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Post by hannah on Oct 2, 2006 10:13:29 GMT
Ok, I have never trimmed Rowan's tail at all... But I am considering giving it a wee trim as I would like to do even better next year. How much of a difference does it really make? I won't take it up so that its really short but perhaps a bit of neating up and shortening would make him look a bit more 'professional'? I have started doing his mane and although I know it could go shorter I am just being cautious. Where the heck do I start on his tail?! There is no way he will let me pull it (can't do mane either ) and its pretty full and long: To be fair, it looks shorter in that picture because its being blow up by the wind!! HELP!
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Post by kermie on Oct 2, 2006 10:20:32 GMT
I remember being at a clinic a few years ago and Anne Wheatcroft switched a tail on a welsh cob. It made an amazing difference to the cob's back end - really showed it off - and made me into a convert as I was previously not in favour of shortening their tails. She did switch it so it was hock length when carried though so maybe shorter than you want. Do a google for welsh cob pics and have a look at the ones that do well in the show ring.
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Post by gaylec on Oct 2, 2006 10:33:35 GMT
Dont do what a girl in my yard did and go at it with a pair of scissors (top and bottom) until it resembled and upside down palm tree.....
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Post by hannah on Oct 2, 2006 10:42:07 GMT
Thanks Kermie, I've had a look and they do seem to be really short for inhand and a bit longer for ridden? Rowan only does ridden, he is the wrong sort for IH! I am really scared I do it all wrong and just make him look stupid, hence why I am asking now so I can make an attempt before it really matters.
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Post by kj on Oct 2, 2006 11:03:29 GMT
I trim both my Welsh cobs tails - it really does make a difference to how their back end looks. I don't really do much to the top to be honest - pull out any stray looking hairs or use a thinning knife to strip hair from the sides only - never the top of the lying hair! Then I would just bandage before hand with some gel and that neatens it but I usually cut the bottom to rough length I'm looking for then take my scissors and cut up into the tail from underneath (if that makes sense) - this gives a feathered look (just think when you get your fringe cut at hairdresser and they cut upwards to soften the look) I chop upwards until it looks natural and not banged!! And manes - one of my boys is brave and doesn't mind having it pulled so just do the usual shortening/thinning - the other really doesn't like the idea of having his mane pulled out by the roots.......... so I use a thinning knife and kinda strip out hair from underneath and the longer stray hairs to tidy it up - just do a little at a time as it easy to get carried away with the knfe but it does give a good pain free finish.... Not sure if I have done a very good description here but hopefully it of some use to you.....!!
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Post by hannah on Oct 2, 2006 11:07:53 GMT
aaaaaaaaaah! Is it stupid that I'm scared of taking scissors to my boy's tail? I suppose if I ruin it it still has plenty time to grow out. I'll need to wash it before I get stuck in, it resembles dredlocks already.... Ooops!
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Post by meerkat on Oct 2, 2006 11:18:19 GMT
Depends on the back end of the cob. Shorter tail will shorten an overlong back. I do P's so that when she carries it its at Hock length, has made a huge difference to her. Nothing to the top though
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donut
Full Member
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Post by donut on Oct 2, 2006 13:39:27 GMT
As kj says you can thin the tail at the top, but take the hair from underneath at the sides. The result will be to make your cob look as though it has a bigger bum than it is. Never bang a cob's tail. To keep a tail short and natural looking brush it (horror of horrors and totally against BHS training) with a tough dandy brush or a rubber/plastic curry comb. New rules in for 2007 onwards with NPS, judges should be putting down M&M's if not shown in a natural state so try and make your tail pulling and mane trimming as natural as possible. If you are neatening something, always rough it off afterwards. Also remember with M&M for 2007 onwards, no horses to be shown with a clip that has been done since December in the previous year, ie. your last clip must have fully grown out before the horse is shown in a showing class again or you will be put down. Be interesting to see whether these rules are followed by the judges or not.
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Post by kermie on Oct 2, 2006 13:44:42 GMT
New rules in for 2007 onwards with NPS, judges should be putting down M&M's if not shown in a natural state so try and make your tail pulling and mane trimming as natural as possible. If you are neatening something, always rough it off afterwards. Also remember with M&M for 2007 onwards, no horses to be shown with a clip that has been done since December in the previous year, ie. your last clip must have fully grown out before the horse is shown in a showing class again or you will be put down. Be interesting to see whether these rules are followed by the judges or not. Oh I didn't know that donut - it will be very interesting to see if it happens! I didn't know about the clipping rule either - I had already planned not to reclip after New Year so I reckon I must be ahead of the times!
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Post by hannah on Oct 2, 2006 13:50:59 GMT
Oh, that is interesting Donut. So should I just leave his tail at the length it is? I will continue to do his mane a bit, but I have never liked welshies being totally trimmed up. I am only really competing at local level so I guess it takes even longer for these roles to filter down!
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Post by Lavender on Oct 2, 2006 13:54:43 GMT
That's interesting Donut! Wonder how that will work I thought that the switching of a cobs tail, was because they used to be docked in the days of old And must say, I much prefer them switched, less hair to deal with
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donut
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Post by donut on Oct 3, 2006 8:50:01 GMT
These are the NPS rules given out to judges not the Welsh rules. Welsh rules do say natural state tho'. The original switching dates back to when alot of the cobs were also Hackneys. Personally I will still shorten my cobs tails and rough them off if they make the horse look better. Whilst I appreciate in winter the full length manes and tails protect the horses heart and loins from the bad weather, it is my contention that manes and tails are naturally shortened in the wild by the horses getting them caught on bushes, mutual grooming, moulting, etc.. Unfortunately, some of the NPS judges don't agree with me. I also contend that the M&M in existance today is already a very different animal from it's predecessors apart maybe from the shetlands.
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Post by onipony on Oct 3, 2006 21:24:39 GMT
Interesting. Wonder if the welsh peeps will continue to pull & tidy, I much prefer it. Iona got a full clip tonight (legs left on) and looks very smart.
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donut
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Post by donut on Oct 4, 2006 7:01:47 GMT
Read my last entry and hope I didn't offend anyone with my last comment. I meant to say that the M&M's today are more refined and suited to pleasure ridden work than their forebearers.
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Post by winhenry on Oct 5, 2006 8:40:35 GMT
My mare has a full tail and I like it myself although judges have told me to shorten it.... but I am scared I won't like it. I'm not much help I'm afraid. Although having said that the full tail hasn't affected her results in the show ring, she has done really well.
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