Should I tail-wrap? (burr problemo)

SweetIron · 10-28-2007, 01:26 PM

I am at my wit's end! Part of our pasture is a burr/thistle haven unfortunately. The mares use it as their "rough" area where they often defecate and urinate. So.. their tails are wrought with burrs every night as a result.
I have some vet-wrap type stuff. Think I should wrap their tails? Is this ok for the tail hair, or would it strangle it and make it fall out? I would start at their top of the dock and go maybe 7-8 inches from the tips of the long hairs. I figure, if they get smoe in the ends that are sticking out, that'd be a breeze to remove compared to the knots they suffer up by their docks when a whole wad of burrs is entwined in there!!

Any thoughts? I am already using ShowSheen stuff and it has made it easier to remove the burrs nightly but I know that longterm use can weaken the hairs, right?
On a positive note: they have both gotten very used to us picking things out of their tails! You cuold sit and braid their tails for 15 hours straight and they would not care a bit.

ShezaBayDoc · 10-28-2007, 01:36 PM

Do not wrap the dock. Period.
It can cause the whole tail to fall off, and can be painful, so they will try and get it off and you may have no tail hair left.

Now, wrapping below the dock is a completely different. But that doesn't seem to be what you want.

I know some people have sworn by Show Sheen...and have had no problems. I don't use it...but you know. Cowboy Magic is amazing. Try that.

SweetIron · 10-28-2007, 02:11 PM

Maybe I could wrap below.. I have used the spray and it does seem to help but the damgblasted things still get stuck in there! I thought o braiding, but I think that could worsen things if the burrs lodge into the braid loops.

18thTomorrow · 10-28-2007, 03:41 PM

If I was you I'd braid starting below the dock...like 4-5 inches below, and go all the way to the bottom. Then take the braid you made and kind of fold it up into a nice little package, and vetwrap that bundle. They still might get burrs at the top of the dock but it's a lot less likely and it's a lot less to have to pick out. It will also probably grow a lot faster

SweetIron · 10-28-2007, 03:50 PM

We are going to do the braiding

faroutfax · 10-28-2007, 04:10 PM

I'm in the exact same situation. It is getting to the point where I don't take them out anymore because an hour later they'll be covered.

I can do a tail in about a half hour now. Bust still twice a day times 6 tails= 6 hours

I wish I had that much spare time.

I think I'm going to try the braiding and wrapping thing, and maybe abit of bailer twine at the ends for them to swat flies in summer

Quick2Skip01 · 10-29-2007, 03:58 AM

show sheen doesnt necessarily make the hair weak, it seals the cuticle preventing moisture from entering the cortex of the hair strand...it basically dries hair out.

SweetIron · 10-29-2007, 06:43 PM

Thanks

I know, it is time-consuming. My spare time is at an all-time low; and I love spending tme with my girls, but I hate that the time has to be wrangling their tails!

CJ · 10-30-2007, 12:41 PM

Ever since I started using the Walmart Equate kids detangler, combing Burrs out of Raps & the Arabs tails has been a lot easier, and they dont seem to be coming in with such hulking knots of burrs. I think the burrs have a harder time grabbing on.

Shotgun93 · 10-30-2007, 01:08 PM

I sheeted all of our horses tails last summer to keep the burrs out, it definately helped a lot.

Sheeting - Step by Step with Pics

10-28-2007, 01:26 PM	#1
SweetIron Senior Member+ Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: ARCADE, NY Posts: 1,948 Images: 143	Should I tail-wrap? (burr problemo) I am at my wit's end! Part of our pasture is a burr/thistle haven unfortunately. The mares use it as their "rough" area where they often defecate and urinate. So.. their tails are wrought with burrs every night as a result. I have some vet-wrap type stuff. Think I should wrap their tails? Is this ok for the tail hair, or would it strangle it and make it fall out? I would start at their top of the dock and go maybe 7-8 inches from the tips of the long hairs. I figure, if they get smoe in the ends that are sticking out, that'd be a breeze to remove compared to the knots they suffer up by their docks when a whole wad of burrs is entwined in there!! Any thoughts? I am already using ShowSheen stuff and it has made it easier to remove the burrs nightly but I know that longterm use can weaken the hairs, right? On a positive note: they have both gotten very used to us picking things out of their tails! You cuold sit and braid their tails for 15 hours straight and they would not care a bit. __________________ -Jen- and.. Cuesta 1999 solid APHA.. gotta register her.. a DocBar granddaughter.. Emma 1999 Tovero mare; as misunderstood as me..

