Thinning Unruly Mane

[kermie]

Strange question from me with my M&Ms, but I said I would ask you horse experts

My YM is riding a horse that she is doing some workers on. He is a nice type and loves his jumping. He's a TB x cob and his mane comes from his cob mum! Is there an easy way to thin it? It's a good length for plaiting after being pulled, but still really thick.

I've suggested his mane is combed every day with a metal comb to thin it, but that will obviously take some time. Any other ideas?

[puddledub]

If it is all pretty much an even length then why not pull it? Would thin it but remaining hair should be pretty much the same length afterwards. Or try and pull hair from mainly underneath or random length hair rather than back combing to only take the longest

[kermie]

She's spend a LOT of time pulling it PD, but it's still pretty thick. Maybe she just needs to persevere.

[haltnotsquare]

I've used a grooming rake to thin Splash's mane a few times as it gets really thick especially near the top.

[leodhas01]

Pulling from underneath would help thin it out, just watch incase the mane starts to stick up when you've pulled too much from underneath though, made that mistake myself...think i'll stick to my hairy's less damage can be done then lol

[amy]

I second the mane rake

[kermie]

Is there a knack to using the mane rake? I've used it before on my coloured's mane but she doesn't get plaited. Only experience of someone using it before on a plaited horse was that it left lots of little bits that wouldn't go into the plaits.

[Bedrockshetlands]

Defo wouldn't recommend the rake for a plaited mane or you will be forever trimming up plaits I think its just a case of persevering with the pulling unfortunately.

[Lavender]

Agree with BRS!! Don't use the rake if your plaiting!! Persevere with pulling, also I'd leave it in plaits, as that pulls the mane out with little effort from you ;D

[crumptonhill]

pull it from underneath a rake will leave to many broken bits to plait well