Monday, May 2, 2011

Hair Today...

Hair Today...

...Gone Tomorrow!


I think I left too much of a wither-lock but it's easier to take it off than put it back on!

I think he looks ruggedly handsome.

And now he needs another bath. Talk about yucky flaky grossness under all that hair!


And why on earth would I do such a thing? You may recall that he was roached when I bought him. His PO said his mane was crazy and she didn't want to deal with it. I kept it up for the first month or so because I liked the look, but my cheap clippers couldn't handle it and I wanted a mane to band for shows so we let it grow... into a long winter's mohawk... and finally into a normal looking mane. A LOT of pulling later (which he oddly seemed to enjoy) and it was bandable but I didn't like the way it looked because it was still so fuzzy. The second year it was braidable and I liked that look. But he has since decided he doesn't like the pulling and I would rather not deal with the expense and/or time and hassle of braiding or finding someone to braid. It's doable, but I am just not going to deal with that this year. I have been tempted to do this for weeks and finally today decided to do it. I sure hope I don't regret it 'cause there aint no UN-doing it!



But on the opposite end of things... no pun intended... A comparison of his tail from when I bought him (9/08) to today.


It's not as thick as it could be but considering how good he is at getting into trouble I am deathly afraid to bag it. Never going to happen. So for now, a lot of Vetrolin Shine and carefully trimming the ends so he's less likely to step on them. As you may have noticed, he travels with his tail quite a bit higher than when he's standing. We're at a strange disadvantage, too: because the hair is half black and half white, depending on the background you really only "see" half of the hair. It's a weird optical illusion. The extension I use for shows helps a LOT with that.

Now if only it'll stop raining long enough for us to GO to a show!!!

12 comments:

  1. OMG I just about had a heart attack. At first I thought it was fake, but then I realized it was real. But Im glad it will work for you! I dont thinkI could bring myself to do that. I agree though - nsty flakiness going on right now!! AND his tail looks very nice!!!

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  2. @Milo - Ha! Yes, if I had a lovely natural reining mane like Milo's I'd have a hard time shaving it off, but since this is what we started with it wasn't nearly as difficult! :)

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  3. I personally LOVE a roach..I roached my OTTB last summer and he looked super hot. So does your boy! :)

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  4. Yeah!!! I loooooove the roach!

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  5. Yay! You roached his mane!! I think it looks fabulous!! I wish I could roach Lilly's mane. :)

    Would you be open to braiding Junior's tail? Or do you not want it in any kind of unnatural state? It would help with the breakage, but his tail looks pretty darn good!!

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  6. @Story- I also don't brush it very often, but I frequently spread it out and spray the whole thing, including the top with Vetrolin Shine. We call it "teflon" for tails. The few times he started rubbing his tail I found that if I sprayed the top really well and rubbed it into the skin he'd stop rubbing. I keep the ends blunt, cut off at the fetlock joint after the show season, then lately to the coronet band.

    @in2Paints- I'm afraid to do anything to it that he might find a way to get caught on something and tear out a big chunk. He breaks far too many halters and blankets and fly masks and I feel like I'd be asking for disaster.

    And you should totally roach Lilly! ;)

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  7. He looks great! I just cut my mare's mane, almost to thje point of roaching to give her back her 'mohawk' look that really suits her ;) His tail is GORGEOUS!

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  8. Haha! Well gee its nothing like Dee's reining mane, but thanks for the compliment!

    I too dont do ANYTHING to Milo's tail, except for occassionaly fingering it and a spray. I do but about three bands in it (all on the tail not seperated - so one at base of tail, one a little ways down, and one towards the end) when Im on the trail so it doesnt get caught in anything. But its au naturale and hes even in a pasture and (knock on wood) it hasnt caught on anything and by golly needs trimmed yet again!

    I wanted to add, that although I would have a heart attack roaching, Junior DOES look rather handsome. :)

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  9. He has a lovely neck under all that mane! I love how a roached mane looks on a horse with a good neck.. but some people really should not roach lol. I wish I was brave enough to do that, but no one else in my area has done it and I don't know how much I wanna wait for it to grow back out if I decide I don't like it. The benefit would be not banding/braiding my 17 hand hunter's mile long neck.

    As for tail, I don't use tail bags either. During the winter and in between shows Cruizer's tail gets washed and conditioned, then brushed out and gets a leave in conditioner, then I braid it (leaving the "feathery" hair out) and wrap it up in vet wrap. I find if you leave the shorter guard hairs out they don't mess with it as much, my horse is very itchy on his tail but he's managed to grow a huge gorgeous tail from me doing this.

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  10. Our Roany Ponies have so much in common.... I actually threatened Wilby today with a buzz job on his mane. Who knows?! I'm with you on the tail bags - for mine, I think he gets more hairs torn out when he has one in and he plays with his tail even more when he has something to bat around. Go figure. I'm a huge fan of the leave in conditioner (of course I can't remember the name) and MTG. I'll have to try the Shine product you use.

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  11. Glacier used to have a "drag the floor" tail when we were showing him. We could never get him to grow a forelock, tho. He was such a fun horse and best friend. Trainers all loved him. Who is the breeder of your gelding? Is is Sauls or Griffin? I kept one mare by Glacier and gave our best one to our daughter to enjoy. You don't know how fortunate you are to have one of his kids. I get to Columbus every Oct for Congress. Would love to photo your horse for you. I am an equine photographer.

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  12. Glacier used to have a "drag the floor" tail when we were showing him. We could never get him to grow a forelock, tho. He was such a fun horse and best friend. Trainers all loved him. Who is the breeder of your gelding? Is is Sauls or Griffin? I kept one mare by Glacier and gave our best one to our daughter to enjoy. You don't know how fortunate you are to have one of his kids. I get to Columbus every Oct for Congress. Would love to photo your horse for you. I am an equine photographer.

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