Good Hair Day!

I know this is off subject, and i appoligize..but where did y'all find that picture of me, to use on this forum....

I'm sorry, but I just couldn't resist...

Cowboy magic and fingers to get out the winter wind whips in the mane and tail.

I use MTG "Main Tail Groom." It works but it has its drawbacks. You buy the product a -yellow liquid full of sediment- in a clear spouted bottle. (shake well! it reeks of sulfur)

I apply it to the roots of my horses mane and rub it in. For the tail, I part through the shorter hair at the root on the top of the tail bone and work it into the skin. I do this only on horses that wont be in the sun, so I try to do it at night before turnout or put a flysheet with tail cover on a horse. It causes sun burn.

The product also is drying, so I follow the directions and try to apply only once a week. You will notice your horse will get dandruff. It also attracts dirt, but it works really well. It also cleans up a lot of fungal problems, and can be used on bald spots on the body too. (Provide there are not any open wounds).

We keep our horses tails wrapped year round too. However, We do not use tail bags. We have our own system because our horses go outside and need to swish flies.

We wash our horses tails and then deep condition them (leave it in for a long time before washing out!). We brush it out while we rinse out the conditioner, and let air dry. Once dry we hand pick it out and use a non oily detangler that dries. I then grasp my horses tail in a fist and slid my hand down to about his hocks. I then shake it left to right, so all the "guard" or short hairs fall out of my grasp. I then separate this hair in a pony tail holder.

The "long hair" I braid straight down from the bottom of the horses tail bone, not too tight. I then fold the braid into a bun, maybe 5 inches long.I then tie the beginning of a roll of vet wrap (cut it in 2 and tie it around one section of the braid). Then wrap around the whole bun/fold, until completely covered.

Then we take old bailing twine and cut all the knots out, making long strands, probably 15, so its not heavy and is proportional to the amount of hair in your horses tail. Then we fold the twine in half and attach it to the end of the wrapped tail by winding the remaining vet wrap around the twine and the wrapped tail. Then we trim it too a few inches above the ground. Then i let the guard ha its out of the pony tail holder. Those hairs wont break easily and can be left down. Shorter hairs break off when wrapped, but the wrap protects the long braided hair. Our horses then have a fake tail that will break off if snagged (the vet rap will tear) and leave their real tail still wrapped. The less twine you use the more frequently it will have to be replaced, the more you use the more weight your horses actual tail must support (causes breakage).

We also use fly repellent, fly masks and fly sheets to protect our horses from insects - this way they swish less. It helps to make sure there are no places they can rub in stalls and pastures too.

For mains, we avoid brushing them, combing them or really doing much with them unless they become super tangled. We condition them a lot too. We also, sometimes braid them in one inch sections, if the horse is turned out alone and cant rub. For some reason it seems to help.

I would highly recommend all these things, but mostly, healthy hair comes from a healthy horse. Feed appropriate food and vitamins. I dont feed hair growth supplements because I'm cheap and taking care of the horse and its hair works well enough. Both of our horses have tails that drag over a foot on the ground because we take care of the tails and re wrap them ever 2 weeks except in the winter, to help keep them conditioned (we rewash) and avoid breakage.

It also helps to use a "leave in" conditioner to soften and strengthen hair, simply spray it in their mane a few times a week, and in the unwrapped portion of tail hair. Go with unscented so you don't attract bugs, bug bites cause swishing and itching. I also use a stiff body brush on the head of his tail when i brush him, I cant brush it with a hair brush while its wrapped and it supposedly promotes growth. (idk if its true but its worth a shot, he likes it anyway)

MTG for some reason really intensifys sun burn, that is why i apply it only when the horses will be inside for several hours.

lauram's post is a good reminder to test all products in a small area before continuing use, and to read directions.

Hey, my Daddy told me to use Baby Oil. it is messy bussiness but it works well and by the end your hands are so soft. fingers and combs I agree are the best for long arabian manes! sometimes it doesn't work but I have also heard that the manes don't have to be very thick so if you tear a lot out know as long as it looks good and still moderate on thickness than you have accomplished the goal!:D