keeping mane and feathers

[alison]

OK so its time to start preparing for the winter and i was wondering if any of you guys have any ideas of how to keep the mane and feathers from breaking away in the winter weather ?

[Bedrockshetlands]

Rubbing in pig oil regularly and not brushing manes and tails too much helps

[kermie]

Yup as BRS says. Benign neglect and regular squirts of pig oil!

[susers]

Yup definately a healthy portion of neglect .

[comet]

Leave the feathers well alone. Don't bother brushing the mud off them. I'm going to pop Comet's mane into a running plait for the winter and seeing if he comes into spring with a mane to rival Brodie's. (Unlikely but worth a shot!)

[kermie]

comet said:

Leave the feathers well alone. Don't bother brushing the mud off them. I'm going to pop Comet's mane into a running plait for the winter and seeing if he comes into spring with a mane to rival Brodie's. (Unlikely but worth a shot!)

Crikey, I wish I could leave my lots feather alone, but if I do then it is eaten by the mud monster. It's taken Polly's feather a full year to grow back and it's still not all quite there.

This year, they are all getting a night in at the weekend and then I can use copious amounts of muddy marvel which is fabulous stuff.

[comet]

But your soil is different from ours Kermie, Comet has been knee deep in mud in previous winters and still come out if it with feathers and spat intact

[kermie]

Maybe it is, I know the Fells bred in Perth and Aberdeen suffer a similar fate to mine though.

[Bedrockshetlands]

I rub udder cream on their heels in winter to prevent mud fever it apperas to preserve the feathering somewhat also

[rhummy]

Lol Rhum gets alot more feather in Winter

Gonna do the pig oil thing this winter to Rhum, as I'm concerned his mane is getting a lil' thin. Could always take some from Niamh, she has SOOOOOOOO much Mane she can't see anymore.

[kermie]

bedrockshetlands said:

I rub udder cream on their heels in winter to prevent mud fever it apperas to preserve the feathering somewhat also

It's not waterproof enough for my mud BRS and it's not as effective if you put it on wet legs so no use for me to use. The muddy marvel stuff stays on for a fortnight though

[ponyplanet]

With my Welsh Cob, I just left the tail alone last winter. This spring it was so long and thick the council could of hired him as a road sweeper! Which, as most of you will know this is not the right look for a Welshie!!! oops! So this year, I have a changed plan & I will be shortening it back in a natural fashion & I will keep brushing it out through the winter so that we don't get the Basil Brush look again.

Although not much help for you hairies, I trim up non hairies' tail's at least 3 inches shorter for the winter... This keeps the tail well above the mud. Come Spring the tail is normally thicker, the right length & just needs levelling off you just have to put up with people pointing out your horse's tail is too short through the winter... tiresome

[jeni17]

Comet which Brodie do you mean?
I definately live by the neglect plan for manes and tails! Just lots of mane and tail conditioner on mane to stop rugs rubbing and in spring I use Leovet Riders Magic to detangle her tail!

[comet]

The Highland Strathmore Brodie, his mane is fantastic and in such good condition- better condition than my hair!!

[nag777]

If anyone's interested in keeping tails clean I have just invested in a Tailgator tailbag. Its brilliant and you can keep it on for up to two weeks - all you do is plait the tail slip the bag on and there are two velcro straps which pass through the top of the plait to keep the bag on - mine has stayed on for a week with no probs - just a shame I can't get horsey wellies for the sixteen white feathered legs which are minging at the moment!!!