[DressageGirl22]

My horse's tail is so tangled, even though I wash it every few weeks..sometimes once a week. Is it possible to vet wrap sections of the tail, leaving the ends out for fly swatting? Has anyone ever done anything like this? I have heard of sheeting(?) through HGS, but I am not sure exactly what it is. Any info would be great. Thanks!

[ahorseofcourse]

I have put vetwrap on my minis tail because it also gets tangled and such. It works well, and helps it mantain it's length.

[harli36]

Here is something that may work for you it's from an old thread of mine. But also keep in mind that a tail that gets knotted excessively is probaby dry. Try moisturizing it and don't wash with shampoo.

"
I know in the past people have asked how to do the figure 8 tail knots that I use and I've always meant to get pictures and never have....sorry....anyways I came across a step by step on equine.com

I prefer the tail knots over tail bags, because I personally can't stand the look, or trouble, of a tail bag. By putting the tail in knots the horse still has full use of their tail for swishing away flys and it still looks like a normal tail. Just like when you braid, when you knot the tail it also shortens the tail, which keeps it out of low growing brush and mud.

I do my knots a little bit different then the article explains though. I find that, especially if the horse has fine hair, putting one knot in each section of hair has a tendency of coming undone. But if you put two knots, one directly below the other then the knots don't allow each other to come undone. Also keep in mind the more knots you put in the more it shortens the tail. Also DON'T condition the tail before putting the knots in, like the article suggests, it only encourages them to come out. Put the conditioner in the tail AFTER you have it knotted and then rinse it out as best you can. If the hair is wet then dries after the knot is in place the hair will get crimped into posistion (just like when us ladies put curlers in our hair while it's still wet the curl will hold longer)

Also in the summer time the knots have a tendency of dreadlocking from all the tail swishing. By wrapping the knots in vet wrap the dreadlocking doesn't happen nearly as bad as with no vet wrap.

Okay here's the article.

Tail Knots Step-By-Step"

[Rising Star]

I have vet wrapped the top of the tail and did a braid from the bottom of the tail bone to the end leaving almost a foot at the end for swatting flies. The only problem I had with it is the vet wrap sometimes will slip all together instead of staying around the whole tail so you will need to change it every couple days. Just make sure the vet wrap isnt too tight. I would honestly try to get a tail wrap though instead and braid. It may help alot more.

Also when you give your horse a bath clean his tail and then use a leave in conditioner like Mane & Tail. Then finger comb it as its drying. Once its either almost or fully dry braid it. I do this with my guy and redo it about once a week.

[Crazy4Bays]

Ugh, as long as you make sure to NEVER EVER EVER leave vet wrap on the actual tail bone. My cousin left vet wrap on her horse's tail for 12 hours at a time (I think) and the tail almost died. Besides that, I've never really had much luck with vet wrap, I just stick with washing it and putting it in a tail bag.

[DressageGirl22]

Thanks for all the replies. I think I might try the tail knots with vet wrap. I tried those tail knots before, from a different website, but I just didn't continue with them. I never thought of putting vet wrap over them. Thanks!

[DressageGirl22]

I have another question, but about the mane. My horse has a longish mane (growing it out), and I have tried the few big braids, but she just loves to roll. And usually more mane gets ripped out than usual without braids. Would using mane bags or vet wrap be the same result? Does anyone else braid or bag their horse's manes? She just gets so hot sometimes, and it is always tangled. I also wash it once a week.

[Rising Star]

Originally Posted by DressageGirl22

I have another question, but about the mane. My horse has a longish mane (growing it out), and I have tried the few big braids, but she just loves to roll. And usually more mane gets ripped out than usual without braids. Would using mane bags or vet wrap be the same result? Does anyone else braid or bag their horse's manes? She just gets so hot sometimes, and it is always tangled. I also wash it once a week.

My guy also has his mane braided all the time. Once in a while Ill leave both out for a couple days but his tail and mane are usually always braided. Ive never tried to vet wrap it or do the mane bags but plain braids.

[DressageGirl22]

Do you ever get problems with the mane coming out because of rolling?

[Rising Star]

Originally Posted by DressageGirl22

Do you ever get problems with the mane coming out because of rolling?

no never. and my horse LOVES to roll. You look and hes rolling, look away then back and hes not, and look back again and hes rolling. Hes obsessed with it. even when it was really muddy out he didnt pull much out. a wee bit here and there but nothing major. you just have to make sure to wash it all out once a week or so. and also rub any mud off the top where it might get annoying and itchy for them.