10-28-2007, 01:36 PM	#2
ShezaBayDoc Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Wendell, NC Posts: 714 Images: 31 Blog Entries: 1	Do not wrap the dock. Period. It can cause the whole tail to fall off, and can be painful, so they will try and get it off and you may have no tail hair left. Now, wrapping below the dock is a completely different. But that doesn't seem to be what you want. I know some people have sworn by Show Sheen...and have had no problems. I don't use it...but you know. Cowboy Magic is amazing. Try that. __________________ <a href="http://dragcave.ath.cx/viewdragon/82Ur"><img src="http://dragcave.ath.cx/image/82Ur.gif" style="border-width: 0" alt="Adopt one today!"/></a> Click him!!!!

10-28-2007, 02:11 PM	#3
SweetIron Senior Member+ Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: ARCADE, NY Posts: 1,948 Images: 143	Maybe I could wrap below.. I have used the spray and it does seem to help but the damgblasted things still get stuck in there! I thought o braiding, but I think that could worsen things if the burrs lodge into the braid loops. __________________ -Jen- and.. Cuesta 1999 solid APHA.. gotta register her.. a DocBar granddaughter.. Emma 1999 Tovero mare; as misunderstood as me..

10-28-2007, 03:41 PM	#4
18thTomorrow Senior Member+ Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: West Michigan Posts: 1,914 Images: 11	If I was you I'd braid starting below the dock...like 4-5 inches below, and go all the way to the bottom. Then take the braid you made and kind of fold it up into a nice little package, and vetwrap that bundle. They still might get burrs at the top of the dock but it's a lot less likely and it's a lot less to have to pick out. It will also probably grow a lot faster __________________ *Hunterfield Farm Arabians* home to the fabulous Chanting Jezebelle, her lil buddy Starbucks Macchiatto, AND their new friend Foreverastarr XLA!

10-28-2007, 03:50 PM	#5
SweetIron Senior Member+ Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: ARCADE, NY Posts: 1,948 Images: 143	We are going to do the braiding __________________ -Jen- and.. Cuesta 1999 solid APHA.. gotta register her.. a DocBar granddaughter.. Emma 1999 Tovero mare; as misunderstood as me..

10-28-2007, 04:10 PM	#6
faroutfax Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Southern Ontario Posts: 4,640 Images: 470 Blog Entries: 16	I'm in the exact same situation. It is getting to the point where I don't take them out anymore because an hour later they'll be covered. I can do a tail in about a half hour now. Bust still twice a day times 6 tails= 6 hours I wish I had that much spare time. I think I'm going to try the braiding and wrapping thing, and maybe abit of bailer twine at the ends for them to swat flies in summer __________________ One man's wrong lead is another man's counter canter.

10-29-2007, 03:58 AM	#7
Quick2Skip01 Senior Member+ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan Posts: 3,966 Images: 285 Blog Entries: 7	show sheen doesnt necessarily make the hair weak, it seals the cuticle preventing moisture from entering the cortex of the hair strand...it basically dries hair out. __________________ 2008 Great Lakes Buckskin Assoc. Queen Memphis, TN here I come! Horse Power- (Informal) The extraordinary capacity of the horse to elevate the human spirit.

10-29-2007, 06:43 PM	#8
SweetIron Senior Member+ Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: ARCADE, NY Posts: 1,948 Images: 143	Thanks I know, it is time-consuming. My spare time is at an all-time low; and I love spending tme with my girls, but I hate that the time has to be wrangling their tails! __________________ -Jen- and.. Cuesta 1999 solid APHA.. gotta register her.. a DocBar granddaughter.. Emma 1999 Tovero mare; as misunderstood as me..

10-30-2007, 12:41 PM	#9
CJ Senior Member+ Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: NJ Posts: 5,604 Images: 48	Ever since I started using the Walmart Equate kids detangler, combing Burrs out of Raps & the Arabs tails has been a lot easier, and they dont seem to be coming in with such hulking knots of burrs. I think the burrs have a harder time grabbing on. __________________ One Mare Can Make a Difference Pinky Ribbon

10-30-2007, 01:08 PM	#10
Shotgun93 Senior Moderator Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Southwest SD Posts: 13,119 Images: 122	I sheeted all of our horses tails last summer to keep the burrs out, it definately helped a lot. Sheeting - Step by Step with Pics __________________ In the quiet light of the stable, you hear a muffled snort, the stamp of a hoof, a friendly nicker. Gentle eyes inquire, "How was your day old friend?" and suddenly, all your troubles fade away. -Author Unknown

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