What to do....??? :(

MyhorseAnnie · 08-08-2008, 07:02 AM

One of the horses I'm working with, her mane is one HUGE knot, there isn't any way that I could get it unknotted. The owner doesn't care what I do with her mane. (I already had to cut the other horses mane, because of knots). I was thinking of roaching her mane. I'm going over to work with her later today, and want to do something with her mane then.

What would YOU do? If it's roaching-How do you do it?
Thanks so much!

texasreb · 08-08-2008, 07:16 AM

I recently worked out my gelding's hugely knotted mane with Cowboy Magic. It took a few days as this horse isn't readily touchable, but the mane is now long and tangle free.

Kicks · 08-08-2008, 07:23 AM

I've yet to find a 'knot' that I couldn't work out with time, patience and conditioner or WD40.

Start at the bottom of the knot and use either conditioner of WD40 and start with fingers working the knot apart and gradually work up using only finger until the knots are basically gone. When we got Jelly Bean last year his mane and tail were solid knots and mane was below his neck and tail drug the ground. It took me about a week to get everything worked out and yes we did loose some length but even after trimming the un-knotted mane and tail up so that it was even, he still had a decent length .

To roach simply take clipper and run them along the neck. Leave a 'tuft' of mane (2" -3") over the withers to prevent ingrown hair from the saddle/pad as it grows out. (Think "buzzing' a kids hair.) Leave the forelock (even if it's really short), horses look really 'tupid with no forelock and somehow they usually seem to take forever to grow out.

walkinneigh · 08-08-2008, 07:25 AM

I've also used cowboy magic on my mom's mustang when she pretty much had a club for a tail when we first got her and it worked really good. Still works really good when she gets these crazy knots in her mane out of no where.

MyhorseAnnie · 08-08-2008, 07:38 AM

[quote=Kicks;3053905]I've yet to find a 'knot' that I couldn't work out with time, patience and conditioner or WD40.

The horse isn't very 'tamed' I don't think that she'd hold still long enough for me to get her mane unknotted. Even if I could get some of it unknotted-It would be in knots the next day.

I wouldn't be able to tie her up to do that, because, she doesn't know how to be tied(Yet). So-That's why I think it would be easier to roach her mane, and then, it will be untagled, and easy to brush out. (It will be grown out again,though, but, I'm going to go over there every day if I can.)
Thanks for the advice though.

Fire_Dawn · 08-08-2008, 07:45 AM

there was this HUGE matt in my puppy's ear... not sure how it got there/got huge that fast. But I got it out in about 2 1/2 hours... haha with some mane and tail and cowboy magic. I had to pull out one fine hair after another. (btw, she is an english springer spaniel and the hair on her ears is about 8 inches long.)

Kicks · 08-08-2008, 10:02 AM

[quote=MyhorseAnnie;3053936]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kicks

I've yet to find a 'knot' that I couldn't work out with time, patience and conditioner or WD40.

The horse isn't very 'tamed' I don't think that she'd hold still long enough for me to get her mane unknotted. Even if I could get some of it unknotted-It would be in knots the next day.

I wouldn't be able to tie her up to do that, because, she doesn't know how to be tied(Yet). So-That's why I think it would be easier to roach her mane, and then, it will be untagled, and easy to brush out. (It will be grown out again,though, but, I'm going to go over there every day if I can.)
Thanks for the advice though.

Then the best you may be able to do is sissor it off - probably won't tolerate clippers. There won't be anyting left to brush (until months later when it grows out) if it's roached.

Yes small knots will reappear over night IF you work on getting it combed out but they are not the nasty knots that are already there and will only take a second or to to undo before starting on the nasty ones again.

Good luck!

MyhorseAnnie · 08-08-2008, 10:07 AM

Then the best you may be able to do is sissor it off - probably won't tolerate clippers. There won't be anyting left to brush (until months later when it grows out) if it's roached.

Yes small knots will reappear over night IF you work on getting it combed out but they are not the nasty knots that are already there and will only take a second or to to undo before starting on the nasty ones again.

Good luck![/quote]

I was planning on using scissors-Since I don't have any clippers. I'm going to try and brush out her mane tonight-I don't think I'll be able to get it though, I only go over there for about 2-2 1/2 hours, and theres 3 horses. (one of them is my own).

Tymacs Girl · 08-08-2008, 10:48 AM

Tymac had dreadlocks in his mane. I combed it as best I could, from going to the bottom to the top so it wasn't so irritating to him. The knots that were being pains in the bum I had to cut them out. I'm never quick to roach a mane. I like to do what I can with the mane before doing anything drastic to it.

idlewild · 08-08-2008, 10:57 AM

I second the WD40. Makes an awful greasy mess though...

If you CAN get it unknotted, then keep it in loose braids to prevent it from getting dreads again.

