of it.

06-11-2008, 06:37 AM
horselady Greenbroke Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: albany new york Posts: 3,307	I think she is beautiful, If you do not want to use a clipper, try using a scissor. I have a mini stallion that his mane is to his knees and tail drags and it comes out great.. love the braides and what a beauty of a tail. __________________ www.rainbow-horse-retirement.com We love and take care of your companion for the remainder of his lifetime

06-11-2008, 06:44 AM
DDD Yearling Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Land of 10,000 Lakes Posts: 840	Yep, flip the mane over and work from the underside. I just use a scissors and cut real close........... Even under the forehead. Flip it back and you can't see the cuts. __________________ Come visit me at www.tripledstable.com http://www.neigh.com/PeggyD Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down & beat you with experience.

06-14-2008, 06:45 AM
horselady Greenbroke Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: albany new york Posts: 3,307	Well, did you do her mane and tail yet. How did they come out.? __________________ www.rainbow-horse-retirement.com We love and take care of your companion for the remainder of his lifetime

06-14-2008, 06:55 AM
MichelleOlguin Weanling Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Drexel, Mo Posts: 215	She is gorgeous. I just bought a gelding Shetland pony. I love them. I agree pull it. We do it to all the horses i take care of. __________________ You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink. Michelle Olguin

06-14-2008, 02:14 PM
ToveroMom Pasture Pet Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Cleveland TX Posts: 15,299	Sorry I do not like shaving it underneath for when it starts to grow out..yuck. I use the thinning shears judiciously and do not pull the minis manes at all. leave them long and just clip a bridle path. JM way __________________ "In America,anyone can be President. That is one of the chances you take" Adlai Stevenson

06-16-2008, 03:14 PM
little_S Newborn Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Chambersburg PA Posts: 15	She still has the long mane, so far. I didn't have a chance to do anything with her mane over the weekend. Had some friends come over and they gave her a good brush out Sat. I was thinking about taking her to a little local show on Sunday but decided that it was too much last minute work. Also she'd have had to show against stock horses as there is no pony classes. I do not think she'd have been able to be in the mini division with the 1.5 inch overage. Oh I did get her hooves trimmed Sat. and then Sunday evening we worked on standing for the clippers. She's pretty good for her face, neck, and bridle path and not too bad with her ears. I have trouble when trying to clip let legs. I'm not pushing her as she's more a pet than a show animal. Another lady at the show also said to use the clippers on the underside of the mane but I'm not sure I can get myself to do that quite yet. I think I'm going to hack at her with the thinning shears first.