quick trimming poll

[MitchyInge]

reluctantly started pulling our lovely long wavy mane, now I've started I realise we will have to go shorter still (the pic I just put up is a 'before' one, after to follow!) but this makes me wonder if I should start trimming heels too? and tail?

I bowed to pressure to make him look a bit more presentable, although in my heart I liked it long and natural, he does look smarter - like a cross between an exmoor and a TB! I suppose I should get some better pics first, just wondering what others think.

going to take some photos NOW

sorry not to have anything more interesting or pressing on my mind!

I looked at your profile and saw no pictures, well none that show a mane anyway, so I gues swe are still waiting!

I am wondering what to do with the mane of my horse. It was hogged and has slowly grown out to pulled mane length, I don't think a long mane would suit him, and generally dislike pulled manes, so I think I will hog it again . My mare has nothing trimmed etc, bar tail when it is very muddy, but she is a gypsy cob, so we would not want to get rid of her features

But heels NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

Tails I trim in winter, or once they reach ground level!

ooops, there should be a couple of pics now

I think he looks lovely Mitchy. Maybe a bit off his tail? Although must admit do like to leave them a bit longer in Summer as they have extra "swish" for the flies.

thanks

I think I will straighten the end of his tail and trim the little feathery bits a bit, he doesn't really need them for protection against mud now - if I don't like it they will always grow back again next year?

I have trimmed ONE LEG

and even that doesn't look exactly great

hopefully he will come to no harm having 3 fuzzier ones overnight!

It does take a bit of practice, especially if you are using scissors, but I promise they always look worse for the first couple of days and then they seem to even out a bit. Don't panic .

Don't forget, if Barney carries his tail when he is moving you need to get someone to stick their arm under his dock when you trim it so that it ends up straight at the bottom and so you don't accidently do it shorter than you mean to. (Bloomin' shetland's owner hacked her tail off really short the other day and it's all crooked cos she didn't even comb it out first .)

I use a solocomb for trimming heels, easier than scissors - they don't end up looking as though they've been chewed. It's a comb which when you press down the handle has a scissor action in the blades.

I'm scared of those solo combs! I just used a mane comb and the scissors from the first aid box, but was worried he might first aid (or me!) when someone walked past with a load of feeds.

I have totally finished the first leg and it looks beautiful - I know I should have done them all but it took ages and I wanted to ride before the heavens opened . . .

do I need to go a bit shorter with the mane do you think?

oops post but one above should read was worried he might need first aid !

He's lovely! I'd have those fetlocks trimmed though and I'd go a bit shorter with the mane. Can you borrow a solocomb from someone? They are easy to use and don't hurt the horse at all as they just cut the hair.

He's a picture! Personally i like them au-naturel, the more feather and mane the better! However, I would say, if you want him all smart-like then a bit off the tail, trimmed feathers and a bit more out of the mane.

I'm with KingC. My lovely mare came clipped, stripped of her feathers and hogged, and looked like a nice hunter cob. I'm a lazy wretch natural girl, so now she is the queen of the land, all black flowing mane and tail, and fabulous feathers.

Damn that strike out.

lazy wretch

Gives up.................

Try it lazy wretch Don't know if that will work but if it does it was lazy (but without the spaces) then wretch (but without the spaces again)

You have to put the dashes round each word I think.

I wish I could use clippers - one and three quarter legs done

hopefully I can enlist some help today

If you're just going to be doing feathers then you could get some cheapy human trimmers. They'll also have the adjustment comb attachment thingies so you can trim to the length you want, or you can use it without the attachment for very close trims.

would they make a buzzing sound or are they manually operated? am not sure what you mean I know he went insane when they tried to clip him one year (the twitch did nothing), he's very happy to have his mane yanked out by hand (in fact it blisses him out) there's just something about those clippers!

oh I need to get a life . . .

Argh NOOOO not solo combs, they make them look silly! Really, horrid things they are! They do not even putt the mane so you end up either with a horrific cut look, OR, if you go for like-pulling-but-just-cutting-at-the-base, you soon get a half punk mane. Really avoid them.

I think considering the Exmoor part (and you can really see it in the pics!) this is a horse that should not be trimmed at all!

PULL not PUTT!!!! (twit!)

Buzzy noise but they're a lot quieter than horse clippers.

MANATEEequineOHARA, manes done properly with solocombs do not look silly or chopped! I've done mine with them for years and even the most pulled-purists have never twigged they weren't pulled. You need to back comb (with the solocomb) up to the length you want and then chop and make sure you are only chopping a few hairs. If you just go chunk chunk chunk and do great wadges without back combing then it'll look scissored but otherwise it won't.

Different subject but isn't your horse supposed to have a enormously high wither, Mitchy? Do you have two and the high wither/low back one is a different horse to the photos you have up?