Shaved manes on military/police horses

[squashyhat]

I have also asked this in the Tack Room but thought it might reach a wider audience here.

Watching the Queen's funeral cortege the other day I noted that quite a few (but not all) of the military and police horses had their manes shaved or clipped very short. Does anyone know why? Why not plait them if the aim is to look neat?

Maybe so there is nothing for ne’er do wells to grab hold of?

Isn’t it so they can’t be grabbed?

I would imagine it’s for safety reasons, but also have you ever plaited a horses mane? It’s a pain and takes time and I can’t imagine having to do that every day a horse went out to work. It would be really unpleasant for them too.

Ah yes I suppose it stops people grabbing them. I haven't planted a mane but I would imagine it's fiddly and time consuming.

The Kings Troop RHA horses in the gun team (six pulling the guns) and the detachments (the No1 and those who ride behind) are hogged because they all wear harness which would rub bald patches into hair. It is tradition and not for aesthetic reasons. Soldiers would vault on and off and the uniforms (every part of which could serve a purpose in war) could also get caught in the hair.

The officers horses (chargers) were never hogged.

Nothing to do with the public grabbing them.

Household Cavalry horses are not hogged, but the horses and riders do not perform the same actions as the Kings Troop.

Some horses also have their manes hogged if they have skin conditions that make them itchy.

Polo ponies too are hogged, but some can be plaited.

OK - learned a new horsey term today. Thanks 😊

Don’t give up the day job

Oh dear @WaitroseorBust , have you been on the cooking sherry? PS please note that it’s mane not main.

@WaitroseorBust well I thought it was funny, though levity is possibly not condoned in present circs...

Erm …

What was your …

Why …

FML, cba to formulate aside from - that was a lot of effort to type to show that you don’t have a clue about horses. But it clearly demonstrates your perception of anyone involved with horses.

Trot on!

Very interesting. Not something I had thought properly about.