Mane, Care For

Ideally, your horse already has a neatly groomed mane that combs out easily every time you groom him. However, after a lengthy pasture turnout, especially in bad weather, you might be faced with a knotted, snarled mess of burrs. Don't cut it all off and don't attack it with a comb.

Start by thoroughly coating the entire mane with a detangling spray or gel. Work the solution into the mane with your fingers. Wearing a pair of old leather gloves (which will build up a slick layer of detangler), begin to gently untangle the worst knots. Horsehair tends to twist together, so look for the direction of the twist and work the hairs free.

Once the biggest snarls are loosened, comb through the mane with your fingers, trying not to yank too hard. Most horses don't mind having their manes tugged, but pulling at major knots can be irritating and can also lead to loss of hair. The next step is to work with a human hairbrush, the kind with widely spaced plastic bristles. Start at the ends and brush gently as you work your way up to the crest, checking for burrs and other debris that you might have missed.

Don't use a comb until the brush goes the length of the mane without catching. A long mane should be treated regularly with detangler to keep it from snarling. It can be braided loosely into sections before a lengthy pasture turnout to prevent tangles and to keep burrs at bay. Most owners prefer the mane to be about four inches long, though several breeds are shown with long, flowing manes.