[quarterbear]

Is it true that if you braid your horses mane, hair will fall out?

I really want to keep my geldings mane and tail nice, but everyone keeps saying braiding his mane will make it fall out? I keep his tail in a tail bag and his tail is fine. I mean my hair falls out all the time, I think it's natural. I'm not bald yet lol.

What does everyone else do? I have him in a small treeless paddock, so I know he won't rip any out. Also I always braid his hair loose, so no tight braids for him. I find his hair gets weathered by rolling and of course the sun So I want to make sure he stays clean and healthy looking, well at least like someone loves him!

Should I just braid it?

Thanks in advanced

[GingerSnap]

I leave my mares mane in braids all the time. When they get messy I take them out and wash if need be and recondition and rebraid. Sometimes I will let her mane have a rest for a few days but not to often.

[honeydoozy]

There are 7 Friesians out at my barn... all of them wear braids frequently, if not all the time. If anything, I think it protects them from exposure and as a result, breakage. Their manes are all...gorgeous.

[Keerah]

I wish my mare would stand still long enough to braid her mane. It's so thin and hasn't grown at all since I trimmed it.

[quarterbear]

Thanks for all your replies

So I put braids in my geldings mane two days ago. Two fell out but his hair felt softer, not so dry. I think his oils have a better chance of circulating with his hair so close together? I put them back in today. How long does everyone leave them in for, at a time? Like I said, his braids have been in for three days today. Should I take them out while I am there, and then put them back in before I leave. Im usually there for 4 hours at a time, should I give him more time to have his mane loose, or is that enough?

Thanks again

[kierababy]

i learned on here to not braid the top to tight. because it restricts there movement when they graze. it works for my horse and she rarely loses the braids

[GingerSnap]

Originally Posted by quarterbear

Thanks for all your replies

So I put braids in my geldings mane two days ago. Two fell out but his hair felt softer, not so dry. I think his oils have a better chance of circulating with his hair so close together? I put them back in today. How long does everyone leave them in for, at a time? Like I said, his braids have been in for three days today. Should I take them out while I am there, and then put them back in before I leave. Im usually there for 4 hours at a time, should I give him more time to have his mane loose, or is that enough?

Thanks again

I leave them in for a week or 2 unless they start looking ratty then I redo them. Or if the bands break I do them sooner.

[calypsoscarnivl]

I braid my Morgan and Draft X. Like ginger, I leave them in for a week or 2, until they look ratty, then I comb, condition and rebraid. I'll leave them loose for a couple of days sometimes (this usually has to do with my laziness, not because I think it makes their manes nicer)

[GingerSnap]

Originally Posted by calypsoscarnivl

I braid my Morgan and Draft X. Like ginger, I leave them in for a week or 2, until they look ratty, then I comb, condition and rebraid. I'll leave them loose for a couple of days sometimes (this usually has to do with my laziness, not because I think it makes their manes nicer)

lol..glad I am not the only one that does that little trick.

[Xiphias]

I know that one pony that I used to ride, we would wash and condition it, and braid it with rags, and tie it up...her tail grew and grew....same with the mane....braid it loose with "rags" (old tee shirt material), and then take electrical tape to keep it looped up....works, that is how the Friesian farm that I worked at, did!

Cathy