[Triplechick]

This is all I do, Use whatever leave on conditioner you like best, I use a regular tube sock, then you will need a darning needle, and some good strong string.

1. Braid your tail. Almost the full length, but no need to go right to the bottom. Start at the bottom of the tail bone, but start loosely, then tighten as you go. (Won't irritate the bone area of the tail so much, or make it itchy)
2. Fold it up twice, then conmes the darning needle. Weve in and out stating at the top of your loops, go in and out a couple times, then work your way back up so that the two ends of the string end up at the same area so you can tie them in a neat bow.
3. Put on your sock so the bottom of the tail is resting at the bottom of the sock. (if you sock is too long, just fold the excess over at the top.)
4. Get out your needle again, and sew in and out of the sock at the top, (Just below the bone) and go in and out of the tail at the same time, just a couple of times. Take your two ends, and pull snug and make another nice bow!

Every couple weeks, cut the strings, let the tail out, comb, whatever you do, apply new conditioner, rewash, whatever you like, or think it needs. Then just rebraid and put your sock back on again......or get a new one if that one is too dirty.

I did this one winter, and had to cut about 3 inches of tail, because 2 inches of it was dragging on the ground, when it was DRY!

(Darn pictures posted in opposite order......but you get the drift... )

[DesertBred]

Cool! I could never get the sock to stay on, but I never tried sewing it! I will do it! Thanks

[Dawn]

I am seriously going to try to do this...if I can figure it out. If I could bring Reno to the computer, I might get it, lol. Don't know if I can transfer it from here to the barn. My only problem is I doubt the braid will hold. Maybe I just don't braid right?

[EqUeStRiAn]

We do that to our ASB show horses in the winter to keep their tails good for the next show season...

[Triplechick]

My only problem is I doubt the braid will hold. Maybe I just don't braid right?

Ha! Yes...I know what you mean, but if your horse's tail is wet when you braid, that will help to hold it, and once you get a couple inches from the bone, make it realitively tight, and don't go all the way to the end to put your elastic in, leave a few inches......and it should all stay in.

Because their is no weight to the bottom of the tail, your elastic should never come out, therefore it all stays together really nice.

Good luck! Like I said, my horses' tails grew several inches, and I wasn't even TRYING to get them to grow, I just wanted their tails up out of the mud and the snow, because it got so knotted up! And low in behold, major long tails in the spring!

[tn walker]

I totally agree with the majority of this idea, but have a few ideas of my own to add to it. First off, I never, never, NEVER put the tail up while it is wet or contains anykind of moisture (ESPECIALLY if you wrap the tail in vetwrap instead of just a tube sock). I have had 2 horses who's tails have literally ROTTED and broken off (just the hair, not the bone) due to mold that formed between the braids as they were put up wet. Here's another trick to try....when braiding the tail, braid only the center CORE of the tail, leaving some strands around the sides hanging out. This provides some protection from flies, while giving a more natural look to the tail once it comes down.

I do about the same, only with slightly different steps, and I have two show horses' whose tails drag the ground by at least 3 inches. (one is by FIVE ).
1. wash the tail using Suave Humectant Shampoo
2. leave conditioner in the tail (Suave Humectant Conditioner) for five minutes. Rinse out.
3. ****Apply a hair cholesterol (or similar dry hair conditioner. you can find them in the African American Hair Section of most stores, and it works WONDERS) and leave sit for five minutes. Rinse out.
4. Thoroughly dry tail
5. *****Apply Shapely's MTG to tail bone and massage in (again, works WONDERS)
6. Braid and wrap pretty much as shown above (i love the pic by pic idea though! wouldn't have thought of that!)

I take my tails down every 2 weeks and wash and condition the same. I do NOT use Show Sheen, as the silicon dries the hair instead of nourishes it. I also trim the end of the braid VERY slightly every five weeks to take off dead hair. Also, if you cannot sew, ELECTRICAL TAPE works just as great! (but not in hot climates, as it will melt to your horse's tail!) But I use it in teh winter all the time! Also, NEVER brush your horse's tail!!!!!!!!!!! ESPECIALLY not when it is wet if you can help it!!!!!!!!!!!! I always COMB the tail when it is DRY. Reduces breakage by an incredible amount.

[MyHrsyTme]

I LOVE Shapley's MTG, it really is the best conditioner I have ever used for tails and manes...just wish it didn't stink so bad

MHT

[Triplechick]

(just the hair, not the bone) due to mold that formed between the braids as they were put up wet

Gosh, I never would have thought of that! I think with the socks, they are so thin, that the tail is allowed to dry pretty good....but I will keep that in mind!!! Wow!

braid only the center CORE of the tail, leaving some strands around the sides hanging out. This provides some protection from flies

I only do this in winter here, so no bugs to deal with. But that is a good idea for summer! I always just allowed them to have their tail down....but that is a great idea!

I do NOT use Show Sheen, as the silicon dries the hair instead of nourishes it.

I agree here. And I think a lot of folks don't realize it does dry the hair out. I use Cowboy Magic's concentrated conditioner for the same reasons many use Show sheen......LOVE THE STUFF!

Thanks for the input! I also heard the electrical tape is better then elastics t hold your braids......so I think I will try that too!

GREAT!!

[Dawn]

I'm going to try it if I can remember to get the stuff I need while I'm home this weekend. I probably won't be able to wash and condition first though as we're in for a good cold snap. I did condition it today though (poor thing thought I was trying to turn her into an icicle (it was at least 65 out, she's a big baby)). Her's is hard to do as it's so, so thick and wavy. So it's hard to get the braid in good. And if it's just been conditioned, it's slick, so that makes it even harder.

I do use the cholesterol on her, and I really haven't seen that I'm impressed with the results? Everyone says how great it is, and well, it just doesn't work on her. It did do a decent job on her mane today, but her tail, maybe I just can't get enough on it to work all the way through. It's pretty thick stuff and hard to work with. Just doesn't make it nice and soft I don't think.

I wonder if I can find a purple tube sock....

[Moostang]

Originally Posted by Dawn

I do use the cholesterol on her, and I really haven't seen that I'm impressed with the results? Everyone says how great it is, and well, it just doesn't work on her. It did do a decent job on her mane today, but her tail, maybe I just can't get enough on it to work all the way through. It's pretty thick stuff and hard to work with. Just doesn't make it nice and soft I don't think.

I have to agree with you on the cholesterol, I have done is a couple times on 2 different tails, and they didn't look any different than when I used my normal Mane and Tail conditioner and I don't have to leave that in atleast 5 minutes.