Mane and Tail Question

[pandorasmom]

I have been wondering something for quite sometime, and like normal I think about it outside and don't think about it when I get back inside.

Do Anglo-Arabians (TBxArab) naturally have short tails, and short-medium length in their manes? Pandora's tail is relatively short, and her mane is short to medium in length.

Thanks,
Sharon

[HeartofSteel]

I know of a TBxArabian that used to have a decent mane but she pulled it, his tail is average but not extremely thick or anything. I used to have a QH/Arab that had a long mane but I also pulled it. Her tail was also average, it got long one winter though when I kept it braided and it ended up getting mud "beads" on the ends and the weight of the mud help it to grow apparently and then it was touching the ground. Now obviously your horse isn't going to have a Haflinger or Friesian mane or tail so that is out of the question lol :)
Genetics have alot to do with it, so its all the the genes.

[Remali]

Arabians naturally have very long, and quite often fairly thick manes and tails. I'm not sure about TBs tho.

[FoxFireEMT]

Yeah I'm not sure about the whole truth either... but I know my Arab had a very LONG & think mane & tail & my TB has a very short and thin mane & tail...

[SedonaThunder]

My OTTB had a tail almost to the ground and as thick as two of my other horses put together. His mane was also incredibly thick and unruly... don't know if he was "normal"!:)

[vicklynn]

I had an Anglo-Arab, and no, her tail was copper red and flowing. She sure was a pretty girl.

[pandorasmom]

Wow! Thanks for all of the responses! I've enjoyed reading them and learning more.

Pandora since I got her has had a shorter tail then most horses I've seen. Her mane isn't thick thick or long, but is about medium in length and medium in thickness.
If it wasn't genetics, what else could cause the shortness? I'm just wondering because I know my mom's horse who was a TB X always had a nice long mane and tail if I remember correctly. Pandora's mom was a TB and Dad was a Arabian if that matter. Didn't figure it did, but incase. LOL

[SedonaThunder]

What about the rest of her coat and her hooves? Like coat and hooves, the mane and tail will change with nutrition and health. Things that help hooves like biotin, BOSS... also help the coat and hair. However, some horses just grow SLOWWWW or don't have a lot to grow - like my Morab. She has CRAZY thick mane and tail but that little forelock is just silly! Also, she rubbed a spot bare in her mane reaching through the fence and it has only grown an inch in four months... ugh, ugly bald spot. :( On the other hand, my Paint who has very thin hair in his mane and tail, grows it quickly and if I take care of it (mud out, combed and bagged in the winter) it grows fast and long.

[shynbvs]

arabs tend to have really thick manes/tails, idk about tbs. But all horses are different. I know a tb who has such a furry coat she almost never needs a blanket!

[WashingtonBay]

My Arab has a very good tail, average mane and short little forelock.

Arabs should have long manes and forelocks, but some of them get the short end of the draw ;)

[pandorasmom]

Thanks everyone! Maybe she just got the short end of the straw like WB said.

Sedona, her overall coat appears fine. It's nice soft, and fluffy, for winter. It looks good I think! If your asking about her hooves being dry,brittle,etc. then no not really. They are tough, and that's about it. They don't crack easily,chip easily, and overall look fine to me.
Since I got her in January of 08 her tail has been short, but it just seems shorter now then it was, and it hasn't grown much if any. I keep it combed out when it gets tangled, and keep her brushed out.
I wasn't sure what else could be done if anything. It's not a big deal cause I don't really care either way, I just thought it should be longer then it is.

[HeartofSteel]

How often do you brush her tail and mane?

[pandorasmom]

She is brushed almost every day. If she's not gotten dirty or been riden that day, then I won't brush her that day.
Her Mane and Tail are combed out normally every other day, unless I see it's knotted otherwise. So far this has been working fine. I slacked off on combing it, because it seemed everytime I did, I'd end up with a handful of hair from her tail. I didn't want to be combing it to much.

