Think I've ruined the mane

[Rocklone Miniature Horses]

Mate was itching so I took her head and neck off. Her mane was flipping over to the left and it was shorter than the rest so I assumed it was preclipped mane. Took it off and now I think I've made a big mistake. Not much I can do about it but meh!

 

[Rocklone Miniature Horses]

 

[amysue]

I do not think that you have ruined it. I know many people who clip all of the stray mane hairs along the crest. I have parted manes in half down the middle of the crest and shave one side off on heavy maned horses in heavy work. It may look silly growing back for a bit, but it will grow back.

 

[Rocklone Miniature Horses]

i just hope it looks okay for showing. learn something every day tho eh lol

 

[JMS Miniatures]

Yep its not uncommon in the show ring. Like the above poster said its going to look funny during the off season but it will grow back.

 

[Rocklone Miniature Horses]

Oh that is ok then. Phew! I'm used to more british standards, and exaggerated mane cutting is not done here. Ill have to get used to more american style lol

 

[MyGoldenSunny]

I have always dreamed of going to Ireland!!! It does look American, and it's not bad, but I prefer more of the "old style" miniatures and grooming, so I guess I'm more into the British standards. : ) I think I was born in the wrong country lol my last name is McGuire and I'm mostly Irish

 

[rabbitsfizz]

I think you have made a mistake by clipping off the outside of the mane, but I don't think it looks too bad as she has a really good neck, so is going to be able to get away with it. Let it grow out over the winter and use a hood to flatten it next spring so you can make up your mind what to do. The "bridle space" should be the length of the ear, plus a little if needed, just as a rough estimate- you can always take a bit more off but you can't stick it back on, so take it off a bit at a time til you get the right length. Pretty mare, lovely eye.

 

[Minimor]

Usually--going by what I see here anyway--if the mane is too think and doesn't lay over properly, people clip some of the hair along the crest on the UNDER side of the mane. The hair on top just gets gooped down with hair gel. I haven't seen very many that clip it along the top this way.

It can work, but overall I would agree with rabbitsfizz about growing it out over the next winter and starting over next year.

 

[Rocklone Miniature Horses]

I'll not be showing her next year but nothing I can do about it. It was a rookie mistake

 

[MyGoldenSunny]

She is beautiful!!! I don't think you can tell at all!!! I did that one time too, and if your not showing it no big deal : )

 

[amysue]

It is okay, mistakes are how we learn. I once accidentally clipped off a whole forelock. Was thinning it out, the mare sneezed and put her head down while I was clipping, before I knew it the whole thing was gone. My mom taped it back into her show bridle. It looked real silly growing back, but it did grow back. I think a lot of people clip the stray broken hairs along the outside of the crest thinking it won't show at the hairline but it does. It doesn't look so obvious on a lean horse but on a thicker neck it really shows. I have made this mistake before. My stallion who is on the hefty side rubbed a section of his mane on a fence and broke a lot of hairs right at the crest line. They were too short and stiff to stay down with gel so I just clipped them. Before I knew it, quite a bit of mane was gone and while it worked for show season. It looked like a mohawk while growing out. I have seen many horses with the same clip job so don't feel bad. As others have suggested, thinning on the underside is best because it does not show. Your mare is very pretty and looks great all cleaned up. Have fun with her.

 

[Rocklone Miniature Horses]

I usually do under the mane. I just got fooled by this one because the sticky up bits were what I assumed was preclipped mane it turns out it was just man flipping over lol I was just to hasty. Hope it looks ok when her colour comes back in. It will have to be kept short now for all the season but I won't really care about it growing back. I love the Mohawk look lol

 

[MiniNHF]

I actually take some off the top and the underside because my stallions mane is soooo thick but far as amount definitely more on the underside than the top.