08-08-2008, 07:02 AM	#1
MyhorseAnnie Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Cheese state.....Wisconsin Posts: 969 Images: 218 Blog Entries: 7	What to do....??? :( One of the horses I'm working with, her mane is one HUGE knot, there isn't any way that I could get it unknotted. The owner doesn't care what I do with her mane. (I already had to cut the other horses mane, because of knots). I was thinking of roaching her mane. I'm going over to work with her later today, and want to do something with her mane then. What would YOU do? If it's roaching-How do you do it? Thanks so much! __________________ I'd rather be hated for who I am.. Than loved.. For who I'm Not.

08-08-2008, 07:25 AM	#4
walkinneigh Full Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 26	I've also used cowboy magic on my mom's mustang when she pretty much had a club for a tail when we first got her and it worked really good. Still works really good when she gets these crazy knots in her mane out of no where. __________________ Everything happens for a reason.

08-08-2008, 07:38 AM	#5
MyhorseAnnie Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Cheese state.....Wisconsin Posts: 969 Images: 218 Blog Entries: 7	[quote=Kicks;3053905]I've yet to find a 'knot' that I couldn't work out with time, patience and conditioner or WD40. The horse isn't very 'tamed' I don't think that she'd hold still long enough for me to get her mane unknotted. Even if I could get some of it unknotted-It would be in knots the next day. I wouldn't be able to tie her up to do that, because, she doesn't know how to be tied(Yet). So-That's why I think it would be easier to roach her mane, and then, it will be untagled, and easy to brush out. (It will be grown out again,though, but, I'm going to go over there every day if I can.) Thanks for the advice though. __________________ I'd rather be hated for who I am.. Than loved.. For who I'm Not.

08-08-2008, 07:45 AM	#6
Fire_Dawn Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Your guess is as good as mine but I guess Ontario Posts: 717 Images: 5 Blog Entries: 1	there was this HUGE matt in my puppy's ear... not sure how it got there/got huge that fast. But I got it out in about 2 1/2 hours... haha with some mane and tail and cowboy magic. I had to pull out one fine hair after another. (btw, she is an english springer spaniel and the hair on her ears is about 8 inches long.) __________________ Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened Proud Member of the Quarter Horse Club

08-08-2008, 10:07 AM	#8
MyhorseAnnie Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Cheese state.....Wisconsin Posts: 969 Images: 218 Blog Entries: 7	Then the best you may be able to do is sissor it off - probably won't tolerate clippers. There won't be anyting left to brush (until months later when it grows out) if it's roached. Yes small knots will reappear over night IF you work on getting it combed out but they are not the nasty knots that are already there and will only take a second or to to undo before starting on the nasty ones again. Good luck![/quote] I was planning on using scissors-Since I don't have any clippers. I'm going to try and brush out her mane tonight-I don't think I'll be able to get it though, I only go over there for about 2-2 1/2 hours, and theres 3 horses. (one of them is my own). __________________ I'd rather be hated for who I am.. Than loved.. For who I'm Not.

08-08-2008, 07:16 AM	#2
texasreb Full Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 152 Images: 6	I recently worked out my gelding's hugely knotted mane with Cowboy Magic. It took a few days as this horse isn't readily touchable, but the mane is now long and tangle free.

08-08-2008, 07:23 AM	#3
Kicks Senior Member+ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Beautiful Black Hills of Dakota Posts: 2,131 Images: 17	I've yet to find a 'knot' that I couldn't work out with time, patience and conditioner or WD40. Start at the bottom of the knot and use either conditioner of WD40 and start with fingers working the knot apart and gradually work up using only finger until the knots are basically gone. When we got Jelly Bean last year his mane and tail were solid knots and mane was below his neck and tail drug the ground. It took me about a week to get everything worked out and yes we did loose some length but even after trimming the un-knotted mane and tail up so that it was even, he still had a decent length . To roach simply take clipper and run them along the neck. Leave a 'tuft' of mane (2" -3") over the withers to prevent ingrown hair from the saddle/pad as it grows out. (Think "buzzing' a kids hair.) Leave the forelock (even if it's really short), horses look really 'tupid with no forelock and somehow they usually seem to take forever to grow out.

08-08-2008, 10:48 AM	#9
Tymacs Girl Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Air Force Bases Posts: 3,093 Images: 18	Tymac had dreadlocks in his mane. I combed it as best I could, from going to the bottom to the top so it wasn't so irritating to him. The knots that were being pains in the bum I had to cut them out. I'm never quick to roach a mane. I like to do what I can with the mane before doing anything drastic to it. __________________ Romance-KWPN Dutch WB Ribbon Of Hope's Auntie The proud wife of a SSgt in the USAF. Live Another Day, Learn Another Lesson.

08-08-2008, 10:57 AM	#10
idlewild Senior Member+ Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Northern Colorado Posts: 4,118 Images: 336 Blog Entries: 123	I second the WD40. Makes an awful greasy mess though... If you CAN get it unknotted, then keep it in loose braids to prevent it from getting dreads again. __________________ iDance, iSplash, iJump. iEvent Honorary Aussie, Oi! Feliche + Idlewild = Serial Eventers Idlewild and I Love BODIE! are M&M I was on HGS when we made 2 and 3 million posts