[HeartofSteel]

Combing or brushing the mane and tail every other day might be to much, no matter horse gentle you are you still break some off. I would just make sure its clean and put some leave in conditioner/detangler in it and let it be. Niko my Haflinger had a monster load of mane and tail and even though it is very long and think I just spray some stuff on it and let it be. The more I mess with it my the more hair I notice coming out, if I just leave it to be natural it seems to grow faster even if it is tangled. You could try Shapley's M-T-G, it helps with hair growth, I have used it and it does work. It smells like bacon and cheese though and is very greesy but it does help.

[pandorasmom]

Thank you so much for the information! I greatly appreciate it. I'll just slack off on combing it for sure. I'll see how that goes, if it doesn't work I'll get some of the stuff you suggested.

Thanks so much again!
Sharon

[Remali]

Genetics have a lot to do with it too, one of my Arabians I had did have a rather thin mane and tail, but he wasn't the norm.

Also, I never ever comb the mane or tail, never. If anything I use a soft brush and I work from the bottom up, but then only if it is snarled.....otherwise I leave them alone, I found that too much brushing, and combing most of all, pulled and broke off the hair too much.

[pandorasmom]

Well as much as I comb her mane and tail sometimes, maybe that's why. I'm making her bald! hehe

I have gotten a few clumps of tail hair out over time, so maybe that's why. I just always like it nice a groomed so she looks well taken care of, and clean. If ya know what I mean. She's put on alot of weight since I got her, and looks great now. I just always want her mane and tail to flow with everything. lol

[Dixie]

Sounds like over grooming. I rarely take a comb or brush to mine, fingers only. Also if you try the MTG be very careful, I have seen and heard horror stories. People put it on their horses tails and the entire tail falls out, the skin just sloughs off from the tailbone.

[IrisGreen]

I have MTG but I haven't used it. I hear good and bad things about it so I have never opened the bottle. Plus, I don't eat meat so my horse smelling like bacon would really offend my nose. lol

Cowboy Magic is amazing stuff!! It works great to condition the main/tail and it's non-greasy, wont attract dirt and it works to keep tangles from happening because the hair is so soft and smooth you can use your fingers to brush it out. It works great on humans too and is totally safe to use.

I leave Muffins tail along just because I'm lazy and his tail is amazingly thick. It takes me hours to wash, condition and rinse him for a full bath with his main and tail. His tail is just brushing the ground right now but he is half draft so he is going to have that thick hair.

I have also heard that Listerine makes the manes and tails grow? I had a few show horse people tell me this and it works great they say. They have no idea why it works but it grows the long mane and tails for the show ring. Anyone else herd of this?

[WashingtonBay]

I think Listerine is good for killing microbes and funguses and things that might be in the tail that would itch, but I don't think it helps it grow... perhaps just keeps them from rubbing it out.

[jeezitsjacki]

Ben has no tail.. he has this little whispy thing. I use MTG maybe every other weekend but I havent seen improvements.. I dont know if it will ever grow, probably just genetics.. my friends say I should get him tail extensions haha

[pandorasmom]

Well, I'm wondering if it's a combination of genetics and/or my excessive combing.
Here she was January 05,2008- the first day I ever saw her:
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d154/summershadowfarm/DSCF4551-1.jpg

Here she is September 18th, 2008:
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d154/summershadowfarm/DSCF1938.jpg

Those aren't the best to compare, but I can't find another one updated of us walking like we are in the orginal picture. I'm not sitting the best on her in the bareback picture either, but I was resituating myself, when my sis snapped it. It's the best one I have of her tail up to date.

[HeartofSteel]

I would say it is over combing it, just run some detangler through and call it good for a while

[missdixie]

I don't know, but I do know that Arabians and TB's usually have thick and long manes and tails...

[pandorasmom]

Well, I won't comb it anymore right now definately. In the Sept. 18th pic her tail was up a lil' bit because of her holding it up as she runs, and when she's feeling good, but it's still shorter now then it was.
I'm not going to comb anymore right now and will see if I can find some leave in conditioner.

Thanks for all the advice, please keep it comin'! :)