[blackhorse49]

I have always been told that I must braid my horse's hair to grow it to its maximum potential. I'm talking just plain old braids here, nothing fancy. On the other hand, I have always been hesitant to keep his mane in braids because I'm afraid I will get more hair breakage from the braids than from just letting the mane go naturally.

Anyway, this week I have had his mane in braids to give it a try. I took the braids out and gave him a bath today, and I had way more loose hairs sticking to my hands than I have ever seen coming out of his mane at one time.

I am back to being very suspicious of braiding. I would love to hear about your experiences with braiding and if you think it is harder on the mane than not braiding. Thanks.

[Arabians Rule!!]

On the other hand, I have always been hesitant to keep his mane in braids because I'm afraid I will get more hair breakage from the braids than from just letting the mane go naturally.

I was going through my H&R old magazines and i saw a one on manes and tails, ok this horses mane was longer than my hair!! And they just wash it and put it in LOOSE braids, if you braid tight it causes more breakage. Also you should finger pick it out and use a good detangler before you get near a brush.

[Rising Star]

I did loose braids all summer with the arab I was riding last year. It worked very well. In the spring she got it cleaned up and it was really thin from alot of damaged hair coming out. By the fall It was really nice and thick and longer. You have to make sure they are REALLY LOOSE and the horse wont rub them.

Heres before and after pictures
Both her mane is cleaned up pretty good. You can see her forelock in the second really well, it grew a ton too.
Spring:


Fall:

[touchofdandy]

I have seen a big difference with my horse also! I dont have pictures of a before and after braiding though.

[Huntseat]

I NEVER braid the mane but I always braid the tail and keep it wrapped. The mane is too easy to get caught on something and rip out, whereas the tail is protected when I wrap it.

[mistylover]

i always braid my horses tails to but they chew eachother mane braid out and rub them so i dont bother with the manes either

[Bailey-Boots]

I have a client that uses our mane bags and yes I would say the braiding works. You will always get a lot of shedding, it it more noticable when you braid as you are trapping the hair in the braid and not letting it fall out by itself.

Here is one of our clients Mini Stallions - nice huh !

This was taken in 2005

This was taken in 2006
She called me last week to say that when he drops all of his winter coat then she will send me some pictures as his mane is now at his fetlocks by the end of 2006 it was at his knees and it has really grown since then.

He is like a mini Bailey with that tail LOL!!

[royalrox]

Originally Posted by Bailey-Boots

I have a client that uses our mane bags and yes I would say the braiding works. You will always get a lot of shedding, it it more noticable when you braid as you are trapping the hair in the braid and not letting it fall out by itself.

Here is one of our clients Mini Stallions - nice huh !

This was taken in 2005

This was taken in 2006
She called me last week to say that when he drops all of his winter coat then she will send me some pictures as his mane is now at his fetlocks by the end of 2006 it was at his knees and it has really grown since then.

He is like a mini Bailey with that tail LOL!!

wowzers, his FETLOCKS!!!, I wish I could have a long mane stupid hunter rules I have to keep Royals all short and thin I'm jealous lol

[sirius-dressage]

I cannot get my TB hunter's mane to stop growing! His tail won't thicken at all but I swear I have to pull and trim his mane every week it is so thick,

If you are not going to braid the tail...I haev to warn. My Arab had really grown a nice tail that touched the ground, really thick. Well, I put off braiding it up, laziness. And I went out and noticed his tail looking kind of scrawny. He had backed up in his stall and stepped on it and broken most of it off. Should have banged the end while I had the chance or braided it and now I've got to start from scratch. Irritating, that its.

[madvoice]

Now that's what I call a flowing mane. So clean too.