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Post by jaffa2311 on Jul 24, 2015 19:28:25 GMT
I have a cob who has a horrid thick tail at the top. It looks pretty normal and under control at the bottom.
Anyway, my issue is she will NOT tolerate it being pulled. She raises her leg from the first tug, as she finds all mane/tail/coat plucking painful.
I have attempted using the rake, it simply is not good enough to get the quantity of hair out that's needed for the perfect finish.
For showing at the moment, it is bandaged and taken off at the last minute, but it is far from ideal.
Does anyone have any experience of clipping tails? Would this work or will it look terrible?
Does anyone have any other ideas of how to tidy this cob's tail?
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Post by judyh on Jul 24, 2015 19:51:38 GMT
Never clip a tail. Get her sedated/twitched and back her up to a door. Using any tools will thicken the hair - just look at those tails growing out that are ruined. The modern way is basically as most horse/pony owners have no idea how to pull a tail!!
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Post by jaffa2311 on Jul 24, 2015 20:05:13 GMT
I often seen cob's tails at shows that look to me like they have been clipped, although obviously can't be sure.
Will attempt the twitch...again. Although usually not successful!
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sarahp
Happy to help
Posts: 9,510
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Post by sarahp on Jul 24, 2015 21:00:09 GMT
I'll most likely get shot down in flames, but my old D couldn't stand having her tail pulled either, she said it hurt and I didn't like hurting her - I don't like my hair being pulled out either. I used to thin hers at the top with thinning scissors.
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Post by kateanne0 on Jul 25, 2015 7:57:30 GMT
Hijaffa2311, I would never clip a tail, I know many cobs have their tails clipped (they are easy to spot)but I really don't like the way they look and you get the loo brush effect too quickly. As sarahp, I've used thinning scissors very successfully in thinning thick tails. I also use a rake but it needs to be sharp. After every use I re-sharpen the rake by brushing it with a dandy brush. Success with the rake can be achieved by thinning the underneath of the hairs at the top of the tail and then raking down the sides in long,smooth strokes. Leave the middle of the tail with longer hairs. It does take a while to achieve the pulled look so don't go overboard at your first attempt and make sure you work on each side as you go along. Suggest you try in the 'off' season so there is plenty of time to practise. I can pull tails but we have a horse who really doesn't like having it done and, since it's plaited we need the pulled look and the above works very well. Hope the above helps. Good luck
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sarahp
Happy to help
Posts: 9,510
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Post by sarahp on Jul 25, 2015 8:15:49 GMT
I predate rakes and am happy with thinning scissors so never used one. And I come from the era when tails were plaited too, you never see those any more now.
I've found some horses don't care a stuff about having their manes and/or tails pulled and you can tear huge chunks of hair out with no response whatever, whereas others can be extremely sensitive about it and if you insist on pulling you will end up with a horse very nervous of having anything at all done to its tail. For the latter, best to find a method they're happy with. The backing up to the door technique is very useful if you acquire a horse with an existing problem, but why create one? What about using it for your own protection until the horse has learned not to be frightened of being hurt?
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Post by kateanne0 on Jul 26, 2015 10:27:45 GMT
I pre-date rakes as well but have learned to use the rake very efficiently. Arthritic hands needed help so I tried a rake and loved it. Plaited tails, well done, used to be lovely to see only the odd few now.
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Post by fanfarefan on Jul 26, 2015 12:26:58 GMT
I have to say i dont like having my hair pulled out either ,,,, and the reason being IT HURTS , therefore im sure its hurting your horse ,,, thinning scissors will do a perfectly good job , with a little practice you will get it looking like its been pulled , and when all is said and done its not for your horses benefit , it for yours
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Post by skint on Jul 28, 2015 10:04:45 GMT
I use a rake on all ours and they come out really well, the solo comb ones are not very good I find I like the cheaper plastic ones but i cannot remember the name for the life of me but black with a yellow sticker (just remembered smart tails). Our section C has the thickest tail ever and it does his a treat
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Post by jaffa2311 on Jul 29, 2015 21:22:16 GMT
Thanks.
Yes I have a solo comb one and it is pants. I assumed it would be the best one seeing as they are a 'leading' brand.
I will have a look for the one you mean.Previously I have raked out enough from the top of her tail to make myself a wig, yet it still looks thick!
RE other comment: Yes I know it hurts her, hence the original post. She evidently hates it as it hurts, which is why I have attempted it once and not continued.
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Post by kateanne0 on Jul 30, 2015 9:06:00 GMT
The rakes can be bought in different sizes and fine to coarse. I have the wide one to thin the bottom of the tail (a native)and I have narrower ones for the sides of the tail. I'm pretty sure you'll get the hang of using one quite quickly. I tried a solo comb and didn't like it at all. Good luck
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Post by Karen, garrettponies on Aug 2, 2015 21:00:37 GMT
I got the smart tails one and have to say it's really good. I always used to pull properly but since having natives got out of practice! I got the finer tooth one to do a show pony with a tail that hadn't been touched for a long time and was thick and long, I took it steady but found it did a great job in minutes. He wasn't remotely bothered, to him it just felt like it was being combed through. He's bit funny about his mane and probably has had lots of pulling in his life so I raked that (different rake) and finished off with thinning scissors.
I don't like clippers on tails it does look loo brush like as it grows out. I'd recommend the smart tails rake.
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