[Canadian Sage]

OK, I have seen the post that HalterGirl_88 has posted MANY times on how to properly thin a horses mane.

MY problem is that my mare's mane is DISGUSTINGLY thick at the top, and get thinner about..half way down and then it is at an equal thickness.

Can I take my thinning scissors and cut the hair semi-close to the neck UNDRERNEATH the top layer (does that make sense?) to make her hair not soo thick?

Like, when I pull it, it doesn't do anything to it other than makes it shorter, the thickness is STILL there, and It wrecks a good banding job being soo thick.

What would YOU do? If you want pics of what I mean I can grab some when i go to the barn (not actually cut it but if you dont understand what I mean sort of show you through pictures).

[cassidy]

i no what you mean could you not get clippers to shave a bit of it off underneath to make it thinner if pulling doesnt work?

[Canadian Sage]

I could, but I am afraid that I will wreck her mane....I would feel safer doing it with the thinning siccors rather than clippers.

But CAN you do it that way? I thought about *trying*it on my yearling as being as she wont be shown for a few months, so her mane may have time to grow back if I accidentaly wreck it.

[Kizza]

So like..
Flipping the 'long' parts over and cutting the underside of the thick, shorter part?

I did that, sort of (she didn't have the long and short bits, it was all too long and too thick and she hates it being pulled) and it looked great after. And THINNER.

[imacowgirl2]

I've done that before...completely cut out an under layer with scissors/thinning shears. I liked the results -- however, I don't band but once a year, and when I did it it wasn't banded right after, so I don't know if it would adversely affect banding.

[Heavenly Jumper]

Why can't you pull the hairs from underneath the thick parts? (to avoid the wierd re-growth from clipping it)

[LadyDulcinea]

I use something called a mane rake or a dematting tool. Swayze's mane is so thick that I can part it down the middle and put half on each side of his neck and it still looks like he has a full thick mane on whichever side of his neck you look at. I find this tool works wonderfully. http://www.jbpet.com/Shopping/produc...ct_id=619-6907
This is the one I have. I don't know what I would do without it.

[BornToRide]

i somewhat understand what you mean. i have done it and it turned out fine. but try it on your yearling if it is a first try.. it should be fine. good luck

[Quick2Skip01]

That is what I do with our manes, to keep a smooth layer of hair over the top so it is smooth and there are no flyaways in the banding...it works wonderfully...