[Feliche]

Hi! I have an event coming up and was wondering about something I've been seeing on a lot of event horses. It looks as though the hair by the bone has been clipped away, giving it a very classy, elegant look.

Like this


Are these tails actually braided and I'm just blind, or is there a special way of clipping to produce this look? If so, could someone tell me how?

Thanks so much
-Megs

[Faith04]

Traqditionally it's actually pulled, the sides are pulled out and the long middle hairs are pulled to shorten.

This can also be acheived (much more easily) by clipping the sides, then shaving to the skin and thinning the top with a razor. This is also much more appealing for the horse!

I found this it should help.


How to pull

When pulling a tail, lift the top hairs and pull from underneath. Working mainly to the sides, pull evenly downwards, taking out small amounts each time so you don't leave bald patches.
Stop at regular intervals to see which areas need more attention. You will probably also have to remove some hair from the top of the tail to reduce the thickness and allow the hair to lie flat.
If you are pulling the tail for the first time, or you are re-pulling a tail that has been left to grow particularly thick, it may take a few goes before you achieve the shape you want.
Applying a tail bandage for short periods each day will help flatten the hair and train the shape of the tail.
The tail must also be trimmed to the correct length at the bottom in order to achieve an overall balanced picture. As a rough guide, the tail should usually hang about 4ins below the point of the hock, so that when the horse is moving it hangs level with the hocks or slightly below. Watch how your horse carries his tail before getting out the scissors.
When you cut your horse's tail, ask a helper to gently lift it to its normal carrying position, then using either clippers or very sharp scissors, cut the tail across at the required length, making sure you're standing to the side of your horse.
A thinning knife or clippers can be used to tidy the top of the tail if the horse really objects to you pulling it but the result is rarely as polished. Your horse's tail will now need regular attention, as well as bandaging, tomaintain its shape.

[chocchipcookie]

My mare's tail is like that. I use a horse razor and scissors and shave it basically.

[Feliche]

Thank you!! Hmm. I'm thinking maybe I'll just braid or tied it in such a position. I don't know if I want it quite like that...thinking about it though! Thanks!

[stephanie]

I cheat, I use clippers much easier and quicker

[Xiphias]

I used to clip the underside edges, and pull the middle, it always looked great, but I had a horse with a bushy tail....it was easy to braid, but I always wanted it to look like the dressage type tails....

Cathy

[idlewild]

I do that with Buddy, but not to that extreme!! I only clip down about 4-5 inches from the top. It's enough to get rid of that busy top tail look but it's enough to give it a clean look when he is moving.