Mane length and shape ???

[Marty]

I've pretty much had it with these manes over here growing so darn long and heading down the leg.

I've taken a really good look and to me, it's making my horses not only appear messy, but also it is my opinion that it's making my young mares look very old.

I'm leaving Nick's alone, it's down to his knees and just keeping it a bit thinned before it yanks his crest over.

I'm fixing to shorten them all way up on the mares, so I can see the definition of thier nice necks and shoulders.

I'm wondering about the shape and actually how short I should go.

I was experimenting on Holly who has tons to spare and I just went straight down on an angle and it's looking a lot better already. I'm doing it with a razor and clippers so it doesn't get that "banged" effect that I really hate.

Can we see your's?

 

[lyn_j]

[SIZE=14pt]This is just a pasture pic of Carbon but I think it shows her mane length and thickness well. I think the key to manes is to keep them THINNED out rather than cut off.... This is a good lenth I feel.[/SIZE]

Lyn

 

[Jill]

When horses have good necks, I like it if the mane is fairly short so it can show off the shape of the neck.

Here are pictures of Sunny (Tibb's Sundowner, 3x Nat'l Champion & 6x Res. Nat'l Champion) and I really like the length of mane Erica kept on him:

(soooo proud to call him mine!)

Then for a contrast, here's me showing Derby (Triple H Derby Day Miracle) when he was still a stallion in 2004. I think that a longer mane suits Derby really well. No matter how many other nice horses I have in my life, I still can't help but

my Derby Doodle! And, sure looks like I need to work on my halter skills. I'm standing there looking like the village idiot!

 

[Marty]

I agree Lyn, they look so much better thinned. I'm doing a combination of both, thinning and shortening.

 

[Sue_C.]

Yep...I agree 110%!!

:

I just got a mare back on trade, that grows a tremendous amout of mane. She actually gets more shavings tangled in her mane, than her tail. :new_shocked:

I am taking my time, thinning and pulling, and by show season, she'll look 10 years younger. :lol:

 

[FFFoxyGal]

LOL,....Foxy's mane isnt too long,...I dont think?,.......but it is

DEFINITLY,.......Too Thick!!!

I would like to try thinning it,..but,..never done it before,.....

and probably would be REALLY scared to see the finished product.

:

: :bgrin

 

[shane]

THIS IS TWINKLETOES MANE, ITS SOOOO LONG AND VERY UNRULEY,BUT I MUST ADMIT I LOVE IT

: I REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME I SAW HIM HE REMINDED ME OF A LITTLE UNICORN :bgrin

THIS IS FANCYHEELS MANE,WHICH IS JUST STARTING TO BE CONTROLABLE LOL

 

[FFFoxyGal]

AWWWWW,..They are BOTH adorable,.....

OK,...Wait till you guys see this,....This is Foxys mane!!!!!!!!!!

:

: :new_shocked:

: :bgrin

 

[slaneyrose]

And, sure looks like I need to work on my halter skills. I'm standing there looking like the village idiot

But look at the way the horse is standing...I would say excellent job!!! :aktion033:

 

[midnight star stables]

:bgrin :bgrin :bgrin

Has Anyone seen Midnight lately??? :bgrin

Here he is at his show last August...

And him 2 weeks ago! :lol:

Yes it IS a mo-hawk! :new_shocked: And no he is not preggo

.

Nitro's mane is So thick, I can't wait to thin it! lol

:

It really give him a fat pony look, but now that it is braded, he looks really nice!

:

 

[Tammie-C_Spots]

Peek-a-boo! LOL! This is my tiny stallion Squiter

I have to admit I just adore a full mane/forelock and tail

However if I was seriously interested in showing I think the examples shown are nice. You should choose your lenghth of mane as well as length of bridle path according to what will enhance the good qualities your minis has. I have a mare that as a three year old shed atleast half her tail out so it was hock length but still thick in the mane. As an appy that's not unusual but it looked odd so I shortened and thinned her mane like a hunter length and showed her like that and placed well.

Tammie

 

[midnight star stables]

For the bridle path, I love it at 1/3rd the way down the neck, not too long or too short :aktion033:

 

[Champ]

after looking at these pictures I realize my mini needs a mane makeover....how do you thin it out?

also I'm glad my gelding isn't the only one who is asked if he's pregnant.... :bgrin

Champ

 

[Deborah B]

This is my stallions mane all natural. Really like long manes myself. I cringe when he rubs his mane on the fence.

Kokanee Ranch

 

[KanoasDestiny]

Call me crazy, but I ABSOLUTELY love the thick, long mane and tail (nice job Deborah B and Shane). I think it just makes horses beautiful. I pray

: that my filly will be so lucky!!! Although for people who show, I can understand why you would want to keep it short.

 

[minih]

Really like long manes myself.

I love the long manes also, but when you are showing the judges really like to see the shoulder. And after showing now for the past couple of years with the shorter mane I am getting to where I kinda like that look also. More finished and groomed. I do not spend alot of time on my manes, I usually do an undercut to thin it out and they will thin down after shedding some on their own. My tastes have changed alot, I am even liking the longer bridle paths on some horses. Here is our guy with just an undercut and I shaped the bottom edge a very little just to get an even